Ask Our Doctors – Archive
Our Medical Directors are outstanding physicians that you will find to be very personable and compassionate, who take care to ensure that you have the most cutting-edge fertility treatments at your disposal. This is your outlet to ask your questions to the doctors.
You were so kind to answer my question a few weeks ago. I’ve had a few more hcg levels and wondered if you’d give me your honest opinion on my outlook. The rate of increase has slowed down. I’m a little over 6 weeks and will have an ultrasound in a few days but I’m really wanted to be prepared for bad news.
For reference, in my last (healthy normal) pregnancy, my hcg was only 39000 at 7.5 weeks.
Dpo 11 54
Dpo 13 145. 33 hrs to double
Dpo 17 741. 40 hrs
Dpo 20. 2055. 49 hrs
Dpo 24. 4800. 78 hrs
Dpo 27. 8090. 95 hrs to double
This is not abnormal, in my opinion.
I would be guardedly optimistic!
Geoff Sher
Sorry if this repeats!
PMHx: This is pregnancy 5. First was a molar. Middle 3 were healthy pregnancies (minus HG). My LMP was 9/21. I believe I ovulated a week late as I was tracking cervical mucus/LH surges. The week of my missed period, I took some urine tests and they were negative – except for a few hours later there was a faint color line. The time to this decreased over the week and by 10/24 it was showing up within the time frame. 10/25 I went to my OB for right sided pain. My hcg levels over that week were:
10/25 – 81
10/27 – 103
10/29 – 164
10/29 we did an US as my pain had worsened. We found an ovarian cyst. There was no sign of a sac (low numbers). My pain continued until 10/30 and then it has returned to intermittent pain that is not nearly as bad it was.
11/4 – 324
Overall, I am worried about the slow rise in numbers. My count put me at a little over 5 weeks for the 11/4 draw as well and it just doesn’t seem right. What are your thoughts?
This is a slow rise. You should prepare yourself for bad news. If the level keeps rising slowly, your doctor should be on the lookout for an ectopic!
Geoff Sher
Hx: this is my 5th pregnancy. 1st was molar. Next 3 were live birth and healthy. I do tend to suffer from HG when pregnant.
My LMP was 9/21. I did not ovulate as expected (I was tracking mucus and LH surges). I think I ovulated about a week late. I missed my next cycle (10/19 expected). I took a urine and it was negative. Although hours later a line was there with color. This happened for a week, the hour slowly getting closer to test time frame. By 10/24 I had a light positive within the time frame of the urine test but I started getting intermittent right sided pain. I went to my ob. Over the next week my numbers were:
10/25 – 81 (Progesterone ok)
10/27 – 103
10/29 – 164
The 29th I also had an ultrasound as the pain got worse. They found an ovarian cyst but numbers were too low to see a sac anywhere.
The cyst pain continued into the 30th and since then it has dissolved back to intermittent and not often..
I repeated an hcg on 11/4 and it was 324.
I am worried this is not viable and/or may be ectopic. Looking for your insight.
Thank you ?
I understand your concern. The rise in hCG is slow. Ultimately it will require an US examination at 6-7 weeks to determine pregnancy viability. In addition, your doctor needs to keep an eye on you…just in case it turns out to be an ectopic pregnancy.
Geoff Sher
Hi Dr. Sher,
I’m 10dp5dt and my HCG levels came back today at 55. Waiting until Monday for another test. Should I be concerned? I was hoping for over 100.
Thank you!
It should double in the next 2 days. That will be largely determinative!
Good luck!
Geoff Sher
Hi Dr. Sher,
Is it normal to see a wide variation in hcg doubling time within a cycle? My betas were:
10dp5dt: 316
12dpt: 846 (33 hr doubling time)
14dpt: 1648 (50 hr doubling time)
I know the rate eventually slows down, but this seems like a drastic and early slowdown. I know only the ultrasound will give a definitive answer, but is it usually a bad sign when it slows like this?
In think there is reason for optimism!
Good luck!
Geoff Sher