Slow rising HCG in early pregnancy. Is there hope?

[MamaMeMC]

Hi everyone. After transferring a day 5 blastocyst in a fresh IVF cycle my beta HCG values were as follows:

ER+12: HCG 43

ER+14: HCG 112 (doubling rate: 1.4 days)

ER+23 (5+2): HCG 718 (doubling rate: 3.4 days). Ultrasound: no sac visible

ER+26 (5+5): HCG 1990 (doubling rate: 2.0 days). Ultrasound: sac visible 9mm with yolk sac

Has anyone had anything like this? The values were great initially and totally within the norm but then the doubling really slowed down and the value on ER+23 was way low for that day. However the doubling rate seemed to pick back up again by the next scan.

From the studies I have found most people with numbers like these miscarry. Is there any hope?

Thanks for your help!

It’s a waiting game. Your next hcgs will be important. Mine always doubled fine at the start then slowed closer to the 6 week mark and I mc a couple weeks later twice.
It’s good your last one doubled. Hopefully, it continues

I can’t remember my exact HCGs but I know I had quite a few and it was rising at a slow rate compared to average. I really thought it wasn’t going to happen -but I now have a one year old. Are the clinic still recommending you have HCG now you have seen something on a scan? I was told by a doctor at early pregnancy unit that HCG becomes irrelevant once you see something on the scan -that’s far, far more reliable. If that is measuring as it should be -then that’s a great sign.

I know it’s really hard -but I drove myself mad with all the numbers and it really seemed like I was going to miscarry when I looked at data online but I didn’t. I think all babies and bodies are different so it’s hard to compare. Best of luck -I really hope it works out. I think go for another scan -this will be more useful.

Thanks for your response! I would love to know that somehow else had a similar doubling rate (3.5 days) and it ended well!

I guess because they couldn’t see an embryo yet they still test HCG. Tmr I have another scan and hopefully will know more!

Best of luck op, really hope it’s good news

Just an update! I had an ultrasound yesterday at 6w2d and the doc said the amniotic sac is small but had grown. And she still couldn’t really see an embryo except maybe with a lot of imagination. We have to wait another week to see!
HCG was 5780 which I guess is a normal doubling rate of 2.5 🤷‍♀️ Although of course still a very low number for 6w2d

Hcg is doubling which is good and hcg range at 6 weeks is huge - can be as little as 1,000 I believe up to 50k! I think you’ll need to see a yolk sac and fetal pole this week though to be viable. Perhaps it will appear in the next day or so. Are your dates also accurate? It also depends on the skill of the sonographer to see these things and on your uterus position. I know it’s the longest wait ever

Thanks! As this is an IVF cycle the dates are exact :) And I would think that being at the fertility clinic they would have a good ultrasound machine and a LOT of experience (but I guess you never know). With my son they also couldn't really see him at 6w3d, but he was in the corner and the sac was normal-sized whereas this time it is measuring small (and my numbers are way lower this time). But I know there is nothing that can be done besides waiting. Next Thursday we will know more!

Sorry yes I can see ivf now. Yes, my current pregnancy I was in the 6th week and they couldn’t see much and was measuring small but was also tucked up in corner. Hopefully, this is the case again for you. The waiting is so hard though isn’t it

Thanks dear! Yes the waiting is hard. And somehow it doesn't end the whole pregnancy 🙈