Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday · Episode Tool

Is my hCG rising the way it should?

A companion to two episodes — "My hCG Didn't Double" and "Empty Uterus, High hCG." Type in your numbers to see the context your doctor uses. This does not diagnose anything — it's the same math from the show, explained.

Most clinics draw 48 hours apart, but this works for any interval.
—% change
—
Est. doubling time
—
Minimum expected rise
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Not a diagnosis. As Dr. Amols explains in the episode, the "must double every 48 hours" rule comes from a 1981 study of just 20 patients — the real minimum expected rise depends on your starting hCG level, and even a "too slow" rise doesn't confirm miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy, and a "normal" rise doesn't confirm the pregnancy is in the uterus. One number is one data point. Severe pain, heavy bleeding, dizziness, or fainting need urgent care — don't wait for the next blood draw.

It's the hCG level above which a normal, viable pregnancy is usually — but not always — visible on ultrasound. It's a probability threshold, not a hard biological line.

<1500
1500–3500
>3500

Rough illustration only — the actual threshold varies by clinic, ultrasound equipment, and number of embryos.

This is called a "pregnancy of unknown location" (PUL) — not the same thing as an ectopic pregnancy. It can mean: an early viable pregnancy not yet visible, a miscarriage in progress, an ectopic pregnancy, or (with IVF) different expected dating. Ultrasound shows anatomy; hCG shows biochemistry. Neither alone tells the whole story — that's why doctors often repeat both.

Severe abdominal or pelvic pain, shoulder pain, dizziness, fainting, weakness, or heavy bleeding require urgent medical evaluation — this tool is educational and not a substitute for individualized care.
🎧 Listen: "My hCG Didn't Double" →
🎧 Listen: "Empty Uterus, High hCG" →