Editing Human chorionic gonadotropin (section)

===Reference levels in normal pregnancy===
The hCG levels grow exponentially after conception and implantation.<ref>{{cite web |date=22 August 2017 |title=Guideline To HCG Levels During Pregnancy |url=http://americanpregnancy.org/while-pregnant/hcg-levels/ |publisher=American Pregnancy Association}}</ref> hCG levels typically peak around weeks 8-11 of pregnancy and are generally higher in the first trimester compared to the second trimester.

The following is a list of serum hCG levels:

''LMP'' is the [[last menstrual period]] dated from the first day of the last menstrual period 

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! weeks since LMP !! mIU/mL
|-
| 3 || 5 – 50
|-
| 4 || 5 – 428
|-
| 5 || 18 – 7,340
|-
| 6 || 1,080 – 56,500
|-
| 7 – 8 || 7,650 – 229,000
|-
| 9 – 12 || 25,700 – 288,000
|-
| 13 – 16 || 13,300 – 254,000
|-
| 17 – 24 || 4,060 – 165,400
|-
| 25 – 40 || 3,640 – 117,000
|-
| Non-pregnant females || <5.0
|-
| Postmenopausal females || <9.5
|}

If a pregnant woman has serum hCG levels that are higher than expected, they may be experiencing a [[multiple pregnancy]] or an abnormal uterine growth. Falling hCG levels may indicate the possibility of a miscarriage. hCG levels which are rising at a slower rate than expected may indicate an [[ectopic pregnancy]].<ref>{{cite web |title=hCG levels |url=https://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/hcg-levels |website=www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au |access-date=17 January 2023 |language=en-AU |date=21 December 2022}}</ref>