Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) tests the level of placenta-produced hormone during the early part of pregnancy. The hCG level increases in a predictable pattern in healthy pregnancy. Pregnancy that will end up to miscarriage shows hCG levels don’t increase accordingly while post-miscarriage level will bring back to the measurement before getting pregnant, which varies among women. Read on to learn how long it takes HCG levels to return to normal after miscarriage and what you should pay attention to if trying another pregnancy.
It is best to monitor and consult a physician about the changes on this level and see if there are abnormal fluctuations or increased in count that are indicative of other health issues.
How Long does It Take for HCG Levels to Return to Normal after Miscarriage?
Returning the hCG level to normal level depends on the pregnancy term and the initial measured level. Duration before hCG level returns to normal level can be within days in an early pregnancy or after a few weeks.
1. HCG Levels at the Time of Miscarriage
The duration of pregnancy affects the hCG levels on the body. For instance, the American Pregnancy Association indicates that the hCG levels is around 1,080 and 56,500 mlU/mL within two weeks after the first missed menstruation. Higher levels mean longer duration before it restores to normal count post-miscarriage.
2. Time Needed to Return to Normal
If a woman miscarried, the doctor will either remove the placental tissue through surgical procedures or see if it detached on its own. Without the placenta, hCG levels will drop to negative levels lower than 5mlU/L. The American Pregnancy Association explains that hCG will drop to negative level around four to six weeks after miscarriage.
3. Considerations
- Choriocarcinoma
It is vital to know the actual cause if the hCG level continues to increase despite miscarriage. Towards the end term of pregnancy, the placental root cells grow during miscarriage or after normal delivery and cause choriocarcinoma. Several studies show that the chemotherapy can treat choriocarcinoma in up to 90 percent of the cases as long as treatment is started early.
On the other hand, molar pregnancy can cause gestational trophoblastic disease and studies show that 10 percent of the collected cases show increased levels of hCG after removing the molar.
- Ectopic pregnancy
Another case when hCG levels continue to rise is when a woman had both a normal pregnancy and an ectopic pregnancy at the same time, even if the mother miscarried. Ectopic pregnancies, the instance when the fetus develops outside the uterus such as Fallopian tube, requires surgical operation or medications to stop the pregnancy. In essence, ectopic pregnancy cannot continue, particularly if they are in tubes, and will require different procedures like inducing surgically or medically. According to studies, one out of 4,000 pregnancies can be concurrent intrauterine or extrauterine pregnancies that require special medical attention.
4. Getting Pregnant Again
Pregnancy after miscarriage is quicker than many people expected. The next menstrual flow will start again after four to six weeks after miscarriage. In several rare cases, ovulation may start sooner, like two weeks after miscarriage. HCG level rises with the presence of new pregnancy and can be used as sign to see if the pregnancy is failing or not.
Personal Experiences of Other Women
Several women who miscarried are quite aware of their hCG level. They have been monitoring their conditions since the time they suspect the possibility of miscarriage. They take note of their hCG level and consulted with their physicians. The following is one example of how long it takes for their hCG levels to go back to normal.
Slow Recovery
I want to share my story here for other future mom’s reference. After miscarriage, I found comfort by reading other women’s stories here who coped despite the unfortunate event. Nevertheless, my case is somewhat unique, so I wanted to share it in case some future moms will have the same scenario. My hCG numbers are rare after miscarriaging (I was already on my tenth week, and took my ultrasound but we found out that our baby stopped developing on its sixth week). My blood test showed 56,000 hCG level. Took misoprostol two days after the blood test and after a week, my hCG is down to 1000. Around a week and a half, it’s down to 600 and decreased up to 130.2 after two weeks. My hCG level is finally at zero after 11 tests. Several days when my results showed 0 hCG when I got my very first AF post-miscarriage. It might take a while and although I’m very worried, I’m glad that I didn’t have any complications. My body took a slow turn. We tried, but I had no other news as of the moment since I had my period on the past week. My recovery is somewhat slow and other women might follow the same healing timeframe. However, remember that you’ll get through this part of your life. Don’t give up and good luck when you’re ready to conceive again.
Quick Recovery
Watch a video for one more case--hCG levels 6 days after miscarriage: