Molar Pregnancy question

[RmberMe69]

Hi just a question... I know when you have a molar pregnancy your HcG levels skyrocket, what about the progesterone? does that go up? or stay static? thanks

[RmberMe69]

Thanks for that info is food for thought. yeah I will wait till monday.,,... i think.... I hope.. maybe I should have my partner hide it! lol

[adgal]

I found this article. I guess so much of it is Dr. opinion.  Sources of this article are listed below, so it was written by medical professionals.  Interesting.

Doctors generally agree that the risk of miscarriage decreases once the pregnancy reaches a point that an ultrasound can detect a heartbeat. The exact amount that it decreases, however, seems to vary by group.

It's hard to say any exact numbers from the available research, but here are some statistics that certain studies have come up with.

For women with no vaginal bleeding, most estimates suggest that the odds or having a miscarriage after seeing a heartbeat are about 4%.

For women with vaginal bleeding but also a detected heartbeat on ultrasound, risk of miscarriage is about 13% according to one study.

One study found that about 17% of women with a history of recurrent miscarriages will miscarry after seeing a heartbeat on the ultrasound.

Mothers over 35 also face significant miscarriage risk after ultrasound detects a heartbeat, even though the risk does drop after detecting the heartbeat. A 1996 study found that women over 36 have a 16% risk of miscarriage at this point, and women over 40 have a 20% risk.

Sources:

Hill, L.M., D. Guzick, J. Fries, J. Hixson, "Fetal loss rate after ultrasonically documented cardiac activity between 6 and 14 weeks, menstrual age." Journal of Clinical Ultrasound May 1991. Accessed 11 Feb 2008.

Smith, K.E. and R.P. Buyalos, "The profound impact of patient age on pregnancy outcome after early detection of fetal cardiac activity." Fertility and Sterility Jan 1996. Accessed 11 Feb 2008.

Van Leeuwen, Ingeborg, D. Ware Branch, and James R. Scott, "First-Trimester Ultrasonography Findings in Women With a History of Recurrent Pregnancy Loss. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 1993. Accessed 11 Feb 2008.
Next: When Can You Hear the Heartbeat on a Doppler?
Reader Stories: I'm Pregnant Again
Miscarriage Symptoms

  

[adgal]

Things still look great!!  Congrats.  I am a little surprised at her comment about the heartbeat. I mean, there is always a chance, but I have never heard a Dr. say the chances stayed the same.  Here is what I know about loss (from an RE and my OB).  The vast majority (something like 85%) of miscarriages take place in the first 8 weeks.  Once a healthy fetal heartbeat is detected, your chances of a loss go down to about 5%.   I might have the percentages off a little as I am going from memory, but I know I am close.  Perhaps they have changed things?

I would honestly wait until the 7 weeks.  Early u/s can cause so much stress.  The fetal heartbeat usually can be seen between 5 1/2 and 6 1/2 weeks (again, according to my OB), but sometimes things can depend on the skill of the tech and the quality of the equipment.  So you could go early, not see the heartbeat and worry yourself sick even though everything is ok. .  Just my opinion though.  I will admit if I had the requisition in my hot little hands earlier, I might be tempted...lol.     Hey, I just looked up and see 1/2 my last post is missing..lol.

It should have also said....HCG level under 1200, doubling time 48-72 hours.
HCG level 1200 - 6000, doubling time 72 to 96 hours

Sorry about that!

[RmberMe69]

Hi A... ok went back to doc and got the results 25,000 was the hCG I think that was for a 72 hour turn around. I asked my doc, if I should be more cofident with this pregnancy now. She goes no there is still a chance. I said what if the heartbeat is seen, she said thats false, you have the same chances of losing baby even after seeing the heartbeat. She gave me a referral for my ultrasound, she said to have it next monday...I will be 7 weeks... should I be naughty and go early? am so scared I won't see anything but the sack.

[adgal]

I remember Melimeli posted this for me when I got a doubling time of 86 hours.  It helped a great deal.



HCG Level                                    Doubling Time


              
6000                                                 96+ hours



Ultrasound findings after five or six weeks of pregnancy are much more predictive of pregnancy outcome than are hCG levels. You won't expect to see a gestational sac or the fetus until the hCG level reaches at least 1,200 mIU/ml.

[adgal]

Yep, google is not the friend of pregnant women.  I just about made myself crazy with it.  DH threatened to throw the computer out the window and cut off my credit cards so I couldn't buy another if I kept it up..lol.  However, like you queenspade, google is what led me here and the women here have pretty much saved my sanity (and held my hand through some pretty rough times), so your right.  It's not all bad.

If they doubled or tripled you are in great shape!!  I noticed on your journal though that your last beta was 12000 right?  So don't be surprised if the doubling time has slowed significantly.  After 1000 to 1200 they slow down.  My doubling time at 1000 went to something like 86 hours and my OB was shocked I was so upset (I was self diagnosing again..ha).  It was fine.  I'm going to see if I can find the chart of average doubling times and post it below.

[queenspade]

SOOO TRUE!!!!  Google has become my worst enemy.  I have googled more in the past year than ever before.  Looking for miracle outcomes or just trying to self diagnose.  One good thing that I can say about Google, it's how I found this board.  In Dec of 2008 I googled 'missed miscarriage' & it brought me to a group of women that now I can't live without.  :)

[RmberMe69]

lol A just one more question, I had tested my bloods on the thursday (last week) got the results on Friday.. I had another set of tests on the Monday and will get them today Tuesday. if they have doubled or tripled it should be ok?

[RmberMe69]

yes Ma'am :)

[adgal]

Oh dear.  Stop googling..lol.  The range of normal is absolutely huge.  Funny story for you about googling symptoms.  A facebook friend of mine googled hers and came back with a self diagnosis of testicular cancer.  Obviously she has no testicles, so it was ummm..wrong..lol.  But doing that can scare you half to death.  All those awful things you find are rarely rarely the case. Now, no more googling!!!!

[Birds71]

First, congrats to you!  at just before 6 weeks, my numbers were 18,500 (HCG) and 23.3 (Progesterone).  My RE said they were great numbers.  Unfortunatley, that pregnancy didn't make it past another week or so, but those numbers might give you an indication that they can vary a great deal!  I know, I was freaked out about the high HCG too.

Best of luck to you!!

[RmberMe69]

Oh no, I was just curious, I am 6w preg and my numbers look a little high, I been looking and looking at them (something I shouldn't do I guess) 12,000 hCG and 51 progesterone.

[adgal]

Yes, they can be.  I found the article below:

Increased progesterone levels also are seen occasionally with:

    Some ovarian cysts
    Non-viable pregnancies known as molar pregnancies
    A rare form of ovarian cancer
    Overproduction of progesterone by the adrenal glands
    Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH)

Please remember that things like molar pregnancies are pretty rare. In quite a few years on this board I have yet to meet anyone that had one. Does your Dr. have a reason to suspect one?

[v110617]

0-5 = negative pregnancy, 6+ = positive pregnancy.

You will 6 or above only if you are pregnant.