Human chorionic gonadotropin as a measure of pregnancy duration

Objective

To compare gestational age (GA) estimates in early pregnancy, determined by last menstrual period (LMP), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) concentration, ultrasound crown–rump length (Hadlock formula), and ovulation day (luteinizing hormone surge plus 1 day).

Methods

Female volunteers seeking to conceive (at 5 US sites) collected daily early-morning urine for up to 3 menstrual cycles. Pregnant women underwent ultrasound dating scans. Conception cycle urine was quantitatively assessed for luteinizing hormone and hCG. Summary statistics for GA using each reference method were determined (n = 131).

Results

Correlation between GA determined by ultrasound and ovulation day was excellent (maximum difference 10 days); however, pregnancies dated by ultrasound were 3 days advanced. The difference between LMP estimates and estimates based on ovulation day or ultrasound was 9 and 12 days, respectively. A uniform rise in hCG on each day of pregnancy was seen using all reference methods. The accuracy of hCG measurement in determining the week since conception was more than 93%.

Conclusion

Methods for establishing pregnancy duration vary in their accuracy and their GA estimates. The rise in hCG concentration in early pregnancy is uniform and therefore hCG levels provide the most accurate, early estimation of GA in single, viable pregnancies.ClinicalTrials.gov:NCT01077583