Fertility Challenges Treatment Beta-hCG Levels and What They Mean Beta-hCG tests measure the amount of human chorionic gonadotropin in the blood By Rachel Gurevich, RN Rachel Gurevich, RN Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Rachel Gurevich is a fertility advocate, author, and recipient of The Hope Award for Achievement, from Resolve: The National Infertility Association. Learn about our editorial process Updated on December 16, 2022 Medically reviewed by Brian Levine, MD, MS, FACOG Medically reviewed by Brian Levine, MD, MS, FACOG Brian Levine, MD, MS, FACOG, is board-certified in obstetrics-gynecology, as well as reproductive endocrinology and infertility (REI). He is the director and founding partner of CCRM New York and was named a rising star by Super Doctors from 2017 to 2019. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print Verywell / Michela Buttignol / Getty Images Many pregnant people and those trying to conceive may have heard the term beta-hCG in relation to pregnancy testing and wonder what it means. Essentially, a beta-hCG test is used to confirm and/or evaluate a pregnancy via a blood test in a doctor's office. Beta-hCG (β-hCG) is a test that measures the amount of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in the blood. This hormone is produced as soon as 10 days after conception. In healthy pregnancies, levels of hCG increase rapidly in early pregnancy. An above-normal level can confirm pregnancy. Serial beta-hCG tests done over time can show if hCG levels are increasing, which is a sign that a pregnancy is proceeding normally. Aside from this, the beta-hCG test may also be used during evaluations of fertility treatments (a synthetic form of the hormone is sometimes used to help follicles mature and trigger ovulation), as well as when there are concerns that something may be wrong with a pregnancy. Also Known As The beta-hCG blood test is also sometimes called the: Quantitative blood pregnancy test Quantitative hCG blood test Quantitative serial beta-hCG test Quantitative serum beta-HCG test What Beta hCG Measures Pregnancy testing involves the detection of hCG, either in the urine or blood. Both qualitative and quantitative tests can be performed. Qualitative tests determine the presence of hCG in urine or blood, and quantitative tests measure the amount of hCG present in urine or blood. The urine test is a qualitative one in that it can only tell you if the sample is positive or negative for hCG. The same goes for the qualitative hCG blood test. A sample that is positive for hCG means there is a pregnancy, a negative result means there is no pregnancy. In contrast, the beta hCG is a quantitative test, meaning it reveals not just if the hormone is present in the blood, but in exactly what amounts. Levels of hCG are measured in milli-international units per milliliter (mIU/ml). Beta-hCG levels are low early in pregnancy and rise throughout the first trimester and into the second trimester. When Beta-hCG Tests Are Used The beta-hCG test may be done to confirm pregnancy at an early prenatal doctor's visit (as a follow-up to a positive at-home or in-office urine test). But the beta hCG is not always done or necessary in routine pregnancies. Many practitioners use transvaginal ultrasound at pregnancy confirmation visits to actually see visible evidence of the pregnancy (the gestational sac) instead. Beta-hCG can also be monitored periodically during the first trimester and second trimesters in high-risk pregnancies when there is a history or risk of miscarriage. The beta-hCG test is also used when there are concerns about pregnancy complications, including miscarriage. In these situations, repeat tests may be performed every two to three days to evaluate how quickly hCG levels are rising. Early on in pregnancy, the rate of increase is more telling than the actual quantity of the hormone in the blood. Slow-to-rise hCG levels may indicate a high risk for miscarriage. If you are undergoing fertility treatments, your doctor may order a beta-hCG test just before or when your period is due to see if the efforts were successful. Doctors caring for women taking hCG shots to improve their chances of conception or as part of the intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF) process need to carefully time a beta-hCG test to ensure that the medication has cleared the body and will not affect test results. Beta-hCG testing has other uses as well. Beta hCG testing can also be used to determine the age of a fetus. By measuring the amount of the hormone in the blood, a fairly precise gestational age can be determined, allowing healthcare providers to estimate the due dates and time of conception. A beta-hCG test cannot always pinpoint the precise gestational age. However, your results—considered alongside the date of your last period—can give your doctor a general idea, as expected hCG ranges change with each passing week in the first trimester. A beta-hCG measurement is also one part of both the maternal serum triple and quadruple screening tests done between 15 and 20 weeks gestation. These screenings are used in part as a fetal screen to assess for markers of certain fetal health problems, including Down syndrome and neural tube disorders like spina bifida. Unrelated to pregnancy, the beta-hCG test may help diagnose some cancers. Beta hCG Levels in Pregnancy The following are the typical ranges of hCG levels during pregnancy. These ranges are just guidelines, as every pregnancy is different. Expected hCG Levels in the First Trimester Time Since Last Period hCG Range (if Pregnant) 3 Weeks 5 to 72 mIU/ml 4 Weeks 10 to 708 mIU/ml 5 Weeks 217 to 8,245 mIU/ml 6 Weeks 152 to 32,177 mIU/ml 7 Weeks 4,059 to 153,767 mIU/ml 8 Weeks 31,366 to 149,094 mIU/ml 9 Weeks 59,109 to 135,901 mIU/ml 10 Weeks 44,186 to 170,409 mIU/ml 12 Weeks 27,107 to 201,165 mIU/ml 14 Weeks 24,302 to 93,646 mIU/ml 16 Weeks 8,904 to 55,332 mIU/ml Remember: Whether you have high or low levels of the hormone is not the key indicator of a healthy pregnancy. This is because many factors can influence total hCG levels, including maternal smoking, weight, ethnicity, parity (the number of times a woman has given birth), and hyperemesis gravidarum (severe morning sickness). Doctors instead look to see if hCG levels double every 48 to 72 hours from whatever level they started at. They look for this in the initial weeks of pregnancy, as it's normal for hCG levels to peak around 8 to 11 weeks' gestation, then decrease, and level off thereafter. What Are hCG Doubling Times? If Beta-hCG Levels Are Lower Than Expected If your hCG levels are low, it is likely that another test will be performed in a few days to confirm if levels are increasing or not. If your beta-hCG levels are lower than expected and do not increase, this may indicate: Miscalculated gestational age: if conception occurred later than presumed, hCG levels will be lower than expected. Possible miscarriage: since hCG is produced by the placenta, hCG levels will be low if development stops before the placenta is formed or is finished forming. Ectopic pregnancy: hCG levels do not rise as expected and may plateau with ectopic pregnancies. Blighted ovum: the fertilized egg implants in the wall of the uterus, but the embryo fails to develop. If one of these issues is suspected, your practitioner will do other tests, typically a transvaginal ultrasound, to determine the status of your pregnancy. What Do Low hCG Levels Mean? If Beta-hCG Levels Are Higher Than Expected Higher than expected hCG levels are not as medically concerning as low hCG levels, though some rare complications can cause increased levels. Beta-hCG levels tend to rise until the second trimester and then begin to drop. Reasons your beta-hCG levels may be higher than expected include: A multiples pregnancy: twins or triplets could be present. multiples are not uncommon in those who have undergone fertility treatments. Incorrect conception date: the pregnancy could be more advanced than suspected. Molar pregnancy: a rare complication that occurs when a mass of tissue grows inside of the uterus instead of a placenta. This complication is usually discovered at around 12 weeks gestation. Again, an atypical result will be followed up with repeat testing and/or other evaluations to figure out what is going on. If a molar pregnancy is diagnosed, a procedure called a D&C might be performed to remove the tissue. What Do High hCG Levels Mean? A Word From Verywell If you see your hCG results on a lab report before you have the opportunity to speak about them with your doctor, try not to jump to your own conclusions. While informative, a beta-hCG test is just one way that doctors gather information about—and determine the status of—a pregnancy. 6 Sources Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Mount Sinai. HCG blood test-quantitative. Nwabuobi C, Arlier S, Schatz F, Guzeloglu-Kayisli O, Lockwood CJ, Kayisli UA. hCG: Biological functions and clinical applications. Int J Mol Sci. 2017;18(10):2037. doi:10.3390/ijms18102037 Korevaar TI, Steegers EA, de Rijke YB, et al. Reference ranges and determinants of total hCG levels during pregnancy: the Generation R Study. Eur J Epidemiol. 2015;30(9):1057-1066. doi:10.1007/s10654-015-0039-0 C.S. Mott Children's Hospital. Michigan Medicine. Human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG). October 8, 2020. Barnhart KT, Guo W, Cary MS, et al. Differences in serum human chorionic gonadotropin gise in early pregnancy by race and value at presentation. Obstet Gynecol. 2016;128(3):504-511. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000001568 Matorras R, Meabe A, Mendoza R, et al. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) plasma levels at oocyte retrieval and IVF outcomes. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2012;29(10):1067-1071. doi:10.1007/s10815-012-9826-7 By Rachel Gurevich, RN Rachel Gurevich is a fertility advocate, author, and recipient of The Hope Award for Achievement, from Resolve: The National Infertility Association. She is a professional member of the Association of Health Care Journalists and has been writing about women’s health since 2001. Rachel uses her own experiences with infertility to write compassionate, practical, and supportive articles. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? 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