Really confused if I am pregnant...I blood test says yes and one says no...

Question

I have a dilemma and not sure what to think. My LMP was Oct. 8, 2009 and around the last week of Oct into Nov. I was having definite pregnancy symptoms: sore breasts, burning nipples, nausea, and loss of appetite at first then I noticed an aversion to perfume, smoke and certain food smells, had a metallic taste in my mouth, and heartburn. So, I took a HPT on Nov 6 and it was VERY FAINTLY positive, so I took 2 more and same result. I went to the Doc on Nov. 7 to confirm the next day. I peed in a cup and it was negative, so they took blood and ran a qualitative HCG test and it came back positive!! Awesome I'm pregnant!! At least I thought I was until later that evening- I started to bleed but no cramping. The bleeding gradually got worse, so I went to the ER. The doctor drew blood and did a transvaginal ultrasound. He said that he did see something in the uterus but could not tell if it was a pregnancy and said he would let his ultrasound doc interpret the pics he took. The doc came back in the room 5 minutes later and said my HCG level came back less than 5. He seemed confused as to how I tested positive not but 18 hours prior and now I was testing negative. He told me that the numbers will drop but not that quickly. So, he chalked it up to a miscarriage. I went home and continued to bleed and figured that it was my period. Today Nov 8 I am bleeding but it has slowed down quite a bit. I have always had heavy periods that last 7-9 days...I know yuck!! So, now I don't know what to think. I still have the same pregnancy symptoms but not sure what to think. Has anyone EVER heard of anything like this happening??

This discussion is related to hcg levels.

luvmybabes · Answer

Definetley a Chemical pregnancy. And I do think that Levels can drop rather quickly. I had a chemical pregnancy... I got 4 clear bright positives had all the symptoms... like 2 days later we found another pregnancy test that go lost in the closet so I took it and the line was alot lighter so I sent my fiance out to get more and I took one the next morning...the line was almost gone. This was in 3 days from getting a bright positive. I called my doctor who assured me nothing was wrong and that bled the next day.

hollyhoot · Answer

I called the lab and they told me that the they deem 25 and over a positive result. And yes the tests were done at 2 different labs. The positive was done at the Navy clinic and the other at the ER.

spade22 · Answer

I agree with slzerbst - sounds like it could have been a chemical pregnancy.

Some doctors will consider any HCG level over 10 mIU a positive for pregnancy and some tests are very sensitive and will detect as little as 20 mIU - non-pregnant levels are less than 5 mIU.  So, its definitely possible for you to have low HCG levels which were detectable with blood/urine tests but because the levels were so low to being with, they could easily drop to <5 within the 18h time frame.

slzerbst · Answer

It could have been a "chemical pregnancy" prior to getting pregnant with my son I had three of those.  Basically it's where the embro doesn't fully implat into the uterus and thus it you misscarry.  Most women don't even realize this is going on unless they are trying to get pregnant along with the fact that if your cycles are irragular they wont know that.  All in all it sounds like what happen to you.  Don't give up trying, but I'm pretty sure that you should see your doctor if you'fe been trying to get pregnant for a while, if not then I wouldn't worry about it.  On average it takes a women about 6 months before she get's pregnant.