Cigarette smoking in pregnancy results in marked decrease in maternal hCG and oestradiol levels

Summary. We have examined serum levels of oestradiol (E2), sexhormone binding globulin (SHBG) and human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) during early pregnancy in relation to smoking status at the time of sampling in a series of 147 women. Smoking was associated with significantly depressed serum levels of E2, SHBG and hCG: in smokers, E2 levels were on average 17·6% lower (P=0·037), SHBG levels were 12·4% lower (P=0·15), and hCG levels were 21·5% lower (P=0·044). There appeared to be a steady decline in these values with increasing cigarette consumption. These lower hormone levels in smokers may explain certain adverse effects of smoking in pregnancy.

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