What are normal hCG levels by week in pregnancy?
According to the following graph, your hCG levels increase quickly and steadily during the first trimester before dropping:
| Weeks since last menstrual period | hCG levels (mIU/mL) |
|---|---|
| 3 | 5 – 50 |
| 4 | 5 – 426 |
| 5 | 18 – 7,340 |
| 6 | 1,080 – 56,500 |
| 7 to 8 | 7,650 – 229,000 |
| 9 to 12 | 25,700 – 288,000 |
| 13 to 16 | 13,300 – 254,000 |
| 17 to 24 | 4,060 – 165,400 |
| 24 to 40 | 3,640 – 117,000 |
These numbers should be used as a guide only. Your levels may rise differently. The way the number changes is more important than the actual number itself. Your doctor will inform you whether it’s necessary to check your hCG levels and what the results of your pregnancy tests mean. Keep in mind that healthy pregnancies may have hCG levels that are lower than usual.
Whether it is cancerous or benign will determine the course of treatment. The doctor might advise dilation and curettage to remove the mass, which entails removing the mass with a surgical vacuum and gently scraping away any remaining abnormal cells. Or, a hysterectomy, which removes the uterus, may be advised by a doctor.
When will my hCG levels be checked?
The first sign that there is some trophoblastic tissue present (indicating you are pregnant) is a positive hCG result from a home pregnancy test or blood sample at your doctor’s office, but it won’t confirm if your pregnancy is developing normally, according to Kfouri. A follow-up blood test to determine whether your hCG levels are increasing may be performed 48 to 72 hours later. You won’t have your blood tested for hCG again if your levels are within the normal range and the test shows that they are rising steadily, unless you or your doctor suspect an ectopic pregnancy, a miscarriage, or gestational trophoblastic disease (a severe and extremely rare condition characterized by uterine tumors that can develop during or after a miscarriage, an abortion, or a pregnancy).