How long does hCG stay in your system after birth?

The American Pregnancy Association says that pregnancy levels of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) return to normal about four to six weeks after pregnancy ends. The hCG levels peak in the eighth to eleventh weeks of pregnancy, and then begin to decline.

According to the American Pregnancy Association, hCG is a hormone released by the placenta during pregnancy. It is one of the hormones that easily allows pregnancy to be verified, as it can be detected in a pregnant woman's blood about 11 days after conception, and in urine 12-14 days after conception. Non-pregnant women normally have less than 5.0 mIU/ml of hCG in their bodies.