hCG Levels at Four Weeks of Development

Contributor

By Kendra Dahlstrom
eHow Contributing Writer

Article Rating:

(0 Ratings)

Four-week hCG levels

After fertilization and egg implantation, a woman's body begins producing a placenta. The cells that make the placenta begin producing a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Early in the pregnancy, around week four, rising levels often indicate a healthy pregnancy.

Average range

Although every woman experiences a different hCG number spectrum from the next, the normal range for four weeks gestation can go from as low as 5 mIU/ml to 426 mIU/ml, according to the American Pregnancy Association.

Time frame

HCG levels can be detected by a urine test around day 13 after conception and with a blood test around day 11. For most women, this is at about four weeks gestation since the week count starts at ovulation.

Test results

A positive pregnancy test registers anything over 25 mIU/ml, while less than 5 mIU/ml is considered negative. Since the average range for four weeks gestation starts as low as 5 mIU/ml, early testing can be inconclusive even if there is a pregnancy.

Increasing numbers

HCG levels typically double every 72 hours or so until around week 10. If a pregnancy test is inconclusive during week four, typically a positive test will register within several days to a week.