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Maternal (Expert Forum)
Re: Decreasing HCG levels
Patient medical question and answer from The Maternal and Child Health Forum. Health topic area and articles about newborn care
Re: Decreasing HCG levels
by Ana__0, Jan 01, 1995 12:00AM
Posted By Ana on April 25, 1999 at 14:23:58
A qualitative urine HCG test on April 18 was positive. The first day of my last period was on March 18, suggesting I was five weeks pregnant.
An u/s on April 21 failed to reveal anything. Qualitative HCG on 4/21 was 187.3; serum progesterone was 19.07, which the Dr. felt was low, and ordered Crinone. On 4/23 my HCG had dropped to 69.8, and the following day it was at 58.3. My doctor told me to stop using Crinone, and that I was losing the pregnancy. He also advised I could expect bleeding, similar to a menstruation by 4/26, but so far I have had nothing.
My questions are:
1) whether it is possible that the HCG will start climbing, or if in fact the pregancy has ended.
2) if the HCG goes up, could there be damage to the fetus due to the low HCG?
3)(a) if in fact the pregancy has ended, what if I do not start bleeding by 4/26?
Would I need a D & C?
A qualitative urine HCG test on April 18 was positive. The first day of my last period was on March 18, suggesting I was five weeks pregnant.
An u/s on April 21 failed to reveal anything. Qualitative HCG on 4/21 was 187.3; serum progesterone was 19.07, which the Dr. felt was low, and ordered Crinone. On 4/23 my HCG had dropped to 69.8, and the following day it was at 58.3. My doctor told me to stop using Crinone, and that I was losing the pregnancy. He also advised I could expect bleeding, similar to a menstruation by 4/26, but so far I have had nothing.
My questions are:
1) whether it is possible that the HCG will start climbing, or if in fact the pregancy has ended.
2) if the HCG goes up, could there be damage to the fetus due to the low HCG?
3)(a) if in fact the pregancy has ended, what if I do not start bleeding by 4/26?
Would I need a D & C?
Dear Ana:
hCG is a signal from the pregnancy. Falling levels mean that the pregnancy tissue is being reabsobed by the body. The hCG level will only rise if a new pregnancy occurs. Very rarely, trophoblast will take on an independent life and cause the hCG level to rise (an hydatidiform mole).
I do not know how to predict when an menstrual flow will start based on hCG levels. As long as the value is declining, watchful expectancy is a logical approach.
Kewyords: falling hCG
This information is provided for education purposes and is not a medical consultation. If you have specific questions, please speak with your physician.
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