Shared Journey HOME

There is a chance. Hang in there. Although the value is not doubling every two days as expected, it may still be O.K. If it starts to decline or plateau, then you are in trouble. Best of luck.

reply

Dear Dr. Smith,
Today 18 days post day 3 embryo transfer my HCG is 252 and my progesterone is 32. (13 days PT HCG was 74, 16 days PT HCG was 145). Its still not close to doubling. Any thoughts?
thanks,
laura

reply

Hang in there until the numbers start to go down or plateau. Until then, nobody really knows. Sorry. I'm sure you're going crazy not knowing what's going on.

reply

Laura,

I am going through the same thing right now. 11/25 beta 104, 11/27 beta 164 and 11/29 beta 254. They aren't saying much my progesterone is 25 and I have to go on 12/5. What happened with your pg???

Dawn

reply

Hi Dawn,
I will keep my fingers crossed about your pregncacy!
As for me, the doctors are saying that there is still a chance. If two embryos implanted but only one is viable it could make the bHCG results not double for a time. I am currenly in limbo waiting for an early ultrasound(ug)
laura

reply

Laura,

How far along are you? We are going back tomorrow because I have had some discomfort to get checked. I am not sure if they are doing just bloodwork or an ultrasound too, but I am sure we won't see much. I am just hoping if the do bloodwork the levels will rise good. Thanks for the reply.

Dawn

reply

Hi Dawm,
I am 31 days post day 3 transfer. I am having my ultrasound next week at 38 days post transfer. I am not sure what they will be looking for. It is to early to see a heart(6-7weeks). How about you? good luck!
laura

reply

Laura,

I just wanted to let you know that I went in today for my levels and an ultrasould. We went up to 2249 and progesterone of 17, not only that there are two beans. Yup it is twins. Hang in there and let me know how you are doing!

dawn

reply

HI, I am new I had my first IVF transfer on March 12.
Pregnancy test BFP on 3/23/06 hcg #25, the 3/25/06 hcg 40, then 3/27/06 hcg 73, then 3/29 hcg 140. I go for my first ultrasound on April 5th. I have been looking at all the numbers and I have not seen any like mine, Can someone let me know what they think? if this will work? Thanks

reply

You hCG values started off on the low side, but they are doubling every two days as expected. At this point, it is impossible to predict if this will be a successful term pregnancy. I imagine that your doctor will continue to monitor the hCG and perform an ultrasound if the hCG continues to rise appropriately. Cautious optimism is in order. Good luck.

reply

I had my first HCG Score, 229 - the doctor said it was high for one but not so high twins were a sure thing. Two days later I had my second HCG Score, 270. The doctor said it could be that a twin is dying off or that it could be a tubal pregnancy. I am supposed to go in again in 2 days. Can someone be low rising and then show an increase? How can they determine which thing is occuring to me? Is there anything you can personally do to impact you HCG increase rate?

reply

Unfortunately you will just have to wait it out. The "vanishing twin" is fairly common and that seems the most likely explanation for the attenuated rise in the hCG. If this is the case, your hCG will rise appropriately from now on. Your doctor will be able to determine a tubal pregnancy if your hCG continues to rise (not necessarily appropriately), but a gestational sac is not visible in the uterus by ultrasound at 3-4 weeks after the positive hCG test.

reply

Hi. I had 2 successful pregnancies, then I lost one at 11 weeks last July. We have been trying ever since, and were unsuccessful. So were were about to go for fertility treatments when we found out we were indeed pregnant. However, I had light brown spotting.I had the HCG tests done at 5 weeks pregnant on 4/17 and it was 3200 and again on 4/19 and it was 5500. It didnt double so what does that mean for me? I had slight light pink discharge today. I go for an early ultrasound this coming week to see the babies development, if any.Its so devastating to lose a child, especially when you know you can have children. Has anyone had this happen, where your levels do not double as they should, but they do go up? Help!!!

reply

The doubling guideline only applies to the very early hCG values. You were farther along in your pregnancy when you got the pregnancy test, so the doubling guideline may not apply. The discharges/spotting are within the norm for early pregnancy. Another cause of a slowing in the rate of rise on the hCG is the "vanishing twin". Initially a twin pregnancy is established, but one of the twins fails to develop and release the hCG hormone. There can be dip in the hCG values and then they pick up again. The ultrasound will tell more about what is happening.

Best of luck.

reply

Hi Doctor Smith. Im not sure if you were responding to my post, but i am the one who was asking about the HCG numbers doubling. You say it refers to early on in the pregnancy. Well how early? I am only 6 weeks and was only 5 weeks when I got the HCG tests done. Also, is there a chance my Progesterone is low and should have that tested? I have heard many women have to take Progesterone early in pregnancy when spotting to reduce risk of miscarriage. Thanks.

reply

I answered your other post.

reply

I know that doctor. But i had other questions that is why i posted the 2nd one.

reply

Yes, very low progesterone can be a problem in early pregnancy, but if it wasn't measured, there's no way to know. If it was measured, and it was below 9 ng/ml, then it may be contributing to the problem. I still think it "vanishing twin" (which is more common than low progesterone).

reply

My hcg level (after ivf) is 7.8. This is 12 days post transfer. They said it should be at least 50, but usually over 100. My dr. said stop progesterone, I should get my period in a few days. I feel like he is giving up. Is there hope?

reply

You had a "chemical" pregnancy. The embryo implanted, but failed to develop. This is usually due to a genetic problem with the embryo. An alternative explanation is that your body rejected the developing embryo (i.e. an autoimmune problem). Discuss these posibilities with your doctor in your follow up.

reply

Sorry to be Dr Doom 'n' Gloom, but I think there is no hope in your case. The low hCG is indicative of a "chemical" pregnancy. The embryo attached to the endometrium and initiated implantation, but then failed to develop further. This is usually due to abnormalities in the genetics of the embryo (see previous post). It is a frequent occurrence for both fertile and infertile women. It is nature's way of preventing abnormal pregnancies from continuing to term.

reply

Dr. Smith, Thanks so much for your posting.

My next question is whether we should do another IVF.

I am 41 adn husband 44 with low count/motility problem.

We have had 6 failed IUI and this was the first IVF.

With more than double the follistom (250iu twice/day), they only got 3 eggs with one fair/2 poor conditions. All fertilized with ICSI. On day 3, one was 6 cells, one stll 4 and one with more/but irregular shapes.

In our case, do you think it worth to do more IVF with poor sperm and now egg quality? What options available?


Thanks again.

-Bo

reply

At 41, approximately 80-90% of your eggs are genetically abnormal. In order to have a reasonable chance of success, you would have to produce around 10 eggs on an IVF cycle (about 12 mature follicles developing at the time of retrieval) on your next cycle. Your last cycle would indicate that this is unlikely.

Using donated eggs would vastly improve your chances, even with the sperm problems (which can be overcome with ICSI).

reply

Dr. Smith, Thanks so much for the information...

With my current pregnancy (low HCG), Does it hurt to stay on progesterone till it fail? Reading on the internet I only found one case turning around . I know the chance is very very slim. My doctor wants to pull off Progesterone and extrace whcih will push the m/c. I wonder if it doesn't hurt to wait till m/c or 6/7 weeks when the HCg is high enough for ultrasound?

I don't have any spotting or abdorminal pain, just a bit fatig last few days.

Which way would you recommend? Thanks so much.

-Bo

reply

These are medical questions and outside my area of expertise. Usually, its prudent to follow your doctor's instructions in these matters.

reply

Hi there I am in the same boat and need some advice. I had an IVF ET and at 11DPT my HCG was 23, today 15DPT it was only 42... it's not looking good and I am so dissappointed. They want me to go back on the 19th of the month for another HCG... do I have any hope??? Amy

reply

Thanks for the info I will let you know how it turns out.. Amy

reply

well my numbers went down to 21 so after AF I am on to FET. Any ideas on this, I have 14 frozen embryos! What are the success rates fresh vs. frozen? Medicated or not? Thanks Amy

reply

In general, the pregnancy rates for medicated and unmediated cycles is the same. However, medicated cycles make things much more predictable for the patient, physicans and the lab.

The implantation rate for frozen-thawed cell stage embryos (i.e. frozen on Day 3) is about half that of frozen-thawed blastocyst stage embryos. I always recommend thawing Day 3 embryos and culturing the "surviving"embryos to the blastocyst stage (particularly when the patient has several Day 3 frozen embryos). That way you know which embryos have truly "survived" the freeze-thaw process and continued development to the point where they are capable of attachment and implantation (only blastocyst stage embryos can attach to the endometrium and initiate implantation).

reply

Hello Dr. Smith,

I guess I am adding myself to the failure list. I posted once a message where I explained that I had 2 embies transfer 1-7 cell and 2-6 cell. Well, we were happy for 5 days when we were told "congratulations" that was on 6/23. 2 days later I began spotting-had my hcg checked and had double to 61.7 and progesterone was 18.7 since then on 6/28 my hcg is at a low of 74.7 and progesterone 23.
My RE's nurse called me with the bad news and told me to stopped with all meds and most likely I will be getting my period and one more thing that if by Friday my hcg is still growing then I would have to take medication to abort.
I saw your post about autoimmune problem and i will be looking into it, but what else could of gone wrong? Never had a miscarriage before and I conceived once a healthy boy naturally ever since my tubes are obstructed and never again pregnat but this second time with IVF. Thanks for your advice.

reply

Nothing necessarily went "wrong", but I would suspect embryo quality (e.g. abnormal genetics). It is impossible to say for sure, but abnormal blastocyst stage embryos having very few stem cells produce "chemical" pregnancies such as yours. Chemical pregnancies are common, even amongst the "fertile" population. It is nature's way of terminating the abnormal pregnancy as early as possible, so that you can try again on the next cycle. It is natural to search for answers following a chemical pregnancy, but it may be just part of the natural process of reproduction.

That being said, I agree that you should be checked out for evelvated NK cells and/or abnormal NK cell activation (just to be on the safe side).

reply