miscarriage/D&C/menstrual cycle

[april32]

I have a serious science/medical question.  I had a D&C 16 days ago.  Yesterday I took a home pregnancy test and it came back positive.  I realize that HCG takes time to decrease after a D&C, sometimes several weeks.  Can HCG mimic the LH surge that you get pre-ovulation?  It does this in mice, and actually stimulates superovulation.  But, what then about FSH?  
From what I understand, and please tell me if I am correct:  HCG must decrease to a certain level to have the hypothalamus produce Gn-RH (what is that level?  if HCG is detectable on an HPT, is this too high?)...Gn-RH in turn will stimualte the pituitary to produce FSH and then in turn LH to ovulate.

So, I guess my bottom line question here is, can you ovulate if you are still positive for HCG on a pregnancy test, or can you ovulate at all with HCG left over from a missed miscarriage/D&C?

thank you,
April

[ladytai]

A related discussion, need your help was started.

[Maskee 32]

Dr. Downing,
I miscarried my first preg and decided to have a D&C. The second pregnancy only lasted 29weeks and 5 days. My daughter was born 2 lbs 11 oz. I went to the hospital with severe pre-eclampsia and HELPP. She's fine..... I am now pregnant again for the third time(6 years later). I am taking my recommended 81 mg of aspirin.I went in for an US at 7 weeks and 3 days.... I had a nice gestational sac and what she said might be a stick.... but.... she wants me to came back next week. She couldn't say if this is a good pregnancy or not....and no yolk sac? My last MC was July 21....and I have a typical 28 day cycle. Could I have have conceived at a later time.... am I earlier that 7 weeks? What are your thoughts????Cut throught the red tape and give it to me straight Doc...

[frogiwantbaby]

I went to the doctor and all is well! I am 6 weeks pregnant and even though i was only 5 weeks along when I had my first U/S We could still see the baby!!!!! yet we were 3-4 days too early to see the heartbeat..i go back on the 21st

[Phyllis Chow]

Hello..I'm new here, but i need your advice me.
what can make you wanna to being pergnant & Morther? ...??

[frogiwantbaby]

Sorry i meant my periods got longer and longer apart and then just stopped altogether.

[frogiwantbaby]

Hello...I am new to this but I have a question...About a year and a half ago i had a missed abortion ( i HATE that term!!) and i had a a D&C. for the last 3 months i havent had a period. i thought it was just from my body weirding out from the D&C because my periods got longer and longer and then just didnt come. i had a little spotting last month but it wasnt a period. i took 4 pregnancy tests and they all came out positive. i assume i am pregnate yet i am worried about my baby again. last time i was extremely sick and i knew i lost the baby when i stopped being sick all together. this time i havent been sick AT ALL. the women in my family have hyperemisis really bad. is it possible that my baby could be perfectly fine and i just havent gotten sick or should i just depend on my baby not having a heartbeat again? im very worried because my husband and i are very excited! i have a doctor's appointment on thursday yet im still concerned and i doubt i will be able to sleep

[april32]

Dr. Downing,
Thank you for your answer.  Is there any literature citing what level of HCG inhibits the pulsatile production of Gnrh?  In your answer you said detectable in the body.  I would thus assume that if HCG is still detectable via a HPT (25mIU), then that would be sufficient to inhibit production of gnrh and therefore inhibit FSH, LH, ovulation and menstruation.  Am I correct?
Is there any other way for the body to bypass this and still release an egg?
Thank you again,
April

[Keith Downing, MD]

Hello,

Thoughtful question.  The pulsatile production of gnrh will remain suppressed while hCG is still present in the body.  The resolution of hcg after a pregnancy or a pregnancy loss may take anywhere from 30-60+ days (depending upon gestational age and an individuals biology).  Sometime after it is no longer detectable in the body, ovulation and thus menstruation will resume.  

Can hCG mimic the LH surge?  The presence of hCG after a loss doesn't act in the way LH does, however in assisted reproduction cycles hCG is administered to act on maturing follicles similar to LH.

Best regards,

Dr. Downing

[april32]

thank you for your posting.  I think that that makes sense although I did read on one website that it possibly could happen when the HCG is on the decline.  At any rate, it is 3 weeks today since my D&C and I am still registering as pregnant on HPT (one faint line and one control line)....it has gotten more faint from 8/16 until today....so at least I think it is going down.  

[cahvela]

Hello,
i just had a miscarriage 3 days ago.  From what my doctors tell me, you cannot get pregnant until the HCG levels have dropped to .5  Your brain will not allow your body to produce the hormone that causes ovulation.  This can take up to 8 weeks to drop.  I hope this helps.  

[Blessed24]

So sorry to post a question here.  I am very concerned and need your thoughts.  I had a miscarriage on June 11th and a D&C performed the same day.  About four wks later I started to get brown spotting which came light at first and then w/clots .  That went on for about two wks.  Went in to see the doc., she told me it was probably my period coming back. Two days later, started my period, it lasted for eleven days.  Went in again, they told me after miscarriage it takes time for body to go back to normal.  Now, a wk and a half later started bleeding again.  Please, someone make me feel better.

[april32]

if you wait too long, it wouldn't give you a false negative.  if you haven't gotten your AF in so long though....you might have to get "induced" to have it....by a progesterone shot or something...I would call your obgyn to get back on track...it's not good to go too long without AF

[A.Morris]

Hi there also on the issue with HCG is it true that if you wait to long to do a pregnancy test it would give you wrong info reason for asking is that my last period were june 22nd and until this day no period or sgin of gettting it.

I have not had any real symptoms either then bloating, constipation and using the bathroom to pee a lot, I did a test on 15th aug but was neg so what could this be?

[april32]

thanks onemoreplease...but does anyone know if you can get pregnant while still having a postitive HPT with the HCG left from pregnancy?

[onemoreplease]

A positive HPT this soon is not that uncommon, even with a D&C 5 wks ago I still had a positive test mon & then AF today.