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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.

Positive lines dark enough?

6 replies

JGIVF2023 · 08/09/2023 10:34

hi, I’m really looking for some reassurance. I’ve had two failed rounds of ivf after learning I have fertility issues. We decided to take a break from ivf for a few months to then try again at the end of this year and somehow I’ve tested positive naturally! But now I’m freaking out because I don’t feel like my lines are dark enough and my CB is saying 2-3 rather than 3+ and I’m 5 weeks pregnant today & 21/22 dpo. I absolutely have ptsd from my last chemical. Did anyone else have tests that looked this light at this point and went on to be successful? I feel like it was progressing ok until today and the last two tests look the same.

Positive lines dark enough?
OP posts:
KeepSmiling89 · 08/09/2023 10:54

Hi OP

I'm no expert but judging by the line progression, I'd say everything looks fine here.

Don't know how the digital tests measure weeks by but could it be that you're measuring 5 weeks from the start of your last period and digital test is measuring from actual conception...so there would be a couple of weeks' discrepancy?

LolaJ87 · 08/09/2023 10:55

These look great! They're darkening. Those Clearblues date from conception, so if you're 5 weeks today then it's only just 3 weeks from conception. They're not exact either. Wishing you all the luck.

XenaTheWarriorPrincess · 08/09/2023 12:45

There's not really such a thing as lines not being dark enough.

Every woman has a different base level of hcg in their system (usually between 1 and 5 but can be less than 1), and implantation can happen from 6dpo to 12dpo (8,9 and 10dpo being the most common), so hcg levels vary greatly from woman to woman, and from pregnancy to pregnancy.

As long as your hcg is rising as it should be, there's no indication of a problem. Your lines are getting darker, so that indicates your hcg is rising.

Clearblue weeks indicator needs 20,000 miu to get the 3+ result. It can take a bit longer for some to reach this than others, it's not exact. It's 200miu for the 2-3, so your levels are somewhere between 200 and 20,000.

I only got a 1-2 at 16dpo and faint lines until like 20dpo, but they got darker so I wasn't worried.

Only 6+6 currently, so not out of the woods yet, but definitely far along enough to say my line strength meant nothing (as I'm past the point of a chemical now) and the pregnancy symptoms and morning sickness are in full swing now, so my hcg is obviously at a healthy level!

Your tests might stall at a certain point, especially on strip tests. Each one will have a slightly different amount of dye in, and at 5 weeks, it's better to stop testing now as you're reaching the hcg levels that will prevent further line progression (some tests only get so dark).

Unless you have bleeding and/or one sided pain, try not to worry.

JGIVF2023 · 08/09/2023 15:37

@XenaTheWarriorPrincess thank you for your reply, it’s really helpful! I read on the clearblue website that it only needed to be 153 for 2-3 weeks and 2753 for 3+ weeks so I’m not sure what to think? I’ve added the image for you.

I do have some slight cramping on my right side but it’s mild and intermittent so I’m assuming it’s fine?

im interested when you say I’m getting to that point at 5 weeks that stops further line progression, what does that mean please? Also, how far alone do you have to be to be past the point of chemical? X

OP posts:
faban · 08/09/2023 19:39

When I had my chemical I never got past 1-2 so I'd say that was great x

Hopinghonestly · 09/09/2023 07:06

It says 2-3. Thats conception so add 2 weeks on it makes 5 :) so i would think its all positive from those tests, as it takes few days for hcg to rise again. My miscarriage sign is at 5 weeks its still 1-2.

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