HCG at 24,000, no fetal pole 5w3d

[sanguine_speed]

So I had a lot of abdominal pain at 2am, and by 5am I decided to go to emerg just to check things out. Turns out the source of discomfort is probably a leftover cyst, but they were a little concerned that there was no fetal pole. They want me to come back in a week. I am definitely 5 weeks, 3 days or more. He kept saying maybe I had my dates wrong. But that there's still a good chance things are fine.

It just concerns me that they'd want me back again so quickly to make sure.

Also, my hcg was 24,000, which was low on the scale they showed me for 5-6 weeks.

Any thoughts from anyone who has had these things monitored before? What are the odds that baby's fetal pole is just not visible yet? I've been a wreck since.

[Amylcd]

.s Everything is most likely fine. Don't give up hope yet...


I had nothing in my sac at 6 weeks with all three of my children. This time my hcg was 9,000 at 6 weeks 2 days, with nothing in the sac and my OB said it was normal. I'm currently 22 weeks pregnant with a healthy little baby

[DreamsInDigital]

It could be that your babe implanted later than you thought, which could potentially affect your HCG levels at this stage. 24,000 is still a good level. Try not to worry and hopefully the follow-up ultrasound will show some growth.

[*jeanine*]

I'll keep my : for you.

[beckyphry]

I'm wondering why they told you that 24,000 was on the low end for 5-6 weeks.

Weeks after conception and hCG levels:

0-1 week: 0-50 IU/L
1-2 weeks: 40 - 300
3-4: 500 - 6,000
1-2 months: 5,000 - 200,000
2-3 months: 10,000 - 100,000
2nd trimester: 3,000 - 50,000
3rd trimester: 1,000 - 50,000
Non-pregnant females: <5.0
Postmenopausal: <9.5

Guideline to hCG levels during pregnancy:

hCG levels in weeks from LMP (gestational age)* :

* 3 weeks LMP: 5 - 50 mIU/ml
* 4 weeks LMP: 5 - 426 mIU/ml
* 5 weeks LMP: 18 - 7,340 mIU/ml
* 6 weeks LMP: 1,080 - 56,500 mIU/ml
* 7 - 8 weeks LMP: 7, 650 - 229,000 mIU/ml
* 9 - 12 weeks LMP: 25,700 - 288,000 mIU/ml
* 13 - 16 weeks LMP: 13,300 - 254,000 mIU/ml
* 17 - 24 weeks LMP: 4,060 - 165,400 mIU/ml
* 25 - 40 weeks LMP: 3,640 - 117,000 mIU/ml
* Non-pregnant females: <5.0 mIU/ml
* Postmenopausal: <9.5 mIU/ml

* These numbers are just a GUIDELINE-- every woman’s level of hCG can rise differently. It is not necessarily the level that matters but rather the change in the level.

In any event, it sounds like things will be fine. I don't think the fetal pole is always visible this early. I know how scary it must be, though.

[sanguine_speed]

Originally Posted by DreamsInDigital

It could be that your babe implanted later than you thought, which could potentially affect your HCG levels at this stage. 24,000 is still a good level. Try not to worry and hopefully the follow-up ultrasound will show some growth.

Thank you! The thing is, I monitored my O, so I know pretty much when I did, and I got an early + (8-9dpo) so I know I implanted promptly.

It does appear that this is normal and I have little to really worry about. It's just the alarmist attitude I sensed from the doc and u/s tech who kept asking me if I was sure of my dates. I'm sure I interpreted their messages with my own "worry filter" in place too.

Thanks for the reassurance everyone. I really appreciate it.

[*jeanine*]

A friend of mine had an early u/s and they saw "nothing". They wanted to schedule a d&c for the next week. She's now 20 weeks pregnant with that baby. Sometimes they're wrong.

[wanderinggypsy]

My ultrasounds prior to 6 weeks always showed empty sacs.

Also, did they do a transvaginal ultrasound or just an abdominal? Sometimes things can be seen via the transvag. one that don't show up on the abdominal one. But not always, so even if you did have a transvag. ultrasound it's not all that reliable at such an early date.

I'd rebook for in another week or two and see what it shows at that point. Good luck!!! (And for what it's worth, that's a good strong HCG reading for where you're at).

[AugustLia23]

Those early ultrasound can produce more concerns than comforts!! Hope all is well.

[Red Sonja]

Not in your DDC, but when pregnant with DS I had an ultrasound at around 5 1/2 weeks to rule out an ectopic pregnancy and we couldn't see *anything*. No fetal pole, no sac. Everything turned out fine.

Good luck, I know how worried you must be feeling right now!