Elevated HCG levels

[TeaAndABiscuit]

I'm six weeks pregnant and have just been called by my GP to say my HCG levels are high (20500) and am having a scan tomorrow. I'm 38 and have had flu symptoms all week. Quite worried it is ectopic. Any ideas?

Not something i know about, just wanted to wish you luck for your scan tomorrow. I know how long a day waiting for one of those can seem

Thank you captain for your kind words xx

Haven't a clue I'm afraid, the only thing that came to my mind was multiples!

Hope everything goes ok xxx

Yes multiples or a molar pregnancy here can increase HCG levels.

Hope all is well x

Thank you x stupid question but what is a molar pregnancy?

Sorry just seen the link x

To update, I'm five weeks four days. Only one baby in there and not ectopic. I asked about molar pregnancy but they said they couldn't tell yet. 20500 seems about three times as high a HCG level as should be. Has anyone else been in a similar situation? Thanks x

Its really good news it is defintely not ectopic! I

'm sorry you didn't get a complete answer, though, it must be very hard to have to keep waiting.

Did they give you any indication of when they would know more?

Do you have to go back for another scan? How long do you have to wait?

Are they absolutely sure it's not multiples? They couldn't find mine (either of them) at five weeks four days, so they may have missed one..

My HGC levels were very high with my twins, but because they couldn't see anything on the scans they thought it was ectopic.

Thanks for your replies. Definitely one sac and definitely not ectopic (thank goodness!). They said there was a small cyst on my right ovary. I'm guessing it's a waiting game.

Not sure about another scan-I wasn't offered it and i can never think of questions at tge time. I might go and see my GP about another blood test. Thanks again x

Oh gosh a waiting game sounds grim. I never understand why they don't immediately give a follow up appointment rather than letting you wait- it seems so unfair. I'm so sorry you have got this worry and FX it turns out to be good news.

Bless you captain x

It's good news that it's not ectopic, I also know someone who was told at six weeks one baby and then twins at twelve weeks so missing one isn't unheard of.
Fingers crossed that all continues to go well.

My HCG levels were high at 12 weeks - I had to go for an extra growth scan at 28 weeks as it's linked to having a slightly (don't panic) smaller baby. But my consultant said he personally wasn't at all convinced by the link and bet his mortgage my baby would be the right size. It was.

Thanks again for you input. Would it be worth having a scan at eight weeks or wouldn't it show much more?

No clue I'm afraid as my levels weren't picked up until 12 weeks. I guess your next step is to rule out molar pregnancy - so perhaps if you take advice from your midwife / ultrasound unit on how far along you'll have to be before a molar pregnancy is obvious, and then book a scan around then?

Try not to worry - there are other explanations. Other posters have suggested a multiple they didn't pick up (it is very early) or in my case the midwife suggested a possible explanation was an initial multiple pregnancy.

Thanks Longtalljosie-good advice. I think I will contact the unit tomorrow.

All the best xx

HCG levels have a vast range of 'normal' in early pregnancy - what is more significant than the actual number is the rate of change IYKWIM.
AFAIK in a healthy pregnancy the level should roughly about double every 48-72 hours.

I'll go and see if I can find some more on this...

Thank you pacific. They are not monitoring the levels any further so I have no idea what rate they are rising at. All I know is I was called in as they were considered high.

This is quite a good summary.

You seem to fall more into the 6 week category, but as I said, the range is (confusingly) huge with big overlaps from week to week.

Sorry I didn't come back earlier - MN crashed on me and then I had bras to buy on MN advice

Right now there is no way of knowing what your levels mean, and no doubt you'll be worried, but you are being reviewed and hopefully will have an answer soon.
IME most things in pregnancy/childbirth will get checked and double-checked to not overlook something, which often causes a lot of anxiety until an answer has been found.

V best of luck x.
Do come back and let us know what emerge, won't you?

Thank you so much-of course I will and I would just like to thank everyone for the kindness they have shown me x

Actually I dont want to scare you but I really think that they should have offered you a follow up scan or blood test to checkk the hcg level again. I say this because I have had a molar pregnancy and it can be very serious.

I hope that your pregnancy is fine but please pester them for another scan!!

I also think it is bonkers they haven't offered you more follow up- if not for the molar risk then for the psychological weight of this.

Are you too nice? I don't mean that in a bad way, but i don't really like to rock the boat or seem to be difficult, and that does mean in the past i have allowed myself to be fobbed off.

My friend who is a senior registrar told me 'in the nhs, it is the squeaky hinge that gets the oil' which is rather a depressing thought, but I did have to get more vocal for them to start taking notice of me.