Implantation bleeding or chemical pregnancy or something else?

[Ikigai22]

Hi everyone, I'm new here and looking for some advice. We recently started ttc since June. I was on combined pill and stopped on 23 May. I got a withdrawal bleed and had two periods since then. My last period was on 19 July, as I expected, 26 days cycle. I tracked ovulation with Clearblue digital, showed me directly peak fertility and dtd before and around that time. On 11 August ( around 12 dpo) I tested on Clearblue ultra early and had a very faint line. Same day I had some brown discharge, it was very light, showed up on tissue and lasted for a few hours, I didn't need a pad or liner. I had some cramps as well, not very severe. It was new for me as I almost never get cramps, even before and during my period. I read online that any unusual bleeding should be reported to healthcare provider so I did call my surgery. The doctor called me the next day and asked me to go to A&E. He said you're not going to like what I'll say but you may have an ectopic and you need to be checked. Went to A&E and urine test was negative. Doctor there said it's not ectopic as urine test is negative. At this point I had no pain or anything, I felt fine, just wanted to go back home and sleep. They did a blood test but I it'd been hours and I felt very tired so I came back home. I'm a bit embarrassed for running away from A&E like this but I felt very frustrated as I didn't get why they couldn't just tell me results on the phone or send it to my surgery. They said they couldn't. This morning I did CB early and FRER both negative. I'm very confused and wondering what exactly happened. I read positive is a positive, even faint. I just want to know what's going on with my body and hoping I'm either pregnant and if not, it's all ok. I don't have any pain or bleeding/discharge now and AF is due tomorrow. My periods are regular and were regular before I started taking pill around 5 years ago. I'd really appreciate some advice and similar experiences. I'm 36 btw. Thanks in advance!!

Bump

I’m not an expert but if it was positive at 12dpo and now negative on more than one test I would think it’s a chemical. I’m so sorry if that’s the case ☹️ I hope that’s not the case though. All you can do at the moment is to keep testing every couple days to see if you get a line (if it was late implantation you may just not have enough HGC yet so tests without a long hold may show negative) or see if AF shows up. 12dpo implantation is possible but rare.

Thanks a lot for your message. It was actually 11 dpo I think. Yes I'm a bit sad but not too much as I read this is quite common and this happens in a big percentage of pregnancies but we only know this now because of extra sensitive tests. I'm a bit worried about having ectopic. Chemical pregnancies seem harmless and we can try again next cycle but ectopic is scary.

I found some articles about how chemical pregnancy is a good sign to confirm fertility
www.todaysparent.com/getting-pregnant/trying-to-conceive/what-is-a-chemical-pregnancy/

"A biochemical pregnancy is clear evidence that the uterus was receptive to the embryo, and that the embryo had reached the final stage of development for implantation."

This was our first try so trying to see the glass half full 🤞

www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/a-chemical-pregnancy-is-a-miscarriage-but-doctors-say-its-a-good-sign-if-youre-trying-to-get-pregnant/articleshow/80017850.cms

it’s a good sign for a couple of reasons: It means the sperm are good enough to fertilize an egg, at least one of your fallopian tubes is open—it gives us a lot of reassurance about your fertility.’”

I hope this helps someone who reads this like it has helped me. I might go to my GP to report chemical pregnancy once I get my period.

I think with an ectopic you still get faint positive tests they just don’t get dark. I’m not 100% sure though as I’ve not had an ectopic before.

that’s a very positive way at looking at a chemical and I’m glad you shared that.

i hope when you next test your bfp is all ok

Thanks for your message. My period was due yesterday, 14 Aug and no sign yet. My period is never late so it's very strange for me. Had no bleeding since very little brown discharge last Thursday, 11 Aug. A friend who's a GP said no heavy bleeding is a good sign but I'm not sure what to feel. Also had some milky discharge since yesterday and stomach indigestion after eating. Still very confused and too scared to take a pregnancy test!

I read your message again. Do you mind explaining what does long hold mean in relation to a pregnancy test? Thanks

Sorry to jump in, but long hold just refers to holding your urine for at least 3-4 hours if possible before testing x

Yep what @Flowersflowers121 said and no consuming liquids in that time as it can dilute your urine

Thanks. Still no period and it's 19 dpo, 6 days late. Did two tests this morning and negative. It doesn't make sense. I had the ovulation bleeding and then implantation bleeding. I should either have a period or be pregnant.

How long ago was implantation bleeding? If it was implantation then tests should be showing positive a couple days later. Could it have been a very unusual period?

It was on 11 August. It was just a few drops of brown blood. So not at all like my usual period which is around 3 days.

I’m not sure then as it was implantation 8 days ago I would have thought a test would show a positive by now if pregnant

Probably just a strange cycle this month.

Still no period, it's 45 days since my last period and given my cycles are 26 days, my period is now 18-19 days late. This has never happened with me. I wonder if I need medical intervention to resolve the chemical pregnancy. Any advice?

@Ikigai22 hi, have you tested again since? Have you been stressed or unwell? Anything else unusual going on?

Thanks. Nothing at all! I've been quite chilled. The NHS GP didn't help much on the phone and kind of dismissed me. She didn't even hear my concerns about chemical pregnancy. A couple of weeks ago, I'd a virtual consultation with a gynaecologist based in India arranged through a friend. She was much more helpful and agreed I had a chemical. She said I should get a blood test done and if I don't get a period after a few days I could take progesterone. But I can't get these in the UK on NHS. It seems I can't find anyone online who had the same experience as me. I've been doing tests but they are all negative and I've no pain or any symptoms. I just want to understand the scientific process, why haven't I had a period as that's what I read happens during a chemical. Is it possible to ovulate again without a period?

I'm sorry you're having this experience - it must feel really confusing/difficult.

I've previously had a 48 day cycle and a 46 day cycle, where my usual cycles are around 32 days, I wasn't pregnant but I likely ovulated late due to covid on one of the occasions, and the other unknown?

Potentially if you ovulated later (I know you were doing OPKs, but I have seen some people on here have had multiple peaks in a cycle), you may have a different dpo. Do you monitor basal body temp?

Excluding the possibility of a chemical pregnancy (as I wouldn't want to diminish your experience, or a professional's opinion), my guess (though I could be incorrect) is that you either ovulated later than you thought and a BFP or your period may come soon or potentially an anovulatory cycle, or the positive test was a false positive (aligns with later ovulation).

I have had quite a few false positive CB tests over the last few months, so just thought I'd mention that too. Again, not intending to diminish the difficult time you're having or the professional opinion you've sought.

I believe, depending on the reason/circumstance for no period, it is still possible to ovulate.
A blood test is a good idea, perhaps you could try speaking to a different GP also?