9pd3dt beta 18, seems low

[Kumleam]

You ladies here seem to be a wealth of knowledge so I'd like to pick your brains. IVF #4. Today I am 9dp3dt which basically is 12dpo, transferred 3 embryos. & this is my 1st +hpt with IVF.

I had a light BFP on hpt yesterday afternoon using FRER. This morning using FMU, line was lighter. Of course I began to worry & decided to be a naughty patient - I went & ordered my own beta. It came back at 18 this morning. Then around noon, I did another hpt & the line was a little darker than the other hpt lines. ugh. driving myself nuts.

I've read that IVF betas can be lower & slower than natural cycles, but I can't seem to find many other experiences like this. Can anyone enlighten me?

Also, I've looked at a couple of beta charts and 18 on 12dpo seems low. What do you guys think?

update: I just spoke with the nurse on call & since I had a +hpt, she's agreed to let me come in tomorrow for the 'official' beta.

[SC-emk808]

Yes 18 is "low", but all betas have to start at 0--it all depends on when the embryo implanted. In either case, I would actually wait two days before repeating the beta. So if you had one done today, wait until Monday for the next one. (It's because of doubling time...betas double in two days, so having a beta done the next day won't tell you much and can cause needless worry.) I know that waiting is awful, but this way you'll have a clearer idea of how your numbers are doing. In either case, what's important is the doubling and not the actual number. So if your 18 has turned into 40 on Monday, then it's perfect. If not, then we wait for another beta.

[karaatl]

It's true 18 is low...but I have seen betas in their 20's but turn out to be successful...and there are some with high betas that aren't....good luck...hope it doubles. I too have read that betas can be lower with ivf.

[Kumleam]

Went to RE's for beta today. Came back at 47.3 today. Huge jump. I'm thinking our little embie was just a late implanter & is trying like crazy to stay in the game! I am glad I didn't wait for Monday - I would have been worried an extra day for no reason.

I also found this medical article abstract about IVF vs natural initial hcg levels in case anyone now or later would like to see where the rumors came from.

Delay of embryo transfer to day 5 results in decre... [Fertil Steril. 2003] - PubMed result

It explains a lot if anyone decides to get the full article. Also, on a surrogate mother's BB, I found a beta listing thread. It seems betas that start out lower are a lot more common there than the general beta listings on this board. I'm thinking this is likely due to the fact that most surrogates are involved in IVF, however this site is a general mix of all the different flavors of IF treatments.

Thanks for the answers back. Now it's just a waiting game.

[SC-emk808]

I'm glad that your beta today wasn't ambiguous! That's what would most worry me about not waiting the full two days. So glad all is looking well!!

[Jessiegirl18]

kumlean: My 1st BETA at 12DPO was 19.2 and i am almost 8 weeks now. I was a little worried also, however the next couple BETAS had a significant jump. I think I had a late implanter.

[Kumleam]

Jessie - Thank You! Very encouraging! If you don't mnd me asking... What were your next betas? Have u seen HB yet? And lastly, since it seems you had a late implanter too, are the sac & pole measuring appropriately, or a little behind? I know, lots of questions. I know I should be happy & just enjoy being BFP, but I just can't seem to. Just over 10 yrs ago I had a natural BFP & betas were good at the beginning. But then at 8 wks they couldn't find a HB & said the sac was empty. Repeat u/s a week later was the same. Blighted ovum. I was devastated. Since it's happened once before, when I see low initial beta, all those memories come flooding back. Please tell me all is well & on track for you too.

[Jessiegirl18]

My Betas were as follows
12DPIUI:19.2
15DPIUI: 109
18DPIUI: 330
20DPIUI: 629
23DPIUI: 1309
25DPIUI: 3202
27DPIUI: over 5000
We saw the heartbeat at 6w5d and it was 110
We saw it again yesterday at 7w5d and it was 147 everything is measuring exactly on target.
I have been on Crinone progesterone supplements since after the IUI

[SC-Sherb]

Congrats Kumleam. Sending positive and sticky vibes that your betas continue to doubly nicely. Keep us updated!

[Kumleam]

Looks like the beginning of the end for me, ladies...

Betas from RE's office only:

beta 1) 47.3
beta 2) 93.6 dbl time 48.8 hrs
beta 3) 122.8 dbl time 122.6 hrs

Nurse said it is 'possible' that all will be OK, but not 'probable.' And that #s that move like this tend not to produce a successful outcome. They wanted me to wait a week to come in for u/s, but I insisted on beta #4 on Sat. It'd be just too cruel to make me or anyone in this position wait a full week without knowing if I'm going through a m/c.

Using all my willpower to not cry & then pour myself a drink, light up a smoke & finally give my libido a release. Then cry some more. I guess I'll just settle for a good cry in a hot shower.