Lines eyes - are these chemical pregnancies or Evaps?

[Louloumelon]

Hi ladies, hoping for some advise as I’m going out of my mind - we’ve been TTC for almost 2 years and during this time I’ve had three cycles where I can see a faint line at 12dpo and then at 13dpo or 14dpo I get AF. It’s always been really faint and I’ve heard a lot about Evap lines but also Chemical pregnancies. My question is, is there a way to tell if it’s a chemical or just an evap? These photos are terrible but I’d love some advise on whether you think these are chemicals. I have endometriosis which I had surgery on 3 years ago and we are on the waiting list with the NHS for the fertility clinic but should I be worried if these are 3 chemicals or is it a good thing that we are getting pregnant at all even if they aren’t viable? Any advice would be hugely helpful. Thank you ladies ❤️

@Louloumelon probably not the answer you want but highly highly likely they're evaps. At 12DPO.... you're most likely to have a proper line more visible (if you were sure you were 12DPO). If you haven't already, start some fertility testing which the GP should be able to do asap considering the time you've been trying.

I would suggest not testing until your period is late - it does just lead to a lot of trauma and upset to test early, especially if you detect "chemical pregnancies", which my generation never suffered through, because they simply were not detected.

If you can see faint lines one day, which disappear, accompanied by AF a day or so later, it's highly likely that they're chemicals. Yes, they'd be very faint for 12dpo, but that would also be a symptom of a CP and HCG not increasing as expected. Do keep a log, particularly if they're happening frequently. It's positive that conception is happening, but frequent CPs may also be a consequence of the endo.

When I had a CP in November, what convinced me that I wasn't just staring at indents was that I was also getting fairly dark (albeit not positive) OPKs, when usually I'm 0.12 unless I'm approaching ovulation, so I think they were picking up the HCG too.

@sharptoothlemonshark I think it's useful being aware of CPs, as if they're happening frequently to someone they may show a wider issue and flagging them can help with referrals to fertility specialists if needed.

That might be true, but I think they happen to everyone, its quite normal, most pregnancies don't establish.

I guess in our day it was just a case of seeing a specialist because you couldn't get pregnant, whereas today you might go armed with the knowledge that you are conceiving but not going on to an established pregnancy, which could help pinpoint the issue, maybe.

I don't know how often it is worth the heartache of knowing though?

100% agree with not testing early. If there is an issue causing CP, that will flag in blood tests - low progesterone for instance. Early weeks / days of pregnancy are fuelled with anxiety when it has been a battle to get pregnant and knowing earlier than your due period is just more time to fret about something you can do nothing about.

Thank you everyone, I did notice all of these times I would spot brown before my period which I usually never do. It’s usually a “gush” and AF is here so it is bizarre and makes me think they are chemicals. I think having this knowledge even if it is totally heartbreaking is good as I know my endo is slowly scarring me and if I know I can conceive but it’s the carrying that is the issue - won’t this Informations help with the fertility treatments? Hopefully my tubes aren’t too scarred as the zygote is getting through?

No, chemicals are ignored by medical professionals. They are not regarded as a miscarriage. Your black and white test results is what will help you get the correct fertility treatment. Definitely speak to your fertility consultant about your concerns re endo though and I'm sure with the medical information about the extent of the endo scarring they'll be able to give you a clear answer about whether implantation may be tricky due to the endo.