Name: Francel Juliana D.

Develos Rating: ____________

Course, Year & Section: BSN 1C Date Performed: December 8,
2021

Exercise 8
HORMONES

I. Theoretical Background

Hormones are substances secreted by the endocrine glands that produce

profound physiological effects on the target organs and to the whole body in general.
Unlike enzymes, hormones do not initiate reactions but they influence the rate at
which these reactions proceed.

Hormones are classified according to the nature of their structure. There are
steroid hormones from the gonads and adrenal cortex. Some hormones are
derivatives of amino acids like those from the adrenal medulla and the thyroid.
Others are derivatives of fatty acids from the prostrate and seminal vesicles. There
are also hormones which are protein in nature.

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a peptide hormone in pregnancy, that

is made by the embryo soon after conception and later by the syncytiotrophoblast
(part of the placenta). Its role is to prevent the disintegration of the corpus luteum of
the ovary and thereby maintain progesterone production that is critical for a
pregnancy in humans. hCG may have additional functions, for instance it is thought
that it affects the immune tolerance of the pregnancy. Early pregnancy testing
generally is based on the detection or measurement of hCG

Pregnancy tests measure the levels of hCG in the blood or urine to indicate
the presence or absence of an implanted embryo. In particular, most pregnancy
tests employ an antibody that is specific to the β-subunit of hCG (βhCG). This is
important so that tests do not make false positives by confusing hCG with LH and
FSH. The latter two are always present at varying levels in the body, while hCG
levels are negligible except during pregnancy.

II. Objectives

After this activity the students are expected to:

1. describe the positive and negative results of hCG test using pregnancy kit.
2. explain the presence of hCG in the kit for positive result.
3. know the role of hCG to a woman’s body.
III. Material
Pregnancy kit
Urine of a pregnant and non-pregnant women

IV. Procedures:
1. Obtain urine samples from both pregnant and non-pregnant women.
2. Using a pregnancy test kit, follow the indicated procedures to determine
presence of human chorionic gonadotropic hormone.
3. Draw the results below.
4. Take pictures while doing the activity.

Results:

A. Pregnant Non-Pregnant

V. Question and Answer:

1. Why is human chorionic gonadotropin hormone present in the urine sample of

pregnant women?

The human chorionic gonadotropin hormone (hCG) is always present in the urine sample of
pregnant women, as a pregnant woman’s placenta produces such pregnancy hormone,
especially during the first 8-10 weeks of pregnancy. The secretion of hCG serves a great
significance for pregnant women and its levels increase rapidly, and eventually reach their
peak around the 10th week of pregnancy. However, such hormone eventually declines until
the time of delivery.

2. What are the functions of hCG in pregnancy?

The human chorionic gonadotropin hormone (hCG) primarily functions in the maintenance of
the female reproductive system, particularly the corpus luteum in the ovary. It ensures that the
corpus lutuem continuously produces progesterone throughout the first trimester of pregnancy, as
progesterone prevents the shedding of the womb lining; hence, creating a place for embryo
implanting. The continual production of progesterone is essential up until the placenta is
established because once the placenta is established, it replaces the role of the corpus lutuem in
the progesterone production. Such reason then explains why levels of hCG gradually declines
after the first trimester of pregnancy.

3. What level of hCG indicates pregnancy?

An hCG level above 25mIU/mL is usually considered to be pregnant, in which such levels are
especially visible during early pregnancy. Typically, the hCG levels double every 72 hours, and
will peak in the first 8-11 weeks of pregnancy (229,000-288,000 mIU/mL). Levels will gradually
decline and level off for the remainder of the pregnancy. On the other hand, a women is
considered negative for pregnancy if her hCG levels are less than 5mIU/mL.

4. What week of pregnancy does hCG show up?

Immediately after the formation of a zygote (fertilized egg), there is a production and release of
the human chorionic gonadotropin hormone (hCG). Their levels can be first detected by a blood
test, usually about 11 days after conception, and about 12-14 days (2 weeks) after conception for
it to be detected by a urine-based pregnancy test.

5. What are the signs and symptoms of pregnancy? (Give 5)

a.) One of the most common sign and symptoms of pregnancy is a MISSED PERIOD. If a
woman is in her childbearing years and went past her expected menstrual cycle date, this may
be an indication of pregnancy. However, such sign can also be misleading, especially for
women with irregular menstrual cycle.
b.) Together with a missed period, feeling of NAUSEA WITH OR WITHOUT
VOMITING can be another sign or symptom of pregnancy. Morning sickness often begins
one to two months after becoming pregnant, which can be attributed to the effects of hCG.

c.) Early pregnancy hormonal changes can cause TENDER, SWOLLEN BREAST. The skin
around the nipple also becomes darker, and the veins in the breast become more obvious.

d.) OVERWHELMING TIREDNESS/FATIGUE is one of the most common early signs of

pregnancy. The massive increase of progesterone during pregnancy contributes to this feeling,
and may also cause pregnant women to feel extra sleepy than usual.

e.) FOOD CRAVINGS are especially common in pregnancy. Pregnant women crave for foods
that provide energy and calcium, such as milk and other dairy products. A sudden change of food
preferences are also very common, along with food cravings in pregnant women.

VI. Conclusion:

To conclude, the human chorionic gonadotropin hormone (hCG) is a peptide hormone that plays
a significant role in the maintenance of the female reproductive system during pregnancy. Its role
is to ensure that the corpus lutuem continuously produces progesterone throughout the first
trimester of pregnancy. Progesterone is critical to pregnancy as its continuous secretion prevents
prevent the shedding of the womb lining; hence, creating a place for embryo implanting. hCG
also functions in the immune tolerance of women during pregnancy, and is one of the culprit for
the nauseous feeling of pregnant women. Levels of hCG can be measured by either blood or
urine pregnancy tests, which subsequently indicates if there is a presence or absence of an
embryo. Urine-based pregnancy tests are able to give accurate positive results, as they usually
infused with an antibody that is specific to the β-subunit of hCG (βhCG). Hence, the presence of
high βhCG levels is indicated once the sample urine shows a positive result (two lines =
pregnant.)

VII. Documentation: