hCG in Early Pregnancy: Functions, Detection & Importance
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is the key hormone of early pregnancy:
- Production: Syncytiotrophoblast of implanting blastocyst → placenta. Doubles every 48–72 hours initially.
- Detection: Urine/blood tests confirm pregnancy; quantitative levels track viability.
- Corpus Luteum Rescue: hCG maintains luteal progesterone production until placental takeover (~10–12 weeks).
- Progesterone Support: Progesterone prepares endometrium, suppresses uterine contractions, modulates maternal immunity.
- Immunomodulation: hCG promotes maternal immune tolerance to fetal allograft.
- Fetal Development: Stimulates fetal gonadal steroidogenesis (testosterone in males).
Peak levels at 10–12 weeks; then decline. Abnormal trajectories (slow rise, plateau, fall) suggest ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage. Serial monitoring guides clinical decisions.
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