Final Clarification for all the HCG level after MC experts

Good afternoon ladies.  I think I have a pretty good understanding of HCG during pregnancy and after MC, but occassionally see other posters suggesting conflicting info, so I get myself confused (or maybe just hopeful that I could conceive).

I am currently waiting for my HCG to drop to 0 after MC about 7 weeks ago -- 2 weeks ago it was in the 30s and should be less than 5 when I get tested tomorrow.  (I am expecting my next AF on the 20th, so could be around the time my body decides to ovulate.)

It is my understanding that I cannot get AF or ovulate until the level is under 5.

I did, however, have what I consider an AF exactly 4 weeks after my MC (2 weeks bleeding, 2 weeks nothing, then AF) BUT my HCG was in the 300s.

Is there any way that you could ovulate with, say, less than 50 HCG?  I've read posts that say they got preggo before AF but don't specifically say what HCG level was.

Lastly, I can't seem to find a HPT that measures above 25 -- I tried one last week and it came back positive...I should have been borderline (20-25) and was hoping I would get a negative...I can't seem to wait patiently.

Anybody get preggo with more than 5 HCG?  I am being realistic as I don't believe this can happen, but I'm just confused.

Thanks ladies!!

[JJety]

The bleeding you had when your hcg was still in the 300s was probably not a true AF.  It probably still bleeding from the whole m/c and D&C ordeal.

You're right.  You cannot ovulate until your hcg is below 5.  This is because your body still thinks it's pg (chemically speaking) and therefore the ovaries would not produce an egg.  Just like they don't produce eggs when you really are pg.

[MomofAlmostFour]

I'm definitely *not* an expert on hCG and miscarriage, but I do know that it's absolutely possible to get your period (and even to ovulate) before your levels return to zero. I had my D&C on Sept. 21; my levels were 91,000 at the time. As of Nov 30, they were down to 10 (you can imagine how much I've been pulling my hair out over the slow decline). Still, I've had two normal seven-day cycles during this time. The first one started 4.5 weeks post-D&C, and the second one arrived 28 days after the first. Both times, I still had hCG in my system.

As for ovulation, although it's *unlikely* that you'll ovulate with levels above 5 (many doctors consider 5 to be the same as zero), it *is* possible. If it weren't, why would any doctor advise a woman to "avoid conceiving" before her levels reached zero? If your levels *had* to be zero before ovulation were possible, then conceiving any earlier wouldn't be an option anyway.

As for HPTs, I'm convinced none of them are quite so accurate when you're dealing with super-low hCG levels. I took an HPT test that was supposed to detect levels down to 20 several weeks ago. It came back negative, so I was thrilled (imagining I *must* be back at zero and therefore ready to try again). When I had my levels checked the next day, though, they were still at 24. Sigh.

Anyway, hang in there!! We'll both return to zero eventually!!

[wonderme]

Thanks ladies for your help.  It is hard to syphon through the difference between not likely to never going to happen -- and what is just a recommendation.

I wondered the same thing about why they tell you not to if there's no way you can...why worry about it then?  I guess we're all different.

I go tomorrow to see where I am -- should be below 5 or only slightly over...keeping my fingers crossed.

Let me know where you are and when you go next to find out...it's nice to have someone to go through this with.

LOL!

[JJety]

I am of the understanding that they tell you to wait because you are not going for blood tests every 2 days at this point.  If you do drop below 5, and ovulate and become pg, then it's harder to determine when you did get pg a second time.

If you wait until you know for a fact that your levels are below 5, and then begin ttc, it's much easier to date the new pregnancy and determine if the new hcg levels are good.