Dr says no such thing as chemical???

[lg1006]

So, iv just had what I believed was my 2nd chemical. I get the positive test, not dark but you can see them, you don’t have to squint. See a slight progression and then start bleeding a couple days after period due. Test turns negative next day.
I went and got bloods done and Dr just called and said the levels were very low, they wouldn’t consider it a viable pregnancy, it’s not a miscarriage or a chemical and that these tests can pick up all sorts. I explained regarding my concerns of chemical and that levels must be rising for tests and even digital to pick it up and she said “no, a women’s body’s hormones does all sorts at that time of the month so you’ve not been pregnant. Just keep trying as there is nothing to be concerned about”.

is she right?! I don’t know what to do or if there’s anything to do or take each month?

@lg1006 I think I would seek a second opinion. My understanding has always been that HCG only rises enough to be detectable when conception has taken place. This would mean that you've had two very early losses. It could be relevant as it could affect the treatment pathway/options if you were to seek fertility help at some point.

Sorry for your losses and I hope you get some better help soon. Xx

well the term chemical pregnancy is fairly new, it wasn't around at all when I had mine (youngest now aged 15)
I don't completely understand what it means to be honest.

I think that so many of the new tests are trying to pick up so early that there are bound to be times when our hormones are just fluctuating. I tend to lean towards only trusting the test once you get to your period due date.

But what I really wanted to say is, what is it that you are concerned about? By that I mean, what is the thing that worries you most? Are you worried that you are not actually getting pregnant? or is it that you are getting pregnant and your body is rejecting it? or that you should be doing something to change/help things along?

Sorry you are going through this. I had 4 mc and 2 of them were early, thye were not less devastating because of that x x

thank you for your reply 😊the term was new to me aswell until I did some research after my first “chemical” at the end of last year!

I guess I’m worried I am getting pregnant but my body is failing it very early, for example hormones or progesterone issue! Again, another google thing!! So I don’t know if I am deficient in something or if I should be taking a supplement of some sort. I hope this makes sense! accoeding to these tests, I get pregnant but the HCG is so low and never rises.

for context I have a 3 year old son and I also had an abortion over a year ago due to personal circumstances at the time. So I am worried that’s caused something!

Dr just called and said the levels were very low, they wouldn’t consider it a viable pregnancy, it’s not a miscarriage or a chemical and that these tests can pick up all sorts.

If there were levels of HCG then that's what the test was picking up, they're literally designed just to pick up HCG which is the pregnancy hormone so I'm not sure what she's on about.

Sorry your GP was so dismissive.

Some people are not believers in chemical pregnancies as PP said I think it's a new term and only known about because of super sensitive tests picking up HCG before you've even missed your period.

Chemical pregnancy is not really a medical concept.

Even when I was having my DC, women really didn't test any earlier until 10 days post-ovulation. And often waited until the day their period was due. The tests were not reliable enough otherwise. (And my youngest is 11)

There are many conceptions that a woman will be unaware of - a slightly delayed period that's heavier than usual.

It's really hard to be in your position & I'm not diminishing your sense of loss.

However there is nothing required medically nor can your GP help. The GP is correct about hormones & a natural process. There's nothing additional you need to do beyond continuing to take folic acid & having regular sex!

I do personally think the early testing / squinters and so on are more a cause of stress than anything else. It's perfectly normal for fertilisation to take place but not proceed & then a period will happen as normal.

My GP said chemical pregnancies should just be called miscarriages. If I had approached my GP after my 3rd "chemical" then I would have had access to fertility clinic sooner, but I didn't because I didn't know it was a miscarriage. I waited until I had miscarriages until I sought help but my GP said I should have gone sooner

The recurrent miscarriage clinic counts them as pregnancies.

Your GP is either ignorant of the issue or just dismissive.

Sorry you're going through this. I've had the same with my gp. I believe anything under 6 (hcg bloods) is considered not pregnant but you should have a second draw at 48 hrs. With one of my ectopics I was at 5 on the first draw and then 12 and then 749 on draw three. Had to fight for those bloods.

(Even on my most recent (successful) pregnancy they wouldn't do a blood draw but instead referred me for an early scan. )

I have had many pregnancy losses. I was seen by recurrent miscarriage consultant after 3 years of losses and 2 ectopics. The ectopics and chemical pregnancies (which I've also not counted) aren't included as pregnancy losses by the doctors I've seen. The ectopics because I was told if they were in the right place, they may have been viable and I have no clue why the chemical pregnancies aren't counted. I was told to not do early pregnancy testing and to only begin testing after being 7 days late for my period.

Oh and was basically told that chemical pregnancy is an American thing not something recognised over here by my gp. Who apparently specialises in woman's health. But, recurrent miscarriage consultant said it definitely was a pregnancy albeit it may have been a genetic or implantation issue.

I'm sorry, I can't help more but just wanted to let you know that you're not alone. Recored them as pregnancies and depending on your age and how long you've been trying I'd start to push to see a consultant. I hope you're OK and here if you need to chat x

After my 4 mc I went to a wonderful consultant (privately)

he was very reassuring.
He said that because I had carried one baby to full term, pretty much all the reasons for mc do not apply. So the progesterone etc. Because if they applied they would have applied to the pregnancy of my son.

So mc after you have carried a baby to full term are almost always a case of bad luck. There is no medical reason why you wouldn't carry another baby to full term. (a few exceptions, especially if it is a different dad)
Our modern really early tests don't help, because it is likely that many, many pregnancies don't make it past that first week, and all we would see is a slightly heavier period. But because we can test we now know that we were pregnant, and it gives us that hope and then loss.

I now have 3 healthy kids. Don't give up x x

It really depends tho.

If someone had 3 positive pregnancy tests, at an early stage, followed by a very slightly delayed period, that entirely falls within the range of normal - many women wouldn't even know they had been pregnant.

Counting those as recurrent m/c isn't correct - however, if there was a combination of chemical pregnancies + later m/c that does paint a different picture.

It's not a b&w issue but I want to reassure you that early positives followed by slightly late periods are really common & don't predict your likelihood of having a successful pregnancy.

Thank you everyone!
your replies do help me massively!

my son was born 8 weeks early due to severe preeclampsia. Apart from that there was no issues so it’s good to know the progesterone shouldn’t be the issue!
I also typically got a very strong pregnancy result and high levels on the time I decided I had the abortion (please don’t judge) so I think my body is capable but iv been unlucky the last couple of times, probabky down to being desperate for a 2nd child and always testing so early which I didn’t do before!

This is a different dad to my son (again no judgement please) and he’s so supportive. I guess we just need to keep trying and my anxiety needs to stop getting the better of me each month!

iv also not been taken the pre-conception vitamins. Is this worth while tk start?

@lg1006

No judgment & I think you need to be easier on yourself too. Your decision to have an abortion isn't linked when these pregnancy outcomes.

I'm sure you'll be successful soon 💐

for your peace of mind can you just refrain from testing until say your period is a week or more late? i think if you routinely tested thousands of women who weren't using contraception, many of us would have these occurrences fairly frequently but modern tests being so easily accessible mean that we can become a bit hyper-focussed on testing and getting a result super early...rather different from the days when you had to take a pot of wee for your GP to test! Stress by itself can stop you conceiving/implanting as your body thinks its not the right time so try to look after yourself and get some TLC.

Definitely do take prenatal vitamins. I did find however that the pregnancies conceive plus did mess with my cycle. It kept delaying it. But the normal pregnacare vitamins were fine. Not entirely sure what the difference was if any. Could have just been one of those things

Also, no judgement at all. Does he have kids already? Or has he had any preconception checks, SA? Is he older? Age on both sides unfortunately can be a factor.

It may not be you, is all I'm saying. Both H and I got checked out when we're having issues for it to be frustratingly diagnosed as unexplained secondary infertility. But, here we are a few years later with another, complete surprise baby!

I don't really believe in chemical
Pregnancies, I say that as someone who had 3 early losses and diagnosed with blood condition causing them.

You're either producing pregnancy hormone or you're not, and the only way for a test to pick it up is because you are pregnant - no matter how short that pregnancy might sadly last.

Your GP is uneducated and naive. If it happens a 3rd time you must insist on a referral for recurrent miscarriage checks to be done. (NHS generally only refer after 3 consecutive losses).

Hopefully you have just had some bad luck and next time you will be fine. Sorry for your losses x

Chemical pregnancies were a thing when I was ttc my eldest who is now eight. I do agree though that the term early miscarriage is a far more accurate reflection of what happens.

I’m sorry for what you are going through.

My ex husband is a GP. I had a chemical last cycle and I asked him about it (we have an amicable relationship and are both remarried) He said it was definitely a chemical, he said the sperm and egg have met but either detected abnormal chromosomes and not continued the pregnancy or hasn’t attached to the lining of the womb properly and therefore hasn’t continued because of that. For HCG to be detected there has to be fertilisation so that’s the only thing that would give a positive pregnancy test.
I spoke to my own GP who said that it may not have been a positive test and bodies do also DTD of weird things but my periods took ages to come back to normal 72 days in fact whereas I’m normally very regular so definitely a chemical for me.
I do think some doctors don’t see a chemical as an actual pregnancy and just pass it off

Alsorts not DTD 🙈😂