Q about "biochemical pregnancy"

Lorraine · Post by **Lorraine** » Thu Jul 10, 2003 11:54 am

Sorry guys - just having a last minute panic - so bear with me! I am due to do a home pregnancy test tomorrow but I wanted to ask about "biochemical pregnancy". I think I know what it is - but does it happen a lot? I can't get it out of my head - and just think even if it's a positive result - can I believe it???? Called my clinic - Nurse there not REALLY sure what I am going on about??! Talked about the test not being able to "pick up" the traces of the HCG we injected prior to egg collection - but that's not what I meant - I thought there was a chance of a feintly "weak" positive if the embryos have failed to implant properly (or with ectopic). Is this only with blood tests? Anyway nurse said if it's positive - it's positive - so I think I am suppossed to just stop worrying uneccessarily!! Oh Dear - I thought I was calm - now I am rambling on and on!!!! It's just it's been niggling away at me for days now. Can anyone help/advise? Lorraine xxx

fiona_lk · Post by **fiona_lk** » Thu Jul 10, 2003 12:26 pm

Hi Lorraine, I don't think we've spoken before, but I'm one of the oldies from the site who doesn't post much nowadays. Firstly, what I am about to explain only happens in a very few unfortunate cases so try to keep calm and optimistic. Every pregnancy is bio-chemical to begin with. This means that hCG has been detected in either urine or through a blood test. A pregnancy is only medically confirmed once a heartbeat is seen via ultra-sound. This won't happen until at the very earliest 4 weeks after conception (or in our case egg collection day) or when you are 6 weeks pregnant - and often it takes slightly longer than this. Occasionally, the embryos do implant briefly and then fail to hang on when af arrives. This is perhaps often why clinics do not ask for pg tests until many days after af is due so as to avoid un-necessary heartache from knowing this has happened. An ectopic pg tends to be a bit trickier, but only happens in 1% of cases (of which I unfortunately was last ICSI cycle). The hCG is less defined, may start off undetectable and only slowly climb. This would only be monitored if there are other symptoms, such as directed pain I experienced from about day 9 of my 2ww. Otherwise ectopics are either picked up on an early scan or when severe pain is experienced. Hopefully being more informed will help you to relax. I am also on the 2ww and due to officially test on 17/7. Good luck for tomorrow - I will keep everything crossed for you. Love Fiona xxxx

Jo Locker · Post by **Jo Locker** » Thu Jul 10, 2003 1:11 pm

Thanks for replying Fiona, I know your own quest has been long & tough, so very best of luck for the 17th. Love from Jo. XX

Lorraine · Post by **Lorraine** » Thu Jul 10, 2003 3:01 pm

Thank you Fiona - I prefer to know the truth - will try to relax now. I am so sorry you have had such a stormy time - but hopefully all that will soon be a thing of the past. Good luck to you with the 2ww and may your dreams come true on the 17th. Many thanks again for the help and advice. Lorraine

rachel r · Post by **rachel r** » Thu Jul 10, 2003 5:12 pm

Hi Lorraine, Mine was a bio-chemical. The way it was explained to me is that the embryo had implanted, but had stopped growing. Hence when I did my blood test after the 2ww, my hcg was at 25 (0 being for when you're not pg), which showed that we were nearly there. Unfortunately, ended up in hospital as on the same day as the test, bled v. heavily and the uterus started contracting as it was trying to get rid of the womb lining, which had become v. thick, partly because of the drugs but also because the embryo had implanted. LOL Rachel x

NicolaUp · Post by **NicolaUp** » Thu Jul 10, 2003 10:01 pm

Lorraine, I had a 'weak positive' result, when I had my first IVF cycle in March. The level should have been about 50-60 and mine was 7. It showed up as a v pale blue line on the home testing kit. Actually, as I was expecting a big fat negative, I was quite pleased that I had even got that far. Keep positive, I don't think it's v common. Spk soon, Nicola.

Lorraine · Post by **Lorraine** » Fri Jul 11, 2003 7:40 am

Thank you for all the advice guys - needn't have worried though - it was negative. Just so sad. Lorraine xxxx

rachel r · Post by **rachel r** » Fri Jul 11, 2003 4:47 pm

Oh Lorraine, So sorry it was a no-go for you this time. Have a good old drink with your DH, and a good old cry. Don;t know what else to say to you hon. Take care of yourselves with lots of love Rachel x

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