What would you do?

[Zest11]

Hi,

My husband and I have been TTC for nearly 2 years and have done all the tests and have unexplained infertility. We have just got approved for IUI or IVF and our appointment for the scan, follicle count, another sperm test etc is next week. However I did a few pg tests last week and they were all positive!!! But now my period is starting (a few days late). I have clearly had a chemical pregnancy but I am unsure on what to do. Do I tell the doc/specialists that ironically after all this time I managed to conceive? But then would I have to wait another 2 years to be eligible for IUI/IVF or would i not be eligible at all? Would there even be any point having IUI or IVF if I can actually conceive naturally (even though it has taken SO long)? Never had a positive test before...

Thanks to anyone that replies

[Zest11]

Thank you for your reply TheLastUNIC0RN so sorry I didnt reply earlier, I must have missed your post. I cannot imagine how frustrating all that must have been for you, so happy that things are working out for you now though. I wish you all the luck for when November rolls around. xx

[Zest11]

Thank you for replying hoping2018. That's really positive to hear your amh score and number of eggs collected...thank you for that. x

[hoping2018]

Hi @Zest11, sorry to hear about the chemical pregnancy - I can't imagine the excitement then Disappointment.

My AMH was 8 aged 31 and I got 22 eggs on both cycles of ivf so although I was technically in the bottom 5% of AMH range it didn't predict the number of eggs. You have to consider FSH, age and Antral follicle count too. The best marker of how many eggs you have is how you respond to the drugs they give.

It apparently doesn't predict when the menopause will be and won't be the reason you haven't gotten pregnant. It's more just a marker of how many eggs to expect with ivf and helps them judge how much drug to give you.

Best of luck x

[Zest11]

For anyone that was following the positive line has gradually faded. I had my appt this week and I was scanned and nobody mentioned anything so I assume it had all gone. We will be starting IUI before IVF. I got some blood results back and my AMH was only 11 although they didn't seem concerned...I just got home and googled and apparently it's at the lower end of normal. I'm only 30....does that mean I'm going to have the menopause in just a few years and could it be why we have found it so hard to get pregnant naturally?

[Zest11]

Thank you @SnowBambino and @hoping2018. I will do one towards the end of the week to make sure it's all gone. Apparently they can stay positive for up to 2 weeks. I will keep you all updated xx

[hoping2018]

Hi @Zest11, sorry you've got what seems to be a period - that does seem fairly conclusive. As pp said I would do a oregnancy test to make sure it's negative and nothing seems to be retained. X

[SnowBambino]

As others have said, I would caution against assuming that you’re definitely not pregnant, without a negative test to confirm it. I bled for 7 weeks non stop with my DD. My best friend had periods with both her children during her first trimester.

[Zest11]

Hi @hoping2018 thank you for checking in. I haven't done any tests for a good few days as I ran out! I have had a full blown period though so that's my answer really. Feeling more positive though as this has told me I CAN actually get pregnant and hopefully IUI will speed things along so I don't have to wait 2 years again. How are you??

[hoping2018]

Hi @Zest11

How are you getting on? Are your tests still positive? X

[AliceScarlett]

I'd not say anything and have 1 round of iui. Double check you're not just bleeding during pregnancy though!

[Zest11]

Thank you everyone for all your replies. It's soooo hard to know what to do. I guess I'm just hoping that this will make me more fertile so I don't have to go through with ART but equally I don't want to waste more years x

[Bananacloud]

I doubt it would’ve picked the pregnancy up on a digital if anything was wrong. Pumpkin is right? Loads of people bleed during pregnancy but have healthy babies I hope it stays positive.

[marriageoftrueminds]

I had a slightly similar experience in that I fell pregnant whilst waiting to be referred for IVF, but I had an ectopic pregnancy. They still referrred me for IVF as ectopic pregnancies tend to reduce your ongoing fertility and we’d already been trying two years. However in a massive stroke of luck I fell pregnant two months later just as we were about to start the IVF process. I am not a doctor but I believe that there is some truth in the idea that some people may be more fertile right after a loss (I know it doesn’t work for everyone but it seemed to work for me).

I would see if you can stall a bit - you need to be sure you are not still pregnant for one thing! And also the pregnancy hormones need to be out of your system before you have any more blood tests etc. On a side note If you keep bleeding and have pain in your side I would seek medical help - I’ve never had a chemical pregnancy but that’s how my ectopic started.

Good luck!

[TheLastUNIC0RN]

Hi Zest - I didn't actually get IVF on the NHS in the end.
The last 4 years are a bit of a blur but this is the jist...
Took us a year and a half to conceive - I found out the morning I had my appointment to get the ball rolling - so obviously it never did roll. Then miscarried at 6 weeks, got pregnant right away again - miscarried at 6 weeks. Went back to try get the ball rolling again but kept being told come back in 6 months - i think about a year and a half after the first time - I got pregnant again - i miscarried at 6 weeks, then again straight after - miscarried at 7 weeks. By then I got another referral letter in to see a specialist to actually get put on the waiting list - was told IVF wasnt needed as i have no problem getting pregnant naturally - and sent on my merry way!!
Soooo we went private, paid for everything including recurrant miscarriage tests - all normal still - and I am now 34 weeks pregnant. Took us 4 years from starting to TTC to starting the IVF process. Baby due November. Funny thing is the consultant who told me I didnt need IVF also worked at the private clinic and we seen him for one of our appointments!!

[sallievp]

Exactly the same happened to me ..I kept quiet and just put back the IVF for a few months...we were also unexplained...have a lovely 2 year old boy as a result.

[mybalognahasafirstname]

I wouldn't. Been TTC for 4 years, only one chemical pregnancy in that time. (Going through fertility treatment now.) There's nothing to say you'll have more chemicals, could be a one off like mine. I wouldn't push back ivf for it.

[Pumpkin18]

Is the test still says pregnant then you could be, lots of people bleed at the beginning of pregnancy

[Goldangel]

I wouldn't tell, I did and was pushed back, we ended up going private and fell pregnant the month I was due to start clomid. Hindsight I was the most relaxed that month knowing I had a plan, so who knows if that helped.

My friend fell pregnant naturally just before her 3rd ivf cycle, again she was relaxed knowing she had a plan.

Just saying

[Zest11]

Hi hoping thank you so much for replying. That is my concern too - that my only go on the NHS is wasted. I've been so worried about having to go down this route anyway as in my area we just get one shot. I was planning on having a few goes of IUI first as they do allow that. It's just so hard to know what to do!

[hoping2018]

Could you anonymously phone the clinic and check if your eligibility is effected?!? Or get someone to call in your behalf "for a friend"?!?

[hoping2018]

I'm afraid I'm going to say the opposite to everyone else!

I think it's important they are told and I also know of someone who had similar and didn't effect they're funding.

If it is a chemical (and I'm so sorry you have this stress) then I think it's important it's on your notes -lift the following reasons:

1. They may not recommend going straight into a cycle of ivf and may feel your chances of success are higher if you have a set amount of time off after the chemical - you'd be kicking yourself if not telling them effects your chance of nhs ivf working.
2. If you did have ivf and had another chemical pregnancy they would probably consider steroids etc and whether there may be an implantation issue - they won't if they don't know about this one.
3. Along similar lines if you have three chemicals/miscarriages (hopefully this won't be the case) but they think you've only had two they won't investigate appropriately.
4. You are still currently pregnant at the moment / you should really be seen my a doctor for monitoring and they normally do a scan to check products have passed - certainly if you still have a bfp at 6 weeks since your LMP they would scan.

Sorry to say the opposite to everyone else...... I can understand the opposite point of view but I would say something as I wouldn't want my future chances when I finally got to ivf to be compromised.

[Guio]

Hello,sorry about this but as the rest I wouldn't say anything as it is very early stage and they won't find out probably.however I thought that you still get funding if you have miscarriages and it is only live births once they stop.Good to know as I have been trying for the same time and meant to start IVF soon.I hope everything goes well x

[Justincase87]

The only thing I can think of being an issue is if they see something on the scan - but I don't know if this is likely/possible - I'm sorry you're going through this x

[Zest11]

Thank you mouse and fairies you're both right!

[Knittedfairies]

I wouldn’t mention it; you wouldn’t have known if you hadn’t done the tests last weeks - it would be just a late period.