As countless biological events occur in our body in daily life, the levels of substances in the blood vary with each physiological process. Especially in different physiological conditions such as the menstrual cycle, menopause or pregnancy, the levels of certain molecules in the blood are different from normal times. The blood levels of these molecules can play a critical role in investigating the presence of both certain physiological conditions and certain health problems. One of these molecules is beta-hCG.
Beta-hCG
Beta-hCG (beta-human choriogonadotropic hormone); It is a hormone derivative that is produced by the baby’s precursor cells and continues to be produced in the placenta throughout pregnancy, following the growth and development of the cell outline formed as a result of fertilization of egg and sperm cells in the uterus of the woman. Beta-hCG hormone is a very important molecule that mainly ensures the continuity of pregnancy and the growth and development of the baby in the mother’s womb. Therefore, beta-hCG level measured in blood and urine is widely used in the diagnosis of pregnancy.
What Does Beta-hCG Do?
In a healthy woman who is not pregnant, a special tissue develops in the ovary after the egg cell is sent into the uterus in the last days of the menstrual cycle. This tissue, called the corpus luteum, produces the hormone progesterone in order to ensure the continuity of the pregnancy in case of a possible pregnancy. Progesterone both prepares the female reproductive system for pregnancy and allows the continuation of pregnancy by suppressing uterine contractions.
Under normal conditions, as progesterone production decreases in the last days of the menstrual cycle, the preparation of the tissues in the uterus for pregnancy ends, and menstrual bleeding begins with the deterioration of the integrity of the uterine tissues. In case of pregnancy development, the tissue formed by the newly developing baby cells begins to produce beta-hCG hormone. beta-hCG; It provides progesterone production by supporting the corpus luteum tissue and ensures the maintenance of pregnancy and the prevention of menstrual bleeding. With the development of the baby’s tissues, the placenta tissue emerges and the continuity of the pregnancy is preserved by continuing the beta-hCG production.
Although beta-hCG is produced physiologically during pregnancy, beta-hCG values in the blood may increase in certain tumors originating from the tissues of the reproductive system, ectopic pregnancy or molar pregnancy.
What is Beta-hCG Normal Value Range?
In the absence of pregnancy in a healthy body, the level of beta-hCG measured in the blood is around 0-10 mIU/ml. Therefore, if the beta-hCG level is high in the blood, the presence of different conditions or health problems that produce beta-hCG, although pregnancy, should be investigated first.
Beta-hCG level in the blood provides very critical data in the follow-up of pregnancy, especially in the first weeks of pregnancy. With the progression of the gestational week, an increase in beta-hCG level is expected. In a healthy pregnancy, the beta-hCG level can be detected in the blood from the 11th day after fertilization occurs. Again, in a healthy pregnancy, the measured beta-hCG level is expected to double every 48-72 hours. Beta-hCG hormone, which reaches its maximum level in the blood in the 8th to 11th weeks after fertilization, decreases in the following period and reaches a certain basal level and continues at the same levels until the end of pregnancy. Beta-hCG level in screening tests carried out during pregnancy provides important data about the baby’s health status and the progress of the pregnancy.
In the first weeks of pregnancy, the reasons for a slower increase in beta-hCG hormone than normal or a decrease in its level in the blood vary from person to person. Some people can have an uneventful pregnancy despite having low beta-hCG levels. However, low beta-hCG levels should bring to mind different health problems such as miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, and death in the womb. With this; Beta-hCG levels may be elevated due to pregnancy-related tumors, preeclampsia, and the baby having Down syndrome. One of the values checked in the triple screening test for Down syndrome is the beta-hCG level.
What Are the Symptoms of Beta-hCG Elevation?
Since beta-hCG is one of the hormones that increase in the first days of pregnancy, it is also responsible for the emergence of some early pregnancy-related symptoms. In this regard, the following symptoms may occur due to the high beta-hCG level:
dizziness,
low or high blood pressure,
Palpitation,
Nausea, especially when hungry.
In addition, since beta-hCG hormone is structurally similar to the TSH hormone responsible for thyroid functions, hyperthyroid-like findings may occur at high beta-hCG levels. In this context, symptoms such as palpitations, irritability, excessive sweating, tremors in the hands, weight loss, diarrhea, indigestion can also be seen.