Human chorionic gonadotropin

If you are trying to get pregnant, you have probably heard of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). This hormone is produced by the placenta during pregnancy and is used to test for pregnancy. hCG levels can also be used to monitor the health of a pregnancy. In this blog post, we will discuss what hCG is, how it is used, and some of the benefits and risks associated with it.

What is human chorionic gonadotropin?

Human chorionic gonadotropin is a hormone that is produced by the placenta during pregnancy. It helps to maintain the corpus luteum, which produces progesterone and estrogen for maintaining a healthy pregnancy. In addition to being used as a marker of early pregnancy, hCG can be used in the diagnosis of various conditions such as testicular cancer or infertility.

When do you need an hCG test?

An HCG test may be ordered if you have signs and symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy (such as abdominal pain), if there are concerns about whether or not your baby’s heartbeat has started developing well enough within six weeks gestation (known as ‘viability testing’) or at other points in the pregnancy as determined by your health care provider.