Can it Take Longer To Detect HCG if Overweight?

With obesity on the rise throughout the US, it poses the question ‘Can it take longer to detect HCG if you are overweight?’ When women fall pregnant they need to alter their lifestyle in the way they eat and avoid tobacco and alcohol usage. Can an at-home pregnancy kit give false results depending on your weight?

Can it Take Longer to Detect HCG if Overweight?

A missed period is the first indicator that you could be pregnant, yet all your tests are negative. So can your weight affect HCG levels? Yes, it might take longer to detect HCG if a woman is overweight. When pregnant your body produces HCG which doubles every 48 hours. When a mom is over or underweight the amount of HCG is considerably lower resulting in a false negative test result.

HCG -The Pregnancy Hormone

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin otherwise known as hCG is a hormone that is created in the placenta of an expecting mom. This is why it is known to be the pregnancy hormone. 

Levels of hCG are detected by blood tests and at-home pregnancy kits. Typically your blood will show hCG roughly eleven days after conception and a urine testing kit will detect hCG around two weeks after conception. 

Low levels of hCG can alter the result of any test especially if you are testing early. This hormone doubles in concentration every 48-72 hours which is why many women decide to retest after a few days.

False Negative Tests

A false negative test is a real issue for moms. Finding the two lines means that you can ensure a healthy lifestyle immediately whether it’s avoiding raw foods and deli meats or stopping the usage of tobacco and alcoholic products. 

Getting a false negative test result is misleading to the expecting mom but why do they happen?

As we identified you will only obtain a positive result if HCG levels are high enough to detect. There are many factors that alter the concentration of HCG in your blood.

• Testing too early – Your HCG levels may not be high enough to signal a positive result.
• Not following instructions – The most common reason many women get an invalid or false result. Following the instructions is key, this means not looking too early or leaving it too late to read the results.
• Being overweight – If you have a higher BMI, your HCG levels are naturally lower which can make at-home testing kits less sensitive.
• Diluted urine – If you have drunk a lot before testing then your urine may not be strong enough to ping that positive result.

Does Obesity Affect HCG Levels in Pregnancy?

It is important to recognize that the figures we are about to discuss are purely for guidance and reference. Every woman has different levels of hCG to begin with and has had very healthy pregnancies followed by delivering perfect newborns. 

According to the American Pregnancy Association (APA), the list below are the expected levels of HCG alongside the expectant weeks.

As you can see the range in these numbers can be quite considerable but it is important to remember a low HCG level doesn’t always signify a problem. As long as your HCG level is increasing then things should be moving in the right direction.

Being overweight can hinder a woman’s chances of becoming pregnant or it may take longer to detect a viable pregnancy. A woman is classed overweight if their body mass index is between 25- 29.9 and clinically obese if their BMI is 30 +.

Many researchers have studied the results of obese women and hormone levels during pregnancy. One study found that a comparison between women with a healthy BMI compared to those with a higher scale had shown a significant difference when it came to their hormone levels.

So does being overweight affect your hcg levels? The study above found that yes an increase in body weight had lower levels of hCG and progesterone levels during early pregnancy. This also answers the question can it take longer to detect hcg if overweight.

Another research study concluded the following “Patients with obesity achieving live births had statistically significantly lower initial serum hCG values compared with patients who were not obese.”

This is clear proof that your weight can alter the result of a pregnancy test.

As mentioned the level of hormones in your system don’t underestimate the fact you could be very pregnant as both studies went on to show that hormone levels still increased at the same rate as those who were of a healthy weight.

Can Being Overweight Harm My Baby?

Having a high BMI will put you in the high risk category. There are several things you should be aware of during your pregnancy and also the effects it has on your baby.

During pregnancy:

• Higher percentage of miscarriage, stillbirths and reoccurring loss.
• Preeclampsia – due to high blood pressure.
• Gestational diabetes. 
• Sleep apnea. 
• Surgical or assisted birth – C section.

After birth:

• Congenital disorders.
• Growth problems.
• Large birth weight.
• Childhood asthma.
• Cognitive problems and developmental delay.
• Childhood obesity.

During my first pregnancy I was classed with a BMI over 30 meaning I sat in the obese category my entire pregnancy. I can identify with some of the things mentioned above. Whilst my pregnancy was textbook I had quite a time in the delivery room. 

Now, this could be a coincidence but it is rather strange that assisted delivery comes in this list. My daughter was born a hearty 9 pounds 2 ounces but she was measuring as an extremely large baby whilst I was pregnant hence the reason I was induced. She now suffers from asthma and we were in and out of hospital quite a bit at the beginning of her life.

During my second pregnancy, my BMI had come right down, personally I think this was because I had another child to run around after and I was trying to keep a balanced healthy lifestyle to promote healthy choices in my daughter. When it came to my delivery I must admit I had the most wonderful birthing experience. My second daughter was considerably smaller weighing 7 pound 6 ounces. But was and is perfectly healthy in every way. 

So were both my experiences down to my weight? No one will know for sure yet some proof points toward the science and research between obesity within expecting moms.

Promoting Healthy Weight Gain During Pregnancy

Weight gain during pregnancy is inevitable. You are not only carrying another human but you also have to account for the excess fluid and placenta too. 

With that being said, a healthy pregnancy wouldn’t coincide with a dramatic weight increase. A steady weight gain of around 11-20 pounds is considered to be normal for a single pregnancy. 

A mom expecting multiple babies will obviously gain more weight around 35- 50 pounds on average.

Your medical team will monitor your weight as your pregnancy progresses and will encourage you on ways you can maintain a healthy lifestyle to ensure not only your health but your baby’s too.

You must promote a healthy weight gain by eating a balanced diet and taking part in light exercise can help keep you mobile as your belly grows. What you eat your baby is eating too so a plate of junk food may sound amazing but it is not the best way to promote healthy development during pregnancy.

To be realistic you don’t have to diet or follow any specific requirements but the terminology of “eating for two” should be avoided. So eat those snacks and enjoy your cravings in moderation. It will help you with your post-baby weight loss too!

Exercise can be completed but always check with your healthcare team so you know what should be avoided and ways you can keep active, obviously starting to weight train during your pregnancy is not recommended but classes like prenatal Yoga and water aerobics can take the strain off those aching muscles whilst keeping you fit and strong. Sitting on the couch for nine months is not going to help you or your baby!

Wrapping Up

Research has identified that hormone levels are lower in overweight women compared to those within a healthy BMI category. 

The question ‘Can it take long to detect HCG if you are overweight?’ Has been identified and answered so if you suspect you are pregnant but still have negative tests opt to retest in a few days or visit your doctor for bloods.

Obesity is rising amongst the population in the US which is cause for concern but for women the presence of a developing fetus in a healthy pregnancy can carry extra risks which should be taken seriously. 

If you are classed as obese then taking the precautions recommended by your doctors can ensure you have a healthy pregnancy and baby.

More to read:

• What Is A Dye Stealer Pregnancy Test?
• Can 12 Hours Make a Difference in a Pregnancy Test?
• Does Taking a Pregnancy Test Apart Make it Invalid?