What is the role of hCG in early pregnancy?

hCG, or human chorionic gonadotropin, is a hormone that supports the normal development of an egg in a woman's ovary and stimulates the release of the egg during ovulation.

hCG, short for human chorionic gonadotropin, is a hormone that plays a crucial role in the early stages of pregnancy. It is produced by cells that are part of the placenta, which is the organ that develops during pregnancy to provide nutrients to the growing baby. The primary role of hCG is to maintain the corpus luteum, a structure in the ovaries that produces progesterone during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Progesterone is a hormone that is essential for the normal development of pregnancy. It prepares the uterus for the implantation of the fertilised egg and helps to maintain the pregnancy once the egg has implanted. If the levels of progesterone drop, it can lead to a miscarriage. Therefore, by maintaining the corpus luteum and stimulating it to produce progesterone, hCG plays a vital role in supporting the early stages of pregnancy.

In addition to this, hCG is also the hormone that is detected in pregnancy tests. It is released into the mother's bloodstream and urine shortly after the fertilised egg implants into the uterine wall. The levels of hCG increase rapidly in the early stages of pregnancy, doubling approximately every two to three days. This rapid increase, along with its role in supporting the development of the pregnancy, makes hCG a key hormone in the early stages of pregnancy.

In summary, hCG is a hormone that is produced in the early stages of pregnancy. It supports the normal development of the pregnancy by maintaining the corpus luteum and stimulating it to produce progesterone. It is also the hormone that is detected in pregnancy tests.