hcg production begins as soon as implantation happens and can be detected in the blood before it can be detected in the urine. hpts typically detect 15mIU/ml-50mIU/ml.
On cd 30, 14dpiui I used a ClearBlueDigital and got not pregnant.
Yesterday morning, on cd 32, 17dpiui, I used a FRER. After 3 minutes the test looked negative. I left the bathroom and wrote a post for this blog titled the Logic Puzzle (see previous post). I went back to the bathroom about an hour later and I saw a faint second line. I re-tested, waited 5 minutes and saw another very faint second line.
I called the nurse coordinator. She ordered a beta. I went in for a beta. I have never made it this far. I waited.
The nurse called with the results. My hcg level was 17. She explained that this was too low to confirm a pregnancy and not reassuring given I was 17dpiui.
hcg levels that are under 5mIU/ml are considered not pregnant.
hcg levels between 5 and 25 are considered equivocal. The test must be repeated.
hcg levels over 25mIU/ml are considered pregnant.
FertilityPlus has a chart that shows average hcg levels by dpo.
10dpo: 25mIU/ml
12dpo: 50mIU/ml
14dpo: 100mIU/ml
16dpo: 200mIU/ml
Dr. Sherbahn from Advanced Fertility in Chicago did a small study comparing hcg levels from normal single and twin pregnancies. Their page on Early Pregnancy contains a chart that shows the range of hcg levels in these patients.
14 dp hcg or lh: lowest: 17mIU/ml, average: 48mIU/ml
16 dp hcg or lh: lowest: 33mIU/ml, average: 95mIU/ml
17 dp hcg or lh: lowest: 17mIU/ml, average: 132mIU/ml
18 dp hcg or lh: lowest: 70mIU/ml, average: 292mIU/ml
www.americanpregnancy.org gives the following guidelines for hcg in early pregnancy:
3weeks: range 5-50mIU/ml
4weeks: range 5-426mIU/ml
5weeks: range 18-7,340mIU/ml
Low hcg levels can mean that the date of the pregnancy or ovulation is incorrect, that the pregnancy is not viable or that it is ectopic. We all know that one level doesn't really tell us anything; it is the change in the level that gives information about the pregnancy. So we wait for Beta #2 tomorrow.
What F and I know is that something happened this time, something worked and my body responded. I have never seen 2 lines on an hpt before. I can celebrate that and feel hopeful.
10 comments:
wow- fingers crossed for great numbers tomorrow!!!!
Yay for two lines!!!!
It's something and something is better than nothing!
I really hope your second beta goes well!
Good luck!
Ummm, unequivocally speaking, you are knocked up! Yes, the number is low, but it could be early on.
AHHHHH!!! Keep us posted!
It's low but it's there!!! I'm keeping everything crossed for your next number!!!!!
Oh I'm hoping - everything crossed for amazing numbers tomorrows! Yay - 2 lines!!!
i am also crossing everything for great numbers tomorrow!
keeping my fingers crossed and i agree... keep holding onto that hope :-)
you can read about my low beta at www.ashleybwrites.blogspot.com
Mine was also a 17 10dp5dt my first IVF cycle last month. Sadly my numbers did not rise- but it was a BFP which means a chemical pregnancy my RE said that is promising for my next cycle because it meant that the eggs did implant and try to grow which means we can produce implanting eggs! So either way it goes- good or bad- it means good things for the future!
I'm so glad that you got those two lines. You're right...your body responded and that's something to be hopeful for.
That being said, I'm sorry you're in this hell of beta limbo. I'm hoping beyond hope that you get a great second number!
Jill I am so sorry I missed this post- not sure how, seeing how I was checking for your updates. I would have encouraged you, I now have a friend who is 7 weeks along with an initial beta of 17. The nurses and doctors were so pessimistic with her, but we kept telling her to not give up and keep taking her meds (they told her to stop). And low and behold there is a healthy bun in the oven....so while it doesnt always end that way, just know that a low beta doesn't mean a non-viable pregnancy. Some pregnancies just naturally produce slowe rising or lower levels HCG's.
I am sorry it didn't work out that way for you Jill, but I love your thinking, something worked this time and that is very inspiring. I am very optimistic for you that ART will get you to your dreams. xoxoxoxox
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