Experiences of hCG levels increasing very slowly, possible miscarriage and next steps?

[Anteater5]

Hello ladies - I got a BFP earlier in the week after 4/5 days of heavy bleeding and so I rang my local EUP for advice. They brought me in for blood tests and a scan which showed low hCG (

If your hcg continues to decrease then they'll just expect you to manage the process at home and to be honest as your levels didn't get too high then it's likely just to physically be like a heavy period. If you hcg continues to rise even if it's slowly then you are looking at a PUL (pregnant of unknown location) or an ectopic- the treatment for which is a drug called methotrexate which means you can't get pregnant for 3 months as it would be dangerous to a developing baby. Obviously last resort is surgery to find and remove the pregnant x

Hi @Anteater5. I’m so sorry to hear you are going through this. It is really tough, and of course it hits you hard no matter how long you have had the BFP for.

I have just gone through this - currently in my second cycle after an early loss at 5 weeks - which means just 1 week after my missed period and BFP.

Everyone will be different, and however you feel Is absolutely ok. I found the process itself difficult and upsetting, just seeing the bleeding, and then afterwards testing to see BFNs and trying to accept the idea that I wasn’t pregnant any more. I still had symptoms and they felt very strong, big surges of hormones in my arm pits and breasts. After the 2nd BFN I was able to accept it. After that I felt better and just wanted to move on. I started to feel lucky it was early and I didn’t feel like I had a ‘loss’ as such as it was viable. I did feel a little guilty, that I was upset for myself and not for the life that might have been.

Like you, not knowing what to expect was difficult and I read some experiences where women had really strong cramps etc and I was worried this would happen. But it was really just 3 days of bleeding with one clot And light cramps and that was it.

I was keen to move on quickly and try again - I ovulated quickly enough - as if the first day of bleeding was the first day of my period. This is what is recommended in terms of counting your dates...though It Can be up to 6!weeks till your next period.

We did TTC that month. It was very confusing, as I had a lot of what I thought were PG symptoms, very strong Breast pain, back pain, cramping etc. But this was just part of the after affects, which I am having again this month. In the end it was a relief to see AF and get back to normal - my cycle is completely back on track like clockwork.

I hope hearing my experience helps. Be kind to yourself in these few days if you can. You will move past this, and you will feel better and be able to try again soon. Sending kind thoughts

Thanks so much @ivfdreaming and @Bouncytree. @Bouncytree if you don’t mind me asking did yours happen naturally? How long did it take after bleeding started for you to get negative tests? Seems odd to now be hoping that the hGC levels start going down rather than up after trying for that BFP but I feel the loss is inevitable and would really, really rather avoid methotrexate and the need to avoid trying for at least 3 months.

I've had 5 miscarriages and done all of the naturally at home - the earlier the pregnancy the quicker the process was - around 5 weeks probably 5-7 days and I generally had a negative test before I started bleeding. Some of the others probably 2 weeks after I stopped bleeding to get a BFN x

Hi @Anteater5

Mine was just 3 days of bleeding - really not too much, in fact less than a period. I really didn’t think that it could be finished, but that was it.

My bleeding started on the 3rdJune, I still had BFP on 4th of , bleeding stopped on 5th June. I tested on the 8th and BFN.

It should all happen naturally, you would be unlucky to get ectopic PG and have to take meds. It is 1 in 90 pregnancies and there are other risk factors. There are also additional symptoms, such as strong pain on one side, bowel discomfort, or pain on the tip of your shoulder.

Of course you would just like the levels to drop and get back to normal. Hold tight And try not to let thoughts run away with you. Try and distract yourself, I know it’s hard. You can’t control it, you just need a bit of time and your body will do the work. it’s a tough few days, but you will come through and be able to try again very soon.

@ivfdreaming so sorry to hear of your miscarriages, i can’t imagine how you must feel. Thank you for sharing with me, really helps to have more knowledge about what may be ahead. I’m looking at about 7 weeks since my LMP but ovulated late so hopefully it will be like an ‘earlier’ miscarriage, whether it is natural or induced.

I’m in the same situation. I got my bfp on 18th June. My pg symptoms started going the end of June, & I started bleeding the 4th July. I’m still bleeding now, but it’s never been anything more than a very light period and cramping. My hcg went from 2500 to 2900.

Annoying my symptoms seem to be starting up again, but I really don’t want to start getting any hope as I know it’s not going to be okay.

The doctor said my scan seemed to have progressed (they saw a yolk two days after my first scan where they couldn’t find it)

Going back for another scan on Monday.