Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (Noun)
Meaning
Hormone produced early in pregnancy by the placenta; detection in the urine and serum is the basis for one kind of pregnancy test.
Classification
Nouns denoting substances.
Examples
- The presence of human chorionic gonadotropin in a woman's urine is a reliable indicator of pregnancy, and many home pregnancy tests rely on this detection.
- During early pregnancy, the placenta begins to produce human chorionic gonadotropin, which stimulates the ovary to continue producing progesterone.
- Blood tests for human chorionic gonadotropin are more sensitive than urine tests and can detect pregnancy earlier.
- Human chorionic gonadotropin is a hormone that plays a critical role in maintaining the corpus luteum during early pregnancy.
- Elevated levels of human chorionic gonadotropin in the blood can be a sign of pregnancy or certain types of cancer, including choriocarcinoma.