QuestionHi there, I m 32, and am pregnant for the first time. My last menstrual period was on 4/7/06. I went in for an early evaluation last week because I had been having some severe abdominal pain. My HCG levels were at 37,000, which the doctor said were high for 5.5 weeks and they expected me to be further along. The ultrasound showed a gestational sac and yolk sac, but nothing else. Is it normal to have such high hcg levels at this point and still not be able to see a fetal pole? I m concerened that it might be a blighted ovum.
AnswerIf your last period started on April 7, you should now be 6 weeks pregnant today. Last week you should have been 5 weeks in spite of the HCG results. Usually, prior to 6 weeks we only see an empty gestational sac. However after 6 weeks, we can see the fetus and a fetal heartbeat. A Beta HCG of 37,000 is normal at 5-6 weeks. The range at 5-6 weeks is 10,000 to 100,000/ Don't worry. Everything appears normal.
