Question Title: Decreasing HCG level

Posted by Jenni on April 24, 1999 at 15:37:35

I started what seemed to be my period on April 12th after major abdonminal cramping that lasted only an hour. Then after 9 days of dark brown tar like bleeding, I took a preg test (this past Tuesday) that came out positive. My bleeding stopped that day. The next day my progesterone level was at 6 and HCG level was 5000. My DR prescribed progesterone supositories twice daily. Then on Friday, my Hcg was at 4500. The lab didn't complete my progesterone level, but I fear that I will miscarry because of the dip in my Hct level. I haven't had any bleeding since this past Tuesday, April 20th, and only some teeny tiny twinges of pain in abdomin - similar to pains with my first (normal) pregnancy. I am scheduled to take another quant beta and progesterone test this monday, April 26th, so I will know more at that time. As for what we know now, how likely is it that this could be a good pregnancy? I understand that a progesterone level under 5 will almost certainly not be a good pregnancy. Since I am right at the border and my Hcg decreased from 5000 to 4500, how likely is it that I will have a successful pregnancy? Thanks!

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Posted by hfhs.md.rcs on April 26, 1999 at 23:22:43

Dear Jenni:
The combination of a flat or falling hCG pattern and progesterone level, before progesterone suppository treatment, below 15 ng/ml has a very guarded outlook. hCG levels do not date a pregnancy: the pattern is helpful to follow the trend of a developing or a resolving pregnancy.

Keywords: hCG, miscarriage

This information is provided for education purposes and is not a medical consultation. If yo have specific questions, please speak with your physician.

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