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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

Original poster

No help from NHS services

60 replies

Akemi · 03/03/2026 13:32

I had my period last week starting on Tuesday with 1.5 days of medium to heavy bleeding after 2 days of heavy spottting on Sunday and Monday. Bleeding stopped on Wednesday night and I've been light spotting brown since then.

I though last cycle was unsuccessful so on Saturday I took an LH test to start tracking ovulation again and it came back super positive which was weird for my "CD 5" so I took an hcg and came back positive. Not as dark as I thought it would be at "20 dpo" but clearly positive.

I knew straight away that this will not end well because I'm very sure of my dates given I'm tracking with LH and BBT but nobody will do anything! I called 111 and my GP and they both said that because I'm not in pain they can't refer me anywhere but to go to A&E if I develop pain ir heavy bleeding. But I know that by that point is usually too late in case of an ectopic.

The reason I'm so worried with an ectopic is because I know that bleeding before a positive hpt + erratic hcg is a classic pattern, and my tests have been varying in intensity since the first positive on Saturday but all of them are too light for "20-25 dpo"

I really don't know what to do anymore and I'm at the verge of a breakdown. Why is the system so horrible with pregnant women? I just want to know if this is a "safe" miscarriage or get the help I need if an ectopic.

No help from NHS services
No help from NHS services
OP posts:
BudgetBuster · 03/03/2026 14:32

I'm not sure where you are getting the idea that your HCG is going up and down and is erratic? Have you had blood tests that determine this?

If you put the Sunday and Tuesday pregnancy tests next to eachother, there is a clear difference (showing that HCG increased in that 24hr period).

Original poster
Akemi · 03/03/2026 14:05

7238SM · 03/03/2026 13:58

I really wish is a chemical at this point

Sorry, still confused. Do you mean you don't want to be pregnant? A chemical is a very early miscarriage.

Sorry, I'm still learning how to use this platform. That comment was in response to Overthebow.

I do want to be pregnant. But now that I'm experiencing whatever it is I'm going through now, I wish is a chemical over an ectopic.

OP posts:
Usernamenotfound1 · 03/03/2026 14:01

As frustrating as it is though, sometimes the best thing to do is nothing.

there is nothing you can do to change the outcome. Noting will help you keep the pregnancy, nothing you can do to stop you losing it.

only time will help.

there’s no point in doing bloods either as again that won’t change your treatment or the outcome. Whatever your HCG is doing, there’s nothing you can do about it but wait.

there’s only thing you can do is wait until you’re far enough along that a scan will assist in managing a possible loss. Which is about 6-8 weeks. In fact the longer you do nothing the easier it will be to manage- too early and you’ll just be sent away to come back when something shows itself.

if it is ectopic again nothing you can do until a scan or you get pain etc. think about it- this early it’s not as if they can remove both tubes just in case it’s an ectopic, you have to wait until it’s seen.

7238SM · 03/03/2026 13:58

I really wish is a chemical at this point

Sorry, still confused. Do you mean you don't want to be pregnant? A chemical is a very early miscarriage.

Original poster
Akemi · 03/03/2026 13:55

This is my first known pregnancy and no suspicion of other risk factors. I really wish is a chemical at this point but I tested negative up until 12dpo when I stopped to wait for my period, and only started testing positive 5 days into my new cycle.

My understanding of chemicals and miscarriages in general is that hcg goes down not up and down.

OP posts:
Original poster
Akemi · 03/03/2026 13:51

Sorry, I wrote this while feeling very frustrated.

I haven't had pain but I'm still spotting brown.

I know lines can be different intensities depending on urine concentration and so on, but I've been testing at the same time every day with similar levels of hydration and one day I would get the faintest line only for the next to be pretty strong but not nearly as dark as the control line. I'm 5w 2d now so I understand hcg levels should be higher and duplicating every 48-72 hours.

OP posts:
Overthebow · 03/03/2026 13:51

It doesn’t sound like they would refer you though unless you’ve got previous history? You’re so early, and possibly a chemical pregnancy which they can’t do anything about.

7238SM · 03/03/2026 13:46

Sorry, its a bit hard to follow. Am I correct you've had no bleeding nor pain since your positive pregnancy test? Have you had an ectopic before or have scar tissue/PID or something to make you higher risk of having one?

I'm sure you know what pregnancy tests can be darker/lighter depending on urine concentration and several other factors. When I was pregnant, some tests were very pale, yet the next day could be darker.

Original poster
Akemi · 03/03/2026 13:39

I spoke with the midwife and gp of my private insurance through work - unfortunately it doesn't cover much more than advice - and they both said that the protocol is checking Betas until ultrasound is plausible. They both said GP has to refer me to EPU. I'm 5W 3D now, by the time I get an ultrasound I will probably be closer to 6 when is possible to see something. All it takes is some action from them.

OP posts:
Usernamenotfound1 · 03/03/2026 13:35

but what can they do?

you’re very early, chances are nothing will be visible, ectopic or uterine. Ectopics won’t usually show until about 6 weeks, so no point scanning before then.

you could book a private scan to make sure.

but they’re right. All you can do is wait until you’re far enough along that intervention is possible.