Pregnancy tests detect hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) hormone in the urine. hCG is produced by the woman's organism and is present during the first stages of pregnancy. In general, hCG doubles its levels every 72 hours.

 

hCG levels during pregnancy  
3 weeks after the last period: 5 – 50 mIU/ml
4 weeks after the last period: 5 – 426 mIU/ml
5 weeks after the last period: 18 – 7.340 mIU/ml
6 weeks after the last period: 1.080 – 56.500 mIU/ml
7-8 weeks after the last period: 7.650 – 229.000 mIU/ml
9-12 weeks after the last period: 25.700 – 288.000 mIU/ml
13-16 weeks after the last period: 13.300 – 254.000 mIU/ml
17-24 weeks after the last period: 4.060 – 165.400 mIU/ml
25-40 weeks after the last period: 3.640 – 117.000 mIU/ml
   
hCG levels during non-pregnancy: less than 5 mIU/ml
hCG levels after menaupause: approx. 9,5 mIU/ml

 

As you can see in the table above, hCG levels increase constantly from conception until about 10-12 weeks of pregnancy and then they tend to stabilize or even drop. This is the reason why pregnancy symptoms are more intense during the first trimester of pregnancy.

These numbers are just a guideline – every woman’s level of hCG can rise differently. It is not necessarily the level of the hormone that matters, but rather the increase in its levels.

 

Sources:

Source 1

Source 2

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