Worried about test line progression at 8dp5dt after IVF

[Lavisiana]

Hi,

I am going through IVF being 8dp5dt.

There was my first ever positive pregnancy test which I got so excited about but now I worry about the progression.

The First response tests show a beautiful progression lines but the easy at home seems pretty much the same all the time.

Is this proper bad?

Easy at homes aren't as sensitive, I was like you, pregnant after ivf and first positive after two-year trying and going through ivf. I ended up getting two amh private bloodtests to ease my mind, ut that only lasts so long til the next wobble!

I must have easily spent close to a grand on private scans during my pregnancy too, was so worried.

Hard as it is, you can only wait and see but those are good lines, I never had super strong ones on the easy at homes.

Thank you so much reaction.

And you are right. It is all so hard isn’t it?

I was so happy about my FRERs but being 13Dpo those current easy at home tests look like 0 progression to me which makes me question everything 🙈

Line progression doesn't mean anything. As you can see, tests vary so much in terms how much dye they show for different HCG levels, even in the same batch. It depends on your hydration levels so much also, and HCG varies so much in successful pregnancies. They're a yes or no answer, and here it's a yes. It can't tell you anything else.

If it's any comfort, my chemical pregnancy never showed tests that dark btw. They were barely there at 13dpo, then I started bleeding and the lines were gone.

Step away from the tests for your own mental health, you're pregnant. Congratulations.

Thank you @DinoDances for your kind words!
I am really sorry it didn’t end well for you.

And you are right. I need to stop testing so often as there is nothing you can do to prevent anything so I will have to learn how to go day by day and enjoy what the day brings.

Congratulations! This is exactly what I had after embryo transfer, clear progression with FRERs but slow progression on the easy@home. It's because easy@home are much less sensitive, so you need very high levels of HCG to get dark lines on them. This is my progression on the easy@home, still very light at 8dp5dt and that's with twins!

@ButterscotchBabe omg thanks so much for posting these!

I know everyone is different but seeing these made me feel so much calmer… at least for now 😅
I am so pleased it all went well for you x

I think that progression looks good. Good luck x

Please make yourself three glasses of squash. Each with a similar size splash of squash at the bottom, each splash of squash slightly larger than the previous.

Then top them up with random amounts of water.

Then look at them and see if the colour gradient is steadily increasing in line with the size of the splash of squash. Or if it’s far more dependent on how much water was added.

(spoiler, it’s the latter).

Then drink all three glasses so youve got an iron clad reminder that Youre well hydrated for tomorrow.

Me again.

I was happily testing once a day and though I might check my FRER after 3 days as it should more than double. It just got me back spiralling.

I feel like the FRER should be so much darker compared to my one from the previous pic (20/07) plus i cant really see any progression on the easy at home. Its more like its lighter today. I am 15dpo today.

Can you tell me what you see?

I think your FRER looks good. Are you able to get a private HCG blood test? Then you can do a repeat blood test after 48-72 hours to see if your HCG is rising and/or doubling?

@Ara26even when compared to my first FRER tests pic?

Not till Monday so that’s another week of spiralling 🙈

I think it's darker than before, but it won't double in darkness just because HCG has doubled. That's not how it works. 15dpo is only 1 day past a normal period, they're very solid lines for that time frame. As has been said the easy@homes don't get dark until HCG is really high. They need a lot of HCG. And even if they don't get dark, that can also be a completely normal HCG for a successful pregnancy as it varies so much. Look at the ranges in this table here for example: https://www.institutobernabeu.com/en/blog/beta-hcg-result-table/

Please stop looking for line progression. I know it's hard. Test if you want just to see the line again, but a line is good, it means you're pregnant. Do not think anything about the darkness.

You're also testing at 2pm based on the times on your strips? Your urine will be very dilute by that time so definitely not reliable for line darkness.

@DinoDances thank you for the link and your opinion!

I am just really worried about chemical pregnancy that’s why I need to keep testing to feel calmer although it doesn’t really work either as you can tell 🙈

I am afraid my PM tests are usually better than the morning ones so that’s why I keep testing later on..

I totally get you're worried about a chemical pregnancy, but the test darkness won't tell you if that's happening or not. Some people have dark lines then miscarry before the lines have reduced, a lot never get to your level of darkness and miscarry (I didn't) but were still testing positive. Some keep getting dark lines and no bleeding, and have a missed miscarriage (not to worry you but show line darkness means nothing). Only if the line disappears before you start bleeding will you know it's going to happen, which is very unlikely once you've seen a nice solid line like yours as HCG would need to drop a lot. Whatever happens it's out of your hands.

I really really get the worry I do. But by this point it's not going to tell you anything, except maybe how hydrated or dehydrated you are. Especially at 2pm when your drinking and activity level will change so much day to day. If you really need to know the only way would be a blood test 72 hours apart, but even so that may cause more worry than not.

I tested positive for 2 weeks still after bleeding from my chemical btw. Had HCG at 90 at least (had to go to epu due to bleeding and positive tests and had a blood test). This was my positive test the night before bleeding started at 13dpo.

@DinoDances oh gosh you are so right. Thanks for sharing this with me. Somehow after reading your comments I feel calmer and more at peace.

I will just have to hope as there isn’t anything I can do as you said.

Thank you again 🫶

I really hope it has helped. Basically everything about TTC and pregnancy is so out of our control, and even once baby is here there's a lot of anxiety. I think sometimes we think peeing on a stick gives us a semblance of control and insight into this horrible process, as it's something you can physically do, but I just think it causes more worry a lot of the time. Even once you get your scans, you're still worrying a bit until your next one. I hope you can find some things to help you cope with it.

I can't remember exactly when but when I tested, the control line started to get stronger than the test line again
I was gutted convinced I was having a chemical after seeing positives. It turned out to he my hcg was too high for the test. Its called the hook effect. I diluted my urine with water and positives came back blazing.

The only way to know for sure is with hcg blood tests taken a few days apart, or to wait, it still looks like a strong positive and I've got everything crossed for you x

Go and reread my comment about making squash.

Make yourself some more squash next time you feel the need to do a test.

Theyre designed to detect hcg above a certain level. Not indicate how much there is. Meet the level, line is visible to naked eye. Thats it.

@DinoDances you are definitely right. Going through an IVF pregnancy makes it all even more difficult because you know you might have only a few chances to get pregnant. I will try my best to distract myself but yes it’s definitely gonna be a difficult one 😅 Thanks again for you comment x

@Imisscoffee2021 oh wow I had no idea this could happen? I mean looking at mine easy at homes I doubt it would be my case but I will bear that in mind.
Thank you so much its so nice of you! x

@ScaryM0nster I know I know but my brain doesn’t want to cooperate 😅🙈

Kindly. Step away from the tests. It won’t tell you anything.

I get it. I do. I went through IVF too. FWIW my clinic test date wasn’t until 14DP5DT so you’re already ahead from me.

it’s so hard as it’s such a worrying time but for now…you’re pregnant until proven otherwise PUPO!

you need to step away from the tests.

wishing you the best of luck in your journey x

@oustedbymymate
It is crazy isn’t it? I keep thinking about if the ladies who just conceive naturally feel so scared, too 🙈 The only thing that helps me mentally is to think that there is nothing we can do about it.
I know I hope I will be able to freely celebrate my pregnancy soon 😅

Thank you so much! The same to you x