I have a beta HCG question here...

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-30-2003
I have a beta HCG question here...
2
Thu, 10-09-2003 - 6:10pm
Can someone clue me in who knows a lot about beta HCG?

Ok, here is my story. TTC#2. had a miscarriage before #1, then had my dd who is almost 2 1/2.

I know I "o"'d on cd 17 (had cramps, ewcm, and temp rose next day). felt pregnant since then (i know it sounds crazy, since i couldn't have felt anything from a tiny two-celled organism floating around in my midsection). have been having cramps the past few days, nausea (just a little) and breast tenderness/tingling. Tested using supposedly supersensitive pregnancy tests on 9 dpo and 10 dpo - both BFN. on day 10 dpo (yesterday) went to the MD and convinced them to do a quantitative HCG. called in today and the results are 2 mg hcg. they said anything less than 5 mg is considered negative.

so, could I be prego and even the blood test was early? i mean, the HCG was not zero, which I suppose would be expected if there was nothing there. or, could it just be test error and so they don't consider it valid at that low a number. does anyone know or had experience testing and getting that low a value but still being pregnant? I am hoping they will repeat the test tomorrow and see if the number doubles.

I know, i know, it is my own fault for not being more patient. I am amazed and impressed with all the people on this board that wait until dpo 15 or 16 to test. you are my inspiration.

anyhow, any advice would be terrific! can i hope?

jen and emma (5/29/01)

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-09-2003
Thu, 10-09-2003 - 7:15pm
You should probably ask your doctor for a new beta in a few days. It's possible that you just tested too early; if you're PG and it's "sticking," your HCG levels should roughly double or more each day until the next test. So yesterday's negative (2) could be Friday's positive (6+). You're right though - any value of HCG should mean something.

Another possibility is a chemical pregnancy, which is essentially a cold medical term for a very extremely early miscarriage. In a chemical PG, an egg fertilizes, implants & excretes HCG into your system. Something goes awry - whether it's a chromosomal problem with the baby or if the cells just stop dividing for some wacky reason - and the pregnancy doesn't "stick." A lot of women with chemical pregnancies never know they had them, because they start & end so fast, and AF often isn't even late. Chemical pregnancies are estimated to be scary common, and account for a vast percentage of early miscarriages. I just went through one myself last cycle - basically got a +HPT with FMU one day, and a negative Beta the next, and then a -HPT (same brand).

Here are some helpful links on HCG levels in pregnancy:

http://www.bobrow.net/kimberly/birth/hcglevels.html

http://www.advancedfertility.com/earlypre.htm

http://www.allaboutmoms.com/hcg.htm

Good luck to you!

Tami

TTC#1 since 8/02

CC3 CD9

www.fertilityfriend.com/home/219d1

Tami
Mommy to Anna 7.7.04 & Ben 11.19.06

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-30-2003
Thu, 10-09-2003 - 7:34pm
WOW! Thanks Tami! That was really helpful. I loved your sites - I tried all day to find sites that would give me just that information. I am going to try to wait until at least monday or tuesday next week to test again. At least then I will know if I actually missed a period. I am sorry to hear about your loss. They say that early loss (less than 4 weeks from lmp) are extremely common and happen all the time, but when you are trying for such a long time, it just sucks.

good luck to you - and thanks for your expertise!

jen