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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Low HCG

4 replies

Ranoutofgoodnames · 23/06/2020 12:28

Hello - i am on various group threads already so some of you may see this and roll your eyes - sorry for the duplication...

This is a bit long but honest views would be appreciated - also some good positive vibes! I had a miscarriage mid April and then went on to get pregnant again the month after i got my first period - period started 18 May.

I am 40 and the miscarriage was caused by chromosome problems - had the products tested and it showed trisomy 13.

I try to track ovulation by temping and also OPKs. The month i got pregnant it was all out of whack. My app (femometer) said first that i ovulated on 27 May which co-incided with opk peak (clear blue digital advanced) but then i continued to temp and it changed its mind and said 31 May noting that hormone levels may have caused opk peak without ovulation.

However, I also started to take Co-Enzyme Q10 that month - not sure if it delayed ovulation have read it can for some people but some doctors say no it can't.

Not entirely sure when I ovulated is the result of all this but i would have thought the likliest date was 31 May??

Had HCG levels checked on 15 June (so 15 DPO based on 31 May ovulation) and level was 124. Doctor prescribed me progesterone (progesterone level on 15 June was 100 she didn't say why) and i have been taking 60mg of utrogesten pessaries each day with an applicator.

This weekend I inserted a pessary and there was a slight trace of brown blood on it when i removed it. I told my doctor and she sent me for blood tests yesterday - so that would be 22 DPO I think. HCG levels were 616 and progesterone were 76.3. Doctor said the HCG should have risen more but it might be that I conceived later than we thought. I am having a scan on Friday - I think there is no point having a scan before that date. She also upped my progesterone supplement from 600mg to 800mg per day.

So: I have no real idea when i conceived - I think i ovulated on 31 May but to be honest it was all over the place I think because it was only the first cycle after my first period after my miscarriage. I don't know if Q10 could have actually delayed it even though my temperature tracking seemed to show that i ovulated. Also, we were knackered and only did the deed two days before the second time I apparently ovulated (as the final shot of the sperm meets egg plan for when I thought I had ovulated the first time) so I not sure that ovulating later makes sense as there might not have been any sperm hanging around....

Does anyone have any thoughts? Sorry I know it is confusing.

  1. Could I have ovulated later than my temperature tracking said by eg a couple of days and conceived even if we then only had sex about four to five days before ovulation?
  1. If I did ovulate on that day how bad are my HCG levels and does anyone have any success stories?
  1. Has anyone used Q10 and had it delay ovulation?
  1. I have had no real pregnancy symptoms other than some stomach cramps - not even sore boobs which I had during my previous pregnancy. I know that can be OK in and of itself but when we mix it in with the low HCG what do we think?
  1. I have had stomach cramps and have assumed that these were normal (had them in previous pregnancy). But also have a backache which I think makes me feel it is more likely to be a miscarriage.
  1. I am very worried that I would be bleeding but for the fact that I am taking the progesterone - have read how this can delay miscarriage but obviously if the egg has a chromosome disorder the body will get rid of it eventually. Any ideas?

Massive thank you to anyone who has read this far. Any ideas on any of the questions please do let me know. I feel so sad and scared. I think two miscarriages at 40 might mean that we need to start to think about other options and i don't know how to do that but equally my heart cannot take the thought of more miscarriages and the pain it all brings.

OP posts:
Tootletum · 23/06/2020 12:35

I'm so confused by what you're asking, sorry. It's quite a specific medical question so I'm not sure whether anyone but your doctor can answer it. Going by your dates you're theoretically about five weeks pregnant, yes? At that stage there isn't much anyone can say or do to either predict or prevent miscarriage. If that HCG value is low it's afaik not a good sign, but as you say could also mean implantation was a bit later than your dates suggest. Only time will tell, wishing you the best of good fortune on your journey to motherhood though.

physicskate · 23/06/2020 12:38

I'm not quite sure why all the intervention has happened? Why are you taking progesterone, etc...?

Hcg in viable pregnancies should double within 48-72 hours minimum. It's possible this is viable, but not looking guaranteed.

I'm sorry I hat might not be what you want to hear. Time will tell.

Ttc above age 35 means that miscarriage is more likely than when you were younger. It's just a sad fact of life.

It takes at least 3 months of taking for coq10 to have any impact on egg quality.

There is little evidence to suggest that taking progesterone in early pregnancy is helpful except in cases of art and maybe (evidence slim) if you suffer recurrent miscarriage, which is generally classed as 3 in a row. A 15 dpo progesterone result of 100 (before taking it?) suggests that taking it will have no appreciable benefit for you in this instance...

Ranoutofgoodnames · 23/06/2020 12:55

Thanks for the responses! I know it is a bit rambly - I guess it is more a plea for good news stories if anyone has experienced anything similar!

It is a private doctor and I think because stuff can be done in terms of tests and supplements she does them provided it won’t do harm if that makes sense? I think if I was on the nhs then I wouldn’t have a clue about any of this and would just have to wait for my twelve week scan...

OP posts:
DufferedUp · 23/06/2020 13:08

Those figures give you a doubling time of 72 hours, which is the max threshold for viability. What day DPO you are is irrelevant given that you have two HCG readings but it doesn't look overly hopeful if I'm being honest. However, miricales do happen; I'm 30 weeks pregnant and started with a HCG reading of just 22 on 14DPO, which is way below what it should be..

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