Hormone Levels after ERPC

[TurstTurtle]

Hi,

Have just been recommended this site by a friend as I'm frustrated that I can't get any answers to my recent experience & wonder if anyone out there has had similar...

On 29.09.09 I had an ERPC procedure as my 7 week scan showed foetus not developing (had an early 5 week scan which was okay - had had a sterilisation reversal in April 09). At this time my HCG levels were over 25,000!!

The histology report after the op showed no conclusive evidence that the ERPC was successful and an Ectopic could not be ruled out. I went on to have blood tests every week as the HCG levels were only halving each week and I still felt pregnant.

I finally received news just last week (10.01.10) that my levels are back to zero - 3 months later hurrah! I have had a couple of very minor bleeds during this time rather than a significant period.

I'm hoping to now start trying again as am 40 this year and time is ticking away (I have a 15 year old) but just wonder if anyone has had this happen and received any explanation as to why?

Many thanks.

hi *turtle not very sure about this but did they suspect a molar pregnancy? thats the only time they monitor hcg that i know of..

sorry hope this bumps you up and someone has a better explanation..

If they didn't definitely find 'products of conception' at histology (aren't medical phrases for miscarriage great) then they are concerned that the pregnancy may have been ectopic, and not removed by the ERPC procedure. This seems unlikely as you had had 2 scans, but is probably a standard comment they write on the reports in these situations. The other possibility is that you had 2 pregnancies - a failed uterine one and an ongoing or also failing ectopic. Hence measuring your hCG levels to check they were falling, not rising which would suggest an ongoing pregnancy elsewhere. The 'good' news is that your levels did fall - it sounds a bit like they missed with the ERPC (it is not unusual to miss a bit as they have to be careful not to damage the womb); but this has come away naturally. Even after a 'successful' evac it can take a few weeks for hCG levels to fall to zero. Your period should return and for dating reasons it is a good idea to wait until you've had one before ttc again.

I have a slightly different situation but similar in some ways. I started a miscarriage at 6weeks5days, scan showed sac at 6w1day. But I did not bleed much and stopped very quickly. Went back a week later and the sac was still in my womb but had shrunk slightly. My hcg levels were going down but very very slowly, first test at about 1000, second 800 4days later, it took a month for my hcg to go from 1000 to 0. What was happening was that instead of bleeding and losing the pregnancy, my body was slowly reabsorbing it (like vanishing twin does). I finally had a "period" once my hcg levels had reached zero. It was a horrible experience for me, and today is a hard day, as today would have been the due date for that pregnancy for me.

It could well be that the same happened with you, that the erpc did not actually remove the pregnancy sac, and that you have gradually reabsorbed it, and now your body is ready to start again. If your levels are back to zero you may get a period or maybe not for a while yet, it can take upto 7 weeks after a miscarriage to get your first period.

I hope that this helps knowing that levels taking a week to half is not totally unheard of.