Human chorionic gonadotrophin: best known as a pregnancy hormone.
What it is
HCG rises in pregnancy and is also used in specific clinical pathways outside pregnancy. Context is everything.
Why it matters
Unexpected HCG results need urgent clinical clarification.
This guide is educational only and cannot diagnose you. Discuss results, especially anything outside your laboratory’s reference interval, or that does not match how you feel, with a GP or other appropriately qualified clinician.
How it affects the body
HCG supports early pregnancy physiology when produced by placental tissue.
For athletes
Not a routine training marker, only test with a clear clinical reason.
