Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) is a hormone produced in the body by the trophoblastic cells of the chorionic membrane. The rise in the levels of HCG is mostly due to change in the normal physiology of the body due to pregnancy. This hormone is used in determining pregnancy in women; its levels begin to rise when the fertilized egg gets implanted on the endometrial wall of the uterus. From the onset of conception to the parturition, HCG levels rise steadily, doubling on an average of every 48 to 96 hours.
Apart from pregnancy, human chorionic gonadotropin levels can start rising due to other factors. These include:
Cancer of the chorionic membrane; this is when there is cancerous growth of the chorionic cells, leading to an increase in the secretion of the human chorionic gonadotropin. This leads to the rise of HCG levels in the blood.
Abortion; this leads to the rise and then drop in HCG levels in the blood. This especially happens as a result of the conception or rather fertilization of the ovum.
Medication; administration of drugs that contain HCG hormone increases its levels in the blood. These medications, especially used in fertility treatments, will most certainly raise the levels of this hormone.
Hyadatidiform mole; this occurs when the egg implanted is either not viable or lack certain important genes. This will lead to a rise in the level of HCG. The levels will increase as in a normal pregnancy.
Multiple pregnancies; the occurrence of more than one fetus in the uterus will not just lead to as slight increase the level of HCG, but will instead raise it tremendously.
The rise in HCG is therefore majorly due to conception, whereby the hormone is useful in maintaining the pregnancy.
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