What do high hcg levels mean?

I had some brown spotting over the past couple of days so decided to have my blood levels tested. As the nurse said, "the numbers are very reassuring" because I'm 6w2days and they are 55,488. Of course I am happy my spotting doesn't seem problematic (!), but I am also curious about these numbers. Does 55,488 seem high to you? If it were twins, would the levels be high?? (I can't help my mind from going there!...)

[candie26]

Here are hcg levels from

http://www.americanpregnancy.org/duringpregnancy/hcglevels.html

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

I'd say you're fine.

[Soopa4]

Thanks Candie. Curiously, do you know if hcg levels for twins would be higher?

[candie26]

I think so. There are websites that give average hcg levels for singleton and twin pregnancies. Try google. Do you think you may be having twins? EXCITING!!!!

[candie26]

Check out this website:

http://www.conceivingconcepts.com/education_article-pregnancy.shtml?article=NjAwNXN1cGVyNjAwMnNlY3JldDYwMDk%3D

Great Info!

[lovefamily]

I heard that high HCG levels can indicate mutiples or downs.  So, lets trust that you are going to have twins.  Also, I know some hospitals use different blood test, so what may seem high to one may be perfectly normal for there test.  Best of luck & Blessings!

[Soopa4]

Candie, the article on that website was really helpful. Thank you! It made me feel as if I shouldn't infer too much from the numbers. And although my numbers were on the high end of the range, they are still WITHIN the normal range.