Expert: Catherine Beier MS CBE - 6/9/2009

Question
QUESTION: I took two First Response home pregnancy test and both were positive. The next day I went to the ER and got a negative urine test but a positive blood test. Then i got an untrasound and nothing was seen. my level was 53... Whats going on?

ANSWER: Cathrine,


If your levels are only 53, it's too early to see anything on an ultrasound. It doesn't mean you have to be worried at this point. It could just mean that you ovulated late or have long/irregular cycles.  I'm not certain why you would have even had an ultrasound at this point - it would just make you worry.


Based on levels that low, it's probably very early in your pregnancy, which explains a negative urine followed by a positive blood test.


The only solution right now is to wait and see if your levels continue to rise.  You may also want to have your progesterone levels checked to make certain they're high enough to sustain the pregnancy.


If the levels do not continue to rise as expected,  then you may be having a miscarriage or a blighted ovum (a fertilized egg that doesn't implant properly in the uterus).  But, it's too soon to tell.  


So, you have every reason to hope for the best at this point.  Rest and relax and hopefully you'll know more in a few days.



Best,
Catherine

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: The first time was on Sat. and it was 53 then it went up to 76 on Mon. is that good? I go back on next Mon..

Answer
Cathrine,

In 85% of pregnancies, HCG levels double every 48-72 hours.  So, depending upon how much time had passed between tests, that looks pretty good.  It was probably a bit less than 48 hours between the two, so they hadn't quite doubled, but it's a good sign that your levels were increasing rather than staying the same or decreasing.



Best,
Catherine