Plasma human chorionic gonadotropin levels after induced abortion.

In the present study, we evaluated the elimination time and the disappearance curve of maternal plasma hCG after induced abortion in 44 patients. The patients were divided into two groups: patients in group 1 had gestations at or at less than 8 weeks and group 2 consisted of patients with gestations at more than 8 weeks in whom sharp curettage was utilized. The entire group had a mean of 48,342 mIU/ml baseline level of maternal plasma hCG. After the evacuation of the uterine cavity, a rapid decrease of plasma hCG occurred within the first week, followed by a gradual decline until elimination was total. The mean disappearance time of plasma hCG was 30 days. The disappearance curve of hCG was found to be in a form similar to that described before. No significant difference was found between the two groups. We conclude that when the appropriate method is used for pregnancy termination, the time between the procedure and disappearance of hCG depends on the initial hCG value.