hCG Levels & Twins: Understanding a Pregnancy with Multiples
The infamous pregnancy hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG for short), is one of the most important hormones required for a successful pregnancy. In a nutshell, hCG helps the body build a safe and supportive nest for growing a baby.
A woman who is not pregnant will likely have a baseline hCG level of less than 5 MIU/ml. If conception occurs, hCG then rises rapidly during the early phases of pregnancy and peaks sometime around week 10. In women carrying a single child, hCG may reach over 200,000 mIU/ml. However, in women carrying multiples, this number may be much higher.
If you suspect that you may be having multiples, this article will address some of the questions you may have about hCG levels, twins, and what hCG ranges to expect throughout a multiple pregnancy. We’ll also follow up with some guidance on how to test for hCG either at home or at your doctor’s office.
