There is a whole lot of info on HCG in early pregnancy out there on the Web, but there are a few specific questions for which I cannot find answers. Perhaps some of y'all know the answers, and can reply in the comments below:
-Should HCG double every 48 hours in early pregnancy? Or is 48-72 hours considered the normal range? Online info seems to vary on this point.
-Are there any studies quantifying miscarriage risk based on HCG levels in early pregnancy?
-Does the day on which the embryo actually implants - which can vary by several days in a cycle - account for the wide variance in starting HCG #s in early pregnancy?
-Does a higher progesterone level offset a lower HCG level in quantifying miscarriage risk? Or vice versa?
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Sorry - I think I have searched the ends of the internet looking for information about HCG levels and miscarriage. All of my previous HCGs have been within normal limits (never on the high end, though).
ReplyDeleteAlso, my progesterone levels have always been anywhere from 25 - 45 with all my pregnancies.
If you find anything, please share!
My Dr always said it should Double within 48 to 72 hours or at least increase by 66% within 48 hours.
ReplyDeleteI have seen some info on the internet that correlates low and slow rising HCG with miscarriage. I will see if I can find the links and post them.
The day the embryo implants does make a difference and my Dr says that late implanters are more likely to miscarry as the timing is off. Also your body does register the HCG until sucessful implantation..so lower numbers earlier
Higher progesterone is good although some studies have shown high levels without supplements may indicate ectopic. I will find the link for that one and post it too.
Hope this helps...
Association between day 16 hCG and miscarriage rates:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16449115
Rate of loss increases with later implantation:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16449115
By the way, I think this blog is a great project.
I have been a fan of yours since WAY back when you were writing pro-breastfeeding articles for Salon. I'm due with my first child any day now, and I stumbled across one of those old articles today. After reading it I decided to look you up -- I've spent the last hour tracing your last few years (divorce, remarriage, new baby, miscarriages). I'm glad to see you're still writing and that overall, life seems to be good for you and your family.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I wanted to ask if you're under the care of a reproductive endocrinologist? With repeated losses and advanced maternal age (cruel term, I know, but the medically correct one), you totally qualify medically speaking. With an RE you wouldn't have to be researching HCG, Clomid, progesterone, luteal phase defect, etc. and trying to figure out a course of action. A good RE will provide all that info to you up front.
I promise I'm not an RE -- in college I was a nanny for a family with twins where the mama had repeated miscarriages due to a clotting disorder. As soon as she saw an RE, everything turned around. One cycle on Clomid and she had her boys.
If your insurance covers it, an RE could be the difference between a baby or no baby. Think about it.
hello!! Very interesting discussion glad that I came across such informative post. Keep up the good work friend. Glad to be part of your net community.
ReplyDelete