What it means
A hormone made by the cells that become the placentapluh-SEN-tuhThe organ that grows in the uterus during pregnancy and passes oxygen and food from the parent's blood to the fetus.Full entry , soon after a fertilized egg implants. It keeps progesterone being made early in pregnancy. Home and lab pregnancy tests detect it in urine; a blood test can measure the exact amount. In early pregnancy the level roughly doubles every two to three days. Some tumors also make it, so it is used as a tumor marker.
For the nurse
A pregnancy test is often required before surgery, x-rays and drugs that can harm a fetus in people who could be pregnant. A level that rises too slowly or falls may point to an ectopic pregnancy or a pregnancy loss.
At a glance
| Abbreviations | hCG; beta-hCG (the part most tests measure) |
|---|---|
| Spanish | gonadotropina coriónica humana |
| Also written | hCG, beta-hCG, β-hCG |
Related terms
placenta
The organ that grows in the uterus during pregnancy and passes oxygen and food from the parent's blood to the fetus.
hormone
A chemical messenger made by a gland or organ and carried in the blood to act on cells elsewhere in the body.
prenatal
Before birth; during pregnancy.
gestation
The time a baby develops in the uterus, from conception to birth; pregnancy.