In vitro fertilization is an assisted reproductive technology used in female infertility. The extracted egg is fertilized in a test tube, the embryo is grown for several days in an incubator, and then transferred to the uterine cavity for further development.

It helps to monitor the condition of the fetus; with the onset of pregnancy, it should constantly increase up to 7-12 weeks. A deviation from the norm indicates the threat of miscarriage, embryo death or developmental pathologies in the unborn baby.

HCG monitoring

The dynamics of hCG after IVF makes it possible to trace the increase in the level of the hormone in the blood. Chorionic gonadotropin is produced by the placenta and ensures the normal course of pregnancy. Based on the result of the analysis, it can be determined whether the embryo transfer was successful.

Comparative table of hCG by day after IVF:

DPO - the day after fertilization.

The HCG table for IVF allows you to determine the increase in the level of chorionic gonadotropin. The maximum marks are fixed at 8-10 weeks, then they begin to gradually decrease. On the 10th day after the embryo transfer, it is possible to judge whether pregnancy has occurred, conception is confirmed if the hormone level is above 25 mU / ml. When the results are below this value, fertilization was unsuccessful.

A woman should be tested at 1, 3, 10 and 14 days after the procedure. The data obtained are recorded, and an individual table of the growth of chorionic gonadotropin is compiled, where the answers of laboratory tests are recorded.

Please note that data may vary from laboratory to laboratory. And also weight, age, individual characteristics of a woman affect the result. Therefore, a reproductologist should carry out.

Increase or decrease in hCG

Significant deviations from the hCG norm are an indication for visiting a doctor and conducting an examination. A low level can be fixed at:

• threatened miscarriage;
• freezing of the fetus;
• biochemical pregnancy;
• anomalies in the development of the embryo;
• incorrectly set time of conception;
• ectopic pregnancy;
• placental insufficiency;
• diabetes mellitus in the expectant mother.

If the HCG table after IVF indicates values ​​that are twice or three times the norm, this may be a symptom of multiple pregnancies, which is often found in in vitro fertilization. In such cases, the first study will show 300-400 mU / ml 12-14 days after the embryos are transferred.

With multiple pregnancies, the risk of spontaneous abortion increases significantly, therefore, in most cases, excess embryos are removed from the uterus. About 1/3 of multiple fertilization ends with an independent reduction on the tenth - fourteenth day, that is, the body stops the development of one or more embryos.

If the level of hCG is significantly increased in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy, there is a threat of fetal freezing, the development of genetic pathologies (Down syndrome, Edwardas syndrome). When the child is overmatched, the concentration of chorionic gonadotropin will also be higher than the maximum norm.

Blood is donated again after a few days to exclude erroneous results and assess the dynamics of the increase in the hormone. In the future, the study is performed every 2 weeks, a table of hCG growth is compiled, the level of gonadotropin should increase by 1.5-2 times per day. When the concentration of the hormone is more than 1000 mU / ml, an ultrasound scan is prescribed (after 20-30 days of DPP), the study allows you to accurately establish or refute the presence of pregnancy, to detect anomalies in the development of the child.

In order for embryo transfer to be successful in the first days after in vitro fertilization, it is necessary to lead a sedentary lifestyle, avoid physical and emotional stress. If the expectant mother is too nervous, you can take a soothing tea with chamomile or valerian, sedatives are contraindicated.

The expectant mother should beware of catching colds, viral infections. To do this, you need to refrain from visiting public places, public transport, exclude contact with sick people, and prevent hypothermia.

You cannot take a hot bath, visit a bathhouse, sauna or solarium. This rule must be followed throughout pregnancy. It is not recommended to have sex with your husband for 14 days. It is important to give up bad habits, lead a healthy lifestyle, and eat a balanced diet.

Medication support

To create favorable conditions for implantation of the ovum, women are prescribed hormonal drugs. Suppositories or pills with progesterone, estradiol help prepare the endometrium of the uterus for the embryo's penetration, prevents embryo rejection and myometrium contraction, and helps to close the cervical canal. Most often, suppositories are prescribed Utrozhestan, Dyufaston, Divigel dermal gel, Krainon.

If the HCG table after embryo transfer shows, a synthetic hormone analogue (Pregnyl) may be prescribed. To regulate the immune relationship between the mother and the fetus, Dexamethasone, Cortisol are prescribed. Women after IVF are shown to take antihypoxant vitamins: C, E, β-carotene, folic acid.

Medication support is carried out until 14 days after IVF, when the hCG test confirms pregnancy. In some cases, therapy is carried out for a longer period, it all depends on the individual indications. The duration of hormone intake is determined by a fertility specialist. This takes into account the patient's age, the presence of gynecological diseases, the experience of previous in vitro fertilization, hormonal disorders.

Monitoring the dynamics of hCG growth by days after embryo transfer allows you to assess the condition of the fetus, confirm or exclude pregnancy, and timely identify intrauterine developmental abnormalities. A decrease in the level of chorionic gonadotropin in the blood serum may indicate a threat of abortion, placental insufficiency, or biochemical gestation. For a successful IVF, a woman must regularly donate blood for hCG, take supportive drugs and be monitored by a doctor.

The calculator will help to decipher the results of the blood test for hCG by days after IVF (embryo transfer) and to assess the dynamics of the growth of the hormone level.

Doubling period of hCG in singleton pregnancy

HCG begins to be produced as early as 6-10 days after the fertilization of the egg. In the first weeks, the hCG level should double approximately every 2 days. As the gestational age increases, the rate of its growth slows down - when the level of 1200 mU / ml is reached, hCG doubles every 3-4 days (from 72 to 96 hours), and after 6000 mU / ml, doubling occurs on average every 4 days (96 hours).

PM - by the date of the last menstruation.
DPP - days after puncture.

The concentration of hCG reaches a maximum at 9-11 weeks of pregnancy, then the level of hCG begins to slowly decrease.

With multiple pregnancies, the hCG content increases in proportion to the number of fetuses and, on average, hCG values ​​in pregnant women with twins (triplets) are usually higher than in other pregnant women at the same period.

Laboratory standards and user results

HCG rates in different laboratories may differ. This is due to the use of various research methods, reagents and other factors. Therefore, for a correct assessment of the dynamics of the growth of the hormone, it is necessary to conduct research in one laboratory and evaluate the results relative to the norms of this laboratory. The HCG calculator allows you to evaluate your results relative to the norms of different laboratories:

The results of other users on the graph may also differ (depending on laboratory norms), contain errors (for example, data entered incorrectly).

In vitro fertilization allows you to cope with most factors of infertility. There are various protocols by which this technology is implemented. In some cases, IVF is carried out in a natural cycle, in others - with the preliminary intake of stabilizing and stimulating hormonal drugs. With a positive result of the procedure, a long-awaited pregnancy occurs. Chorionic gonadotropin analysis is used as a control test 10-14 days after embryo replanting. What does the hCG rate look like after embryo transfer?

What is HCG?

Chorionic gonadotropin is called the "pregnancy hormone". It can be produced by the body of a woman who is in childbearing age after the moment of conception. It is synthesized by a fertilized egg. After moving along the fallopian tube into the uterine cavity, it begins to implant into the endometrium. This is how the trophoblast is formed - the outer layer of the cells of the embryo, from which the placenta will be formed in the future. It is during the formation of this structure of the ovum that hCG is produced. Simply put, in the absence of pathologies in the reproductive or endocrine system, such a hormone can be produced exclusively during pregnancy.

Pregnancy hormone - what is it?

When assessing the fact of conception, an analysis is taken for a special beta-type hormonal subunit (HCGb), while the universal abbreviation hCG is used in mass use. The interpretation of the results of such testing is always carried out in dynamics. The fact is that each woman has her own characteristics of the body, which means that chorionic gonadotropin can be produced in different ways. This approach allows you to make sure that the pregnancy is correct, there are no threats to the embryo and any other problems.

HCG with IVF is fundamentally important for the normal development of the baby. Thanks to him:

• at the initial stages, the production of progesterones and estrogens is stimulated, affecting the trophoblast and necessary for implantation and normal development of the embryo;
• the disappearance or premature depletion of the corpus luteum, the temporary gland that feeds the uterus and the fetus before the formation of the placenta, is prevented;
• suppresses the "aggressive" immunity of the mother, which can provoke detachment of the ovum or freezing of pregnancy;
• the start is given to physiological changes in the body of the expectant mother;
• provides sexual differentiation of male babies;
• there is a direct effect on the sex glands and adrenal glands of the fetus.

In other words, it is due to hCG in IVF that pregnancy develops: this hormone literally "tunes" the woman's body for the safe bearing of a child and helps the fetus to grow correctly.

Analysis for hCG after IVF is needed to control the onset of pregnancy

How the hCG level changes by day after implantation

HCG with IVF can be detected in blood plasma as early as 9-10 days after ovulation. In addition, chorionic gonadotropin is excreted only by the kidneys, it is on the basis of this feature that pharmacy test strips of all types work. Nevertheless, you need to understand that to assess the results of in vitro fertilization, simply a positive reaction to the hormone is not enough, you need to control its growth. If its presence was recorded even in a minimal concentration, dynamic control is required. Normally, hCG values ​​after embryo transfer and successful implantation of at least one embryo should double every 48 hours.

As in the case of natural conception, hCG values ​​after IVF change according to a certain pattern. Its concentration begins to increase after the egg is introduced into the endometrium. The first results can be assessed 10-14 days after conception. The peak level of human chorionic gonadotropin normally occurs at 8-10 obstetric weeks of pregnancy. Before this period, the level of the hormone in the blood rises, and after that it begins to gradually decrease. The decline in hCG concentration ends at about 20-21 weeks, after which the indicators remain stable throughout pregnancy. Its sharp decrease in recent months is one of the symptoms of aging of the placenta, which is dangerous for the development of the baby.

HCG rates after IVF - what do they depend on?

There are special HCG tables for days after IVF. They allow you to roughly assess how the pregnancy is developing. Nevertheless, the interpretation of any analysis should be carried out by the doctor, since only he is able to assess the dynamics taking into account the health status of a particular patient. All information in such tables is for reference only, since do not take into account the individual characteristics of the organism of the expectant mother. In addition, it is necessary to separately consider cases when, after transfer, 2 or 3 embryos take root and a multiple pregnancy occurs.

HCG table after embryo transfer by day

When performing in vitro fertilization, embryos fertilized in vitro mature in an embryo laboratory within 3-5 days. After that, they are implanted back into the woman's body, placed in the uterus using a special thin catheter. In the tables with the norms of hCG after IVF, the assessment is carried out by DPP - by days after the transfer. This takes into account not only the exact time from the "zero" day of oocyte puncture, but also the "age" of the embryo that was selected for transfer.

Table of hCG growth by days after conception "age" of the embryo, which was selected for transfer.

In the table of hCG indicators after IVF, the norms are indicated by day. For a more accurate assessment of the result, you need to start from how many days the embryo fertilized in vitro was at the time of infusion into the uterus - 3 or 5. In the last three columns there are 3 options: minimum, maximum and average. Deviations from the norm can be triggered by various factors. An insufficiently high level of chorionic gonadotropin, like a false-positive strip test, can signal a dangerous ectopic embryo implantation, an overestimated one is a sign of multiple pregnancy. For example, in the case of twins, already at the first after IVF test, you can see the level of hCG up to 400 mU / ml, i.e. 3 times higher than normal. Low hCG levels may be due to failed implantation or because the study was done too early. But other options are also possible, including those associated with pathological processes. That is why the doctor should evaluate the level and dynamics of hCG growth after embryo transfer.

The effectiveness of the in vitro fertilization procedure can be judged only 2 weeks after the embryo replanting. To determine this, doctors perform an HCG test after IVF. Deciphering the results of this study allows you to see whether pregnancy has occurred, to track the condition of the fetus, the dynamics of its development, and helps to prevent pathology.

The value of hCG control in artificial insemination

The secretion of chorionic gonadotropin in the female body increases after the embryo is fixed in the uterine wall. A hormone is produced by the fetal membrane called the chorion. By the 12th week, it is transformed into a placenta, which maintains the viability of the unborn baby until the end of the gestation period. HCG is also injected into the body of a woman who wants to become pregnant to stimulate ovulation. This method is used in both artificial and natural fertilization.

The active growth of hCG after implantation is observed by the second week, so the analysis should be submitted no earlier than 14 days after conception. The level of the hormone is monitored throughout the entire 9 months of gestation, with IVF this control is especially important. This study allows you to determine the type of pregnancy: uterine or ectopic, multiple or not. In addition, IVF pregnancy is characterized by a very high probability of miscarriage, and monitoring the level of gonadotropin allows you to prevent it.

Methods for determining the concentration of the hormone

Conducting an analysis for gonadotropin with a successful IVF is no different from a study with ordinary conception. The difference is that with natural fertilization, the test will be positive as early as 6-9 days after that, although it is usually carried out only after a delay in menstruation. With artificial insemination, the level of gonadotropin becomes indicative only two weeks after cryotransfer or insemination.

The simplest test option is to do a pregnancy test, which can be done at home. This method is convenient, but not always reliable and often shows a false negative result. Yes, and such tests are checked only for the presence of the hormone in the urine, and not the amount.

A more accurate method is to find out the level of chorionic hormone in the bloodstream. For the study, venous blood is taken from the patient.

It must be taken in the morning on an empty stomach. The result of such a study will make it possible to determine not only the presence of gonadotropin, but also its level, which in case of artificial conception is of particular importance for the preservation of pregnancy.

HCG growth dynamics during in vitro fertilization

The indicator of chorionic hormone in non-pregnant women is up to 5-7 IU / L (mIU / ml). It increases about 5 days after cryotransfer, however, the dynamics of hormone release is rather slow. Its concentration increases significantly after a week and a half. To get the most reliable result, doctors recommend repeated tests at intervals of 2-3 days.

By the concentration of gonadotropin, you can determine:

• whether the attachment of the ovum has occurred,
• number of embryos (one or more),
• frozen pregnancy
• fetal pathology.

To assess the success of IVF and the course of pregnancy, the table of hCG values ​​after embryo transfer for three days and five days for days will help.

HCG table and its level by day after embryo replanting

The level of hCG at 10-14 DPP begins to increase rapidly. For example, the minimum hCG value at 13 DPP is already 22, the maximum is 105. By day 36, the highest value has already reached 78,000, by 42 - more than 120 thousand.

Gonadotropin in multiple pregnancies

To increase the chances of successful IVF, several embryos are implanted, therefore, it is not uncommon for a woman to have twins after artificial insemination. Doctors may also suggest preserving and freezing unused embryos in case of a failed attempt. With the cryoprotocol, the repeated IVF cycle can be completed faster.

Table HCG levels in multiple IVF pregnancies by week

Starting from week 10, the indicator reaches 400,000 and rises rapidly, then growth slows down. If a sharp jump is detected, both in the direction of decreasing and increasing, the doctor prescribes additional studies to eliminate the risks of fetal pathologies.

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Reasons for a decrease in the hormone during IVF

First of all, a decrease in hCG indicates that fertilization has not occurred. It also happens with an ectopic pregnancy or implantation bleeding. A low level of the hormone may serve as a sign that the development of the child has stopped, or that his intrauterine death has occurred. A similar situation is observed also with a possible threat of miscarriage. Its first signs are a decrease in chorionic hormone by 50% of the norm and an increase in body temperature. Symptoms include pain in the lumbar spine, the presence of bloody discharge as with menstruation.

In addition, a small indicator of gonadotropin can be observed in normal, but late pregnancy. This is not a cause for concern, as in this case the development of the embryo is normal. In any case, if the indicator is too low, the patient is sent for a second analysis to check if the result is erroneous. Sometimes the doctor conducts additional diagnostics - ultrasound.

Reasons for the increase in hCG after implantation

It should be noted that an excess of gonadotropin secretion is not uncommon. This is usually explained by the fact that during IVF several embryos are planted, and two take root. If multiple pregnancy is not confirmed, then the reason for the increase in hCG is already being sought in the woman's health. A high level of the hormone can be observed with gestosis. It will also grow while taking synthetic progestogens. If gonadotropin is exceeded many times in the second trimester of pregnancy, this indicates possible pathologies in the development of the fetus. Sometimes the reason for the growth is the reception in the early stages of drugs containing gonadotropin in their composition.

Checking the level of the hormone "chorionic gonadotropin" is one of the most reliable ways to determine pregnancy. Since hCG is produced in the female body only after the ovum has been implanted or the embryo is implanted into the uterine wall as in IVF, it is usually called the pregnancy hormone.

It is this effect that allows you to create rapid tests for home use, which can be bought at any pharmacy. The hCG test also shows two stripes, like a standard test, but thanks to a special table of the hormone level in urine or blood by day, it is much more convenient to use it.

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What is HCG?

Chorionic gonadotropin is produced especially actively in the first days after conception, when its amount doubles every second day. Changes in hCG levels are directly related to the timing of pregnancy. If it came after in vitro fertilization and the age of the fetus is known for sure, then you can check the amount of the hormone in the blood yourself. To do this, you need to make an appropriate analysis in the laboratory.

Optimal time to check

According to the protocol, hCG with IVF is checked 13-15 days after the embryo is planted, however, in fact, it is possible to pass tests earlier.

Important! According to recent studies, small amounts of this hormone are often found in the blood of non-pregnant women over 40 years of age. That is why the results of hypersensitive tests are not always objective.

It is best to test hCG one week after IVF. It is from the seventh day that the tables begin, which compare the period after the transfer of the embryo with the level of the hormone. Accordingly, the test on the seventh day will give the most objective picture.

A negative result is not a cause for despair. Firstly, only a doctor can correctly analyze the data obtained, and secondly, the change in hCG must be monitored over time, that is, conclusions can be drawn only after several tests.

And all because sometimes the level of the hormone remains below the average value of the norm even with the onset of pregnancy, and it increases only after the embryo begins to develop.

That is why, in case of a negative test result, made on the seventh day, it is recommended to repeat the procedure in 1-2 days.

If hCG grows, we can talk about the onset of pregnancy.

The dynamics of changes in the level of the hormone and the age of embryos

The IVF procedure consists in transferring an embryo fertilized in vitro into the uterine cavity, that is, in a test tube. The age of the fetus is counted from the moment of conception. It is determined depending on the technology used.

Recent studies have shown that there is a higher chance of getting pregnant when transferring five-day-old embryos. That is why most clinics prefer to use whiter embryos than three days old, since it is difficult to assess the viability of the fetus at such an early age. The age of the embryo is taken into account when assessing the level of hCG.

Sometimes hCG after IVF will first melt and then fall. There are no signs of pregnancy, and after a short, most often a week's delay, the patient begins menstruation - more abundant and painful than usual. This indicates the onset of the so-called biochemical pregnancy.

The production of chorionic gonadotropin begins at the moment when the ovum is attached to the wall of the uterus. Its level increases daily, so the test can be done a few days after IVF. But on the second day after the procedure, it is not worth it, since the amount of hCG is still not enough to draw any conclusions.

If on the 14th day after implanting the embryo, the hormone level does not exceed 5 mU / ml, the procedure was unsuccessful. At 25 mU / ml, an additional check is carried out, since this result is doubtful.

These preparation methods will increase the effectiveness of IVF -

HCG norms

Chorionic gonadotropin is found in blood and urine. The sensitivity of modern test strips is so high that even a small amount of the hormone can be trapped. With the help of digital tests, you can determine not only pregnancy, but also its duration: 1-2, 2-3 or 3+.

The level of hCG in the blood should correspond to the indicators given in the table. He can be:

• minimal;
• medium;
• maximum.

The values ​​of hCG during pregnancy after IVF are given in the table by days that have passed after the embryo implantation (DPP). There are no indicators of 3, 4 and 6 days in it.

Important! Any indicators, be it 55, 230, 600, 806, 1890 or 3400, need to be assessed only in relation to the number of days after planting. By themselves, these figures indicate only an increased level of the hormone in the blood and the presence of pregnancy.

On the 11th day, the indicator of 45 mU / ml is the maximum, and after 24 hours it is only average. Moreover, even 35-36 IU / ml is not a reason for despair. The main thing is that the level exceeds the norm and continues to grow.

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On the 16th day, the minimum hCG indicator in the table is 68 mU / mol, the average is 260, and the maximum is 400. On the 18th day, the values ​​increase to 220, 650 and 840, and on the 19 - to 370, 980 and 1300 mU / mol.

The HCG table by days after IVF will help determine the gestational age based on the results of the analysis. For example, the average for 21 days is 1960 mU / ml, but the range between 960 and 3100 mU / ml is also quite acceptable. For 22 days, the average value is 2680, but fluctuations in the range of 1050-4900 mU / ml are possible. After another day, the minimum value is 1440 mU / ml, and by the 26th day, the level of the hormone can reach 4200-15600 mU / ml.

There is another HCG table for IVF - by week. It is much more convenient for checking hormone levels in the later stages. However, not everything is so simple with her. Cases of a slow increase in the content of hCG in the blood are possible, so the test results are not always reliable. Most often this happens due to late implantation.

Since embryos do not have a clear schedule, modern science manages to determine only the approximate time of fertilization, the reaching of the ovum of the uterus and the embryo's introduction into its wall.

It has been proven that after IVF the level of hCG grows more slowly than after natural conception. This is due to the fact that with in vitro fertilization, implantation occurs later - about 10 days after the transfer. Accordingly, with IVF, a pregnancy test should be done a few days later. And it is important to take this feature into account when decoding the analysis results on your own.

In the case of twins, the hCG content is twice the average values ​​shown in the table, since two embryos develop in the uterus. This allows doctors to identify multiple pregnancies. The analysis results can be distorted by:

• diabetes;
• severe toxicosis;
• gestosis.

This is why the IVF procedure with an egg donor is popular -

Why is hCG growing slowly?

An increase in the amount of chorionic gonadotropin is the main indicator of pregnancy.

And don't get hung up on its level. Even if it is below the data shown in the table, do not panic.

Even a slow increase in the level of the hormone indicates the growth of the embryo.

There are several reasons for the slow growth of hCG. The most common ones are:

• thyroid problems;
• chronic or recent illnesses;
• individual characteristics of a woman's body.

Important! Only a doctor can determine the exact reason for the slow rise in the level of the hormone hCG. You should not take any action without consulting him.

A drop in hCG is an alarming signal that may indicate:

• frozen pregnancy;
• spontaneous abortion;
• miscarriage;
• ectopic pregnancy.

You should not panic ahead of time, because a decrease in hCG does not mean that IVF was unsuccessful. Placental insufficiency and the threat of termination of pregnancy can also lead to a decrease in the level of the hormone in the blood.

These conditions are dangerous, but they are corrected with medication if measures are taken in a timely manner. That is why it is best to do tests in the same center where IVF was performed, so that the attending physician can promptly prescribe therapy - a set of drugs to support the embryo.

Could the analysis be false?

If the analysis data differ significantly from the values ​​shown in the HCG table by days after IVF, this is not yet evidence of an error. The reason, most likely, is the use of other technologies and reagents by a particular laboratory, therefore the result turned out to be different from the average values.

Naturally, no one is immune from the mistakes of laboratory technicians, but in modern clinics, where the latest equipment is used, the human factor is practically excluded. In any case, it is best to show a dubious result to the attending physician so that he can explain it or send it back for analysis.

Quite often, a non-standard hormone level indicates a woman's poor health, in particular, the presence of various diseases. For example, a low content of hCG occurs with ovarian dysfunction, which does not interfere with the normal development of pregnancy.

As practice shows, in many women, the level of the hormone chorionic gonadotropin did not correspond to the norms prescribed in the table, and most of them successfully underwent IVF and learned the joy of motherhood.

Only in these cases is the PIXY procedure for IVF indicated -

If there is any doubt, it is better to do the analysis again. Firstly, the second result will be more accurate, since the content of hCG in the blood is constantly increasing. Secondly, such a solution will eliminate the possibility of error.

Although both home-use test strips and laboratory blood tests are based on the level of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin, the readings may differ. Most often, there are cases when the test gives a negative result, and the analysis is positive. It happens when a woman takes a rapid test too early or uses the strip incorrectly.

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