hCGhormoniin

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a hormone produced primarily during pregnancy. It is secreted by the developing placenta shortly after the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine lining, typically around the time of a missed menstrual period. hCG plays a crucial role in maintaining the corpus luteum, a temporary endocrine structure in the ovary that produces progesterone, which is essential for sustaining the early stages of pregnancy.

The detection of hCG in urine or blood is the basis for most home pregnancy tests. Since hCG levels rise rapidly in early pregnancy, its presence can be detected within days of implantation. Levels typically double every 48 hours during the first few weeks of pregnancy, peaking around the 10th week before gradually declining. After childbirth, hCG levels return to non-pregnant levels within a few weeks.

Beyond pregnancy, hCG is also used medically in treatments for infertility and certain cancers. In fertility treatments, hCG can stimulate ovulation by mimicking the natural luteinizing hormone (LH) surge. It is also used in the management of non-seminomatous testicular cancer and some gynecological cancers, as these tumors often produce hCG-like substances.

While hCG is most commonly associated with pregnancy, it can also be present in non-pregnant individuals due to certain tumors, such as trophoblastic diseases or other malignancies. Elevated hCG levels without pregnancy may indicate an underlying medical condition requiring further evaluation.

The hormone is a glycoprotein composed of two subunits, alpha (α) and beta (β), with the β-subunit being unique to hCG and used in diagnostic tests to confirm pregnancy or monitor certain cancers. Blood tests measuring β-hCG provide more precise results than urine tests, especially in early pregnancy or when assessing potential complications.