Health examinations
人類絨毛膜賀爾蒙 (女) β-hCG
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (β-hCG)

*β-hCG is a hormone secreted by the trophoblast cells of the placenta. It increases rapidly during the early stages of pregnancy and is commonly used for pregnancy testing as well as diagnosing certain diseases. For women, the β-hCG test is used not only to confirm pregnancy but also to diagnose and monitor some tumors.

*Normal Range
Non-pregnant women: < 5 mIU/mL
Pregnant women: β-hCG levels begin to rise 7-10 days after fertilization, peaking around 8-11 weeks of pregnancy (approximately 10,000-200,000 mIU/mL).

*Causes of Elevated β-hCG
-Pregnancy:
--Normal Pregnancy: Rapid elevation of β-hCG is a key indicator of a normal pregnancy.
--Abnormal Pregnancy: In cases of ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage risk, β-hCG levels may rise abnormally (either too slowly or decrease).
-Tumor-related Conditions:
--Gestational Trophoblastic Disease: Conditions such as molar pregnancy or choriocarcinoma often lead to a significant increase in β-hCG levels.
--Ovarian Tumors: Certain ovarian tumors (e.g., embryonal carcinoma) may cause elevated β-hCG levels.
-Other Conditions:
Some non-gynecological cancers, such as lung cancer or gastric cancer, may also result in elevated β-hCG levels, although this is rare.

*Health Recommendations
-Pregnancy Testing:
If β-hCG is elevated, further testing should be performed to confirm whether it is a normal pregnancy. Ultrasound examination may be necessary to rule out ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage risk.
-Tumor Screening and Monitoring:
If β-hCG is elevated in non-pregnant women, further imaging and tumor marker tests should be done to determine whether a tumor or gestational trophoblastic disease is present.
-Regular Monitoring:
For patients with gestational trophoblastic tumors, β-hCG levels can be used to monitor treatment effectiveness and assess the risk of recurrence.

*Conclusion
β-hCG is an important indicator of women's health, used not only for confirming pregnancy but also for assisting in the diagnosis of trophoblastic diseases and certain tumors. If test results are abnormal, they should be evaluated in conjunction with clinical symptoms and other tests for a comprehensive assessment.