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Normal Levels of HCG in Men

Human chorionic gonadotropin, or HCG, is a hormone normally produced by a woman's placenta when she is pregnant. According to WebMD.com, HCG can also be produced by some cancerous tumors that begin in a sperm cell within a man's testicles.

  1. Baseline

    • According to Flash-Med.com, the level of HCG in the blood of a non-pregnant woman or a man is normally below 3mIU/ml, or 3-thousandth of an international unit of HCG per milliliter of blood.

    Significance

    • The American Cancer Society says an elevated HCG level in a man's blood suggests he has some form of testicular cancer. HCG is considered a tumor marker in men because of this association with testicular cancer.

    Diagnosis

    • The American Cancer Society says a doctor will look at blood levels of HCG, as well as another hormone known as alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), to identify the specific type of testicular tumor a man has.

    Effects

    • When a man produces HCG, he may notice that his breasts are sore or enlarged.

    Considerations

    • According to the American Cancer Society, serial measurements of HCG levels in a man's blood help his doctor diagnose, stage and follow-up some kinds of testicular cancer.

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