hCG Levels Calculator

When a woman misses a period and suspects she is pregnant, taking a urine pregnancy test at home is often the first step. This test measures an important hormone in the urine called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). The hCG calculator is a tool that is primarily used during the early stages of one's pregnancy. It is used to assess whether the pregnancy is developing appropriately. The hCG Levels Calculator determines a parameter known as Doubling Time (DT). It is the time taken for the value of hCG in your blood/urine to double. There is a standard reference available to which your Doubling Time is compared, and if it differs from normal, it can be an important diagnostic indicator of something abnormal.  

Commonly referred to as the pregnancy hormone, hCG is secreted by a specific group of cells that are present around the developing embryo called syncytiotrophoblasts. These are the cells that go on to form the placenta. hCG interacts with the ovary and enables it to produce a hormone called progesterone. Progesterone is very important to ensure the continuation of the pregnancy. It prevents the uterus from contracting prematurely and increases the blood supply to the inner lining layer of the uterus, which ensures the developing embryo gets adequate nutrition. 

hCG monitoring helps your doctor check whether the pregnancy is progressing normally or not. If the values are abnormally elevated, then it can be indicative of the following.

hCG is measured in the following ways; qualitatively (which detects the presence of hCG) and quantitatively (where the amount of hormone is measured).

Below is a reference table for expected hCG values in pregnancy. Note that this is not a substitute for a doctor's opinion because your situation can be unique and can only be confirmed by clinical examination and analysing these findings along with scan reports and other blood work. 

LMP stands for Last Menstrual Period and is the first date on which your last period before pregnancy started, and the term refers to crossing 37 weeks in pregnancy, by which time the baby is fully developed and can be delivered. 

A hCG value of 5 milli-IU/mL is diagnostic of pregnancy. Anything below that is considered a negative pregnancy test. hCG values alone are not used to confirm the pregnancy. Your doctor will perform/ order an ultrasound scan to confirm the findings and date the pregnancy. 

Once a pregnancy is confirmed, hCG levels may be monitored at every visit, especially if the mother has had a history of previous pregnancy loss/ ectopic pregnancy/ molar pregnancy. It is not routinely done for every pregnant woman. Your doctor will make the decision based on your clinical history and pregnancy status. 

Using an hCG calculator is very simple. You have to enter the dates on which the beta hCG levels were checked and the values on each date. The calculator will generate the doubling time.

hCG levels vary widely in women during pregnancy. Typically, the levels of hCG in blood & urine double every 24 hours during the first 8 weeks of pregnancy. It reaches a peak at around 10 weeks, after which they plateau and fall till the 16th week. Following this, they remain fairly consistent in value till the end of pregnancy.

To calculate DT, you need three values:

The doubling time of hCG is very short during the initial weeks. As hCG values rise, the doubling rate decreases. You can expect the following doubling times.

It is important to note that all of these values do not replace the opinion of your treating doctor. This is meant only as a reference/ guide. Remember that hCG values can often have a wide range of variation between different people. If you encounter an abnormal value, then make sure to consult your doctor immediately so that they can verify the status and condition of the pregnancy.

Disclaimer: The content on this page is generic and shared only for informational and explanatory purposes. Please consult a doctor before making any health-related decisions.