Beta HCG, well known to people planning a pregnancy, is a type of hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin. This hormone, which allows for the rapid diagnosis of pregnancy, is a hormone that can be measured in blood fluid tests performed as pregnancy tests in hospitals and in urine tests and pregnancy tests that can be applied at home, and is also called pregnancy hormone in popular parlance. Although it is identified with pregnancy, it can sometimes increase due to various disorders. Therefore, more detailed examinations and follow-ups should be carried out for the presence of pregnancy in people with an increase in Beta HCG hormone.
The beta HCG hormone is the beta type of the human chorionic gonadotropin hormone, which has two subtypes, alpha and beta. Since the HCG hormone rises significantly even at the earliest stages of pregnancy, it is one of the most commonly used parameters in the form of a pregnancy test. It can be easily tested in blood and urine. The blood test is faster and more accurate than the urine test. Blood fluid tests provide clear data in a very short time and are available from pharmacies without a prescription. A pregnancy test can also be performed with an easy urine test. However, these urine tests are less reliable than blood tests because they can be easily affected by many factors such as dehydration and the time of the test. In addition, blood tests can detect increases in the HCG hormone at levels that cannot yet be detected by urine tests. This hormone is secreted by the cells of the placenta at the stage of pregnancy when fertilization has occurred. The placenta is the structure that holds the fertilized egg to the uterine wall and provides the blood exchange between the baby and the mother during pregnancy. The HCG hormone secreted here can be detected in the blood fluid 12 days after fertilization and a few days later in an easy-to-administer urine test. A high level of the hormone in the blood test can provide certain information about how long the pregnancy has been in existence.
How is a Beta HCG Test Performed?
The Beta HCG test can be done by performing an easy blood test and, depending on the laboratory environment, the results can usually be obtained on the same day. If other tests are not required in addition to the beta HCG test, it is sufficient to take a single tube of blood sample. There are no specific requirements before the blood test. The test can be performed at any time of the day. For the blood sample to be taken by the healthcare professional, an elastic band is first placed around the upper arm to allow the blood vessels to be seen easily. The upper arm is cleaned with alcohol and then a blood sample is taken with a needle. In order to prevent swelling and bruising and blood leakage, pressure should be applied to the part where the needle has come out with the help of a clean cotton ball for 15 minutes after the procedure. You can find out when your result will be known from the place where you give the blood sample, and you can go to the specialist for examination after receiving your results.
What is low beta HCG?
If the beta Hcg hormone, which should increase in normal pregnancy, is low, this may indicate a miscarriage, especially in the early stages of pregnancy. It can also pose a danger of ectopic pregnancy. If low beta HCG is detected, an important situation is obtained that shows that there is a danger of miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy in the woman.
What is Beta HCG Elevation?
The most common cause ofhigh Beta HCG levels is pregnancy. However, if the hormone is high, it is not sufficient alone to diagnose a healthy pregnancy. The most appropriate technique for this hormone, which is detected above 10 mlU/mL as a result of blood tests, is to repeat the test after 48-72 hours. In the case of hormone levels above the required Beta HCG level range according to the week of pregnancy, there may be several reasons for this. The most common of these are the correct calculation of the gestational week, molar and multiple pregnancies. In people who are sick, hormone levels should be checked regularly at intervals determined by the specialist, and the baby sac can be seen on ultrasound after the 4th or 5th week of pregnancy. Along with high HCG levels, some people may also have low Beta HCG levels. In people who are not pregnant, the hormone level is expected to be 0 or close to 0. In individuals with suspected pregnancy, the causes of Beta HCG hormone deficiency may include many conditions such as ectopic pregnancy, improper calculation of the gestational week, unexpected miscarriages. Further diagnostic tests to analyze these conditions are performed by the specialist.
What are the Factors Affecting Beta HCG Level?
Those who have apositive beta HCG test are most likely pregnant. It may be possible to get inaccurate results in a urine test, this is very unlikely in blood tests. Some types of cancer, such as prostate cancer, and miscarriages that occurred too early in pregnancy to be detected for the time being can also lead to false positive tests. Some medications used to treat infertility may contain the hormone Beta HCG. A slightly elevated level of this hormone in people taking these medications may not indicate pregnancy. In addition to all these, some antibiotics, birth control medications, hormone-containing medications can also affect Beta HCG levels, so individuals should give detailed information to the relevant specialist about whether they are undergoing infertility treatment and the medications they use before having a pregnancy test. In pregnancies that result in miscarriage, Beta HCG hormone levels generally reach normal levels within four to six weeks. This may be longer or shorter if the pregnancy was terminated by abortion. In cases of miscarriage and after the termination of pregnancy, it can be checked at regular intervals whether this hormone has returned to its previous level. In the absence of a specific miscarriage or problem after the detection of pregnancy, there is no need for continuous control of the hormone level.
Beta HCG in Ectopic Pregnancy
Ifthe Beta HCG hormone level is between 1000-2000 mIU/ml, the gestational sac should be seen inside the uterus by transvaginal sonography. In the Beta HCG test administered every 2 days, the absence of an increase in levels above 65 percent is interpreted as ectopic pregnancy.
Beta HCG Test in IVF
To check whether pregnancy has occurred after IVF treatment, the test must be performed at the appropriate time. At this stage, the body must be allowed to produce enough HCG hormone.
Twelve days after the embryo transfer in IVF treatment, the HCG hormone is tested in blood samples taken from the mother. During this test, the cells in the placenta in the uterus of the expectant mother secrete HCG hormone and it is checked whether this rate increases in the blood.
Pregnancy hormones occur primarily in the blood. Therefore, the most appropriate result can be obtained by applying a blood pregnancy test. The HCG value measured in the blood rises at the appropriate rate in a controlled manner from the first moment the pregnancy phase begins. The HCG level rises week by week. In both in vitro fertilization and normal pregnancy, this phase begins when the embryo implants.
Beta HCG calculation by week of pregnancy
Beta HCG is referred to as the pregnancy hormone. This hormone rises rapidly in the blood as the embryo attaches to the uterus. After a certain threshold level, it can also be detected in urine. It can be detected in blood fluid within 11 days and in urine within 12-14 days. The blood B-HCG level rises twice every 48-72 hours. It reaches its peak level between 8-11 weeks of pregnancy.
The increase in these follow-up values is very important for the continuation of pregnancy. While measuring the B-HCG ratio in the blood fluid is an indicator of the presence of pregnancy, calculating the week of pregnancy with the value is generally not used. Because these values can be at different rates in pregnant women as in the same week of pregnancy.
Does Beta HCG Value Increase in Men?
In the presence of tumors that can produce beta-hCG hormone, such as various types of ovarian, testicular, lung or breast cancer, the beta-hCG levels in the blood fluid are elevated. This can also be detected in men in a few testicular cancers. In other words, high beta-hCG levels in men may indicate an important disorder.
How to Perform a Beta HCG Test at Home?
There are many types of pregnancy tests. Usually, the tests require you to put a swab at the end of the urethra or dip the swab into a container where urine is collected for five to ten seconds. After a while, the stick shows the test results. Usually these results are shown on the stick or on the screen of the stick with a minus or plus sign, a line or two lines, a difference in color, a "pregnant" or "not pregnant" sign. Not all tests are the same. Techniques of use may vary from test to test. Read the instructions carefully before using the test.