HCG Levels - Are mine normal?

[Betsta]

I'm new to this site and was hoping someone could help me.  I just completed my 4th IVF cycle (I'm 42) and we finally got a positive!!!  However, they told me that my HCG levels are very low.  My first reading was at 38.7, but my 2nd one was 145 and my 3rd one was 533!  I 'think" that seems normal, they are more than doubling every two days, but they are still telling me it is highly suspicious due to my low first #.  They are telling me they can't really predict anything unitl they can do an u/s, which will most likely happen at the end of this week, if my #'s keep doing what they are doing.  I'm a little over 3 weeks pregnant (since the retrieval which was on 9/14).  Any advice on these #'s...?  Thanks, cause I'm going outta my mind!

[Betsta]

Hi Debbie - thanks for being so supportive and encouraging.  The latest is, I went for my u/s on Friday.  They did find the pregnancy sac in my uterus, so that thankfully rules out ectopic.  I was also measuring between 5-5.5 weeks, which is where I am supposed to be.  My levels jumped from 1580 to 2679 in one day, so that was good news too.  Unfortunately, they were not able to see anything in the sac, yet.  They told me it was normal not to see anything yet, so I am going back on Friday for another u/s and they said they expect to see the heartbeat.  So, that was last Friday's update.

I'm not sure if you were following my latest post about spotting as of Sunday, but basically I started to spot on Saturday afternoon, only when I wiped.  It has continued to today, so I am going to go in for blood work tomorrow morning to make sure my levels are still rising.  Since the blood is brown, my doctor isn't too worried, especially since Friday's appt was fine. I'm wondering if the internal u/s would have irritated it on Friday...but I'd assume I would have stopped spotting by now.

Of course I'm still very nervous between spotting, cramping slightly and hoping that on Friday they don't find an empty sac.  Friday seems forever away!

I'll keep you posted with what my #'s are tomorrow.

Thanks!

[prevatt77]

That's awesome, I just knew they were going to be over 1,000.  I really would stop stressing so much and stop jumping the gun.  Let see what happens with your ultrasound on Friday.  I'm sure everything is going to be just find.  I'm sure you will be very excited with the rusults on Friday.  Stop stressing, be patient, and let God do what he does best.  You will be fine.  Let us know how you make out on Friday, and get lots of pictures.

Good Luck!
Hugs,
Debbie

[Betsta]

I just heard back from my doctor's office and my levels went from 533 to 1580!!!  What a huge relief.  They want me in on Friday for an u/s, so by then I will be closer to 2000 and they shouldn't have a problem seeing anything, hopefully....providing the implantation is in my uterus.  They initially thought it may be ectopic, but they aren't as concerned now, since my #'s are going up like this, but until they see the sac in my uterus, they won't discount the possibility.  I am so happy and so scared at the same time....I still don't know how to feel.  If they see a sac on Friday, then I am going to totally embrace this preganacy, still knowing that we are not out of the woods by any means, but it's been really tough to do that right now given all the grim feedback I have gotten from my doctor's office.  I guess when they do the u/s they will measure the sac to make sure it is growing at the rate it should be, given my dates????  If it's not and they want to terminate (God forbid), should I go see my reg gyn or just ask them to wait another week to see what happens?  Thoughts?  Thanks everyone!

[adgal]

Its natural to be apprehensive right now.  You went through a lot to get pregnant and the first trimester is always a bit scary.  Chances are you will be just fine.  I am keeping my fingers crossed for an over 1,000 beta/hcg.  Let us know.

Take care,

Amanda

[prevatt77]

Try and stay positive.  I'm sure your numbers will be fine.  So we are looking at them being at least over 1,000.  Try and stay calm and take it one day at a time.  PLEASE keep us posted.

Hugs,
Debbie

[Betsta]

I get so confused with all these numbers and trying to figure out dates, etc... If I'm not mistaken, I am 5w3d LMP, but the gestational age is 3w3d...does that sound right?  I did my IVF retrieval on 9/14 an they consider that day of conception.  I went for my blood work this morning and will find out if my hcg levels are up from 533...I sure hope so.  I did ask my doctor about my progesterone levels (since they are not monitoring them) and he said that he knew mine were fine due to the number of eggs they were able to retrieve and fertilize.  For some reason I am really on edge this morning about my numbers, fearing that they will not continue to increase.  Maybe this is me just trying not to be too hopefully, only to be let down.  Just having a tough morning right now.  Thanks everyone for all your posts, they truly are comforting...it's nice to know you're not alone.

[adgal]

Stay positive.  Your numbers are doubling and that means so much!!  At 5 weeks they often don't see much and next ultrasound could very well be just fine.  Please let us know how it goes.  Thinking of you.  Amanda

[prevatt77]

I had an ultrasound at 5w6d and they only saw the sacs with no heartbeat.  They saw a very very tiny fetal pole.  But I RE told me before me even scanned me not to worry if we didn't see a heartbeat.  I went back in 1 week and it grew so much and I saw the flickering on the screen.

[Sheri1972]

I've known people that started out with super low numbers, lower than yours, and went on to have a healthy pregnancy.   Your numbers are going up great!

Are you 3 weeks LMP or 5 weeks LMP? Also, did they check your progesterone level?  I had an ultrasound at 5 1/2 weeks LMP and didn't see much of anything, no fetal pole or heartbeat or even a sac, so don't get excited if nothing is there.  I went back at 6 1/2 weeks and there was the baby, heartbeat, sac, and everything looked good!  Sometimes it takes into the 6th week to see anything.

Congrats! I hope everything looks good!  

Sheri

[Betsta]

Just had my phone consultation with my doctor.  He said that with my initial # (38.7), they thought that it was chemical pregnancy.  However, my #'s are now much high (he even said "impressive") and they are in the range and doing what they are supposed to be doing.  He cautioned me that the likelihood of this being a healthy pregnancy is still slim (5-10%), but it is possible that it could be OK.  Until they can do the ultrasound, which he is assuming will be this Friday, he will have a much better idea of what is going on and will be able to rule out an ectopic, which he said is pretty slim now, given that my #'s have increased so much (they would rise much slower if it were ectopic, usually).  So, I go for another blood test tomorrow morning, hopefully my #'s continue to double.  Hey, I'll take the 5-10% chance of this being a healthy pregnancy....my odds at 42 years old and getting pregnant through IVF were about the same and I was able to do that.  Trying to keep the faith, but not getting too excited.  I'll keep you posted.

[prevatt77]

First off, when woman go through IVF or even IUI they are looking for a positive pregnancy test very very early, which mean when they test your HCG levels it going to be low because the woman is usually only 3 weeks pregnant.  Woman that concieve naturally, usuually don't find out until after they miss their period or a few days before their period is due, which is 4-5 weeks and believe me 2 weeks makes a huge difference on an vaginal ultrasound .

To me your numbers look great, they are doubling every 2 days and are rising like they should, I'm not sure why they would even tell you that because they go by the number doubling not the actual number.  I think you're good to go.  I wish you the best of luck and please keep us posted.

Debbie

[PamelaBee]

Your numbers look fine to me!  Check out this website for HCG guidelines!  Best Wishes!

http://www.americanpregnancy.org/duringpregnancy/hcglevels.html

[Betsta]

Thanks for getting back to me.  I have a phone consultation with my doctor later today to discuss everything that has been going on, so I will certainly mention hcg injections to him.  I do plan to visit my regular gyn, but I thought I would wait to see what they find on the ultrasound first, then do a follow-up appt with my gyn, as a 2nd opinion.  It's really hard to find out if my levels are fine or not.  The range is so huge and I've read so much about low hcg levels resulting in normal healthy pregnancies.  It's all so confusing!  I have been slightly light-headed and I'm experiencing breast tenderness....so I like to think this is a good thing....but I just don't know!  I've have very mild cramping on and off over the past couple of weeks, nothing bothersome though.  I read that is normal too.  Early last week I had a little brown spotting for a couple days, just when I wiped, but that has since stopped and the other symptoms have kicked in.  Again, it all sounds "normal", but I am being led to believe this is not a viable pregnancy from my doctors office.  Hopefully the u/s will give us good news!  Thanks!!!

[hex123]

hello betsta
I think the best bet is to trust your body. You are pregnant and that calls for a celebration. Congrats!!!! But pl pay a visit to you gynecologist, he is the best judge and if you need hcb injections, might as well have them. But these are useful in first 3 months.