Time to hCG Clearance After Miscarriage
With an hCG level of 6.2 mIU/mL, your hCG will likely reach undetectable levels (<5 mIU/mL) within 2-7 days, though hCG can remain detectable for several weeks after pregnancy termination depending on how rapidly it was declining before reaching this low level. 1, 2
Understanding Your Current hCG Level
An hCG of 6.2 mIU/mL is already very close to the threshold of detection (most assays use <5 mIU/mL as "negative"), indicating your pregnancy tissue has already been cleared and you are in the final phase of hCG elimination 1
This level is well below the range that would suggest retained products of conception or ongoing trophoblastic activity 2
Expected Timeline for Complete Clearance
Most likely scenario: Your hCG will become undetectable within the next 2-7 days, as the half-life of hCG in serum is approximately 24-36 hours once pregnancy tissue is no longer producing it 2
The exact timing depends on your individual clearance rate and how quickly your hCG was declining before reaching 6.2 mIU/mL 1, 2
In some cases, very low levels of hCG (5-25 mIU/mL) can persist for several weeks after pregnancy termination, though this is less common when levels are already as low as 6.2 mIU/mL 1
When to Seek Follow-Up
If your hCG plateaus at this level (changes <15% over 48 hours for two consecutive measurements) or begins rising, you should contact your healthcare provider immediately, as this could indicate retained products of conception or, rarely, gestational trophoblastic disease 2
Repeat hCG testing in 1-2 weeks can confirm complete clearance if there is clinical concern, though this is typically not necessary when levels are already this low and you are asymptomatic 2
Important Considerations
Different laboratories use different assay sensitivities, so using the same laboratory for any follow-up testing is recommended to avoid confusion from varying detection thresholds 1, 2
A urine pregnancy test may remain faintly positive even after serum hCG becomes undetectable, as urine tests typically have a detection threshold of 20-25 mIU/mL 1
Once your hCG reaches zero, ovulation typically resumes within 2-4 weeks, so contraception should be used if pregnancy is not desired 1