The hormone that confirms pregnancy is human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).
What is hCG?
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a hormone produced by the placenta after a fertilized egg implants in the uterine wall. This hormone is detectable in the blood and urine of pregnant individuals as early as 10 days after conception. Both blood tests and home urine pregnancy tests measure the levels of hCG to determine pregnancy. Higher levels generally indicate a developing pregnancy. The level of hCG increases significantly throughout the first trimester.
How hCG is Used to Confirm Pregnancy:
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Home Pregnancy Tests: These convenient tests detect hCG in your urine. A positive result indicates the presence of hCG, confirming pregnancy. Many over-the-counter tests are available, and they vary slightly in sensitivity.
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Blood Tests: Blood tests provide a more accurate and quantitative measurement of hCG levels. They're frequently used in clinical settings to confirm pregnancy and monitor its progression, especially in cases of ectopic pregnancies or other complications. Blood tests can detect hCG earlier than home urine tests.
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Monitoring Pregnancy: Throughout pregnancy, tracking hCG levels helps healthcare providers monitor fetal development and identify potential problems. Regular hCG monitoring is particularly crucial in high-risk pregnancies.
Several sources confirm this information: The FDA states that home pregnancy tests measure hCG in urine,^1 while the Cleveland Clinic and MedlinePlus[^2, ^3] explain that hCG is the hormone measured by both home and blood pregnancy tests. The NHS^4 also mentions hCG blood tests in pregnancy diagnosis.
