Ovulation while HCG is still dropping? (possible pregnancy mentioned)

[HopeJ]

Hi Ladies,

Most of the message boards I've read have women who say that you can't ovulate until your HCG drops enough to get a BFN. I can't find any actual research on this. I wonder if any of you have charts that prove otherwise?

I had my second missed miscarriage a few weeks ago. My D&C was on March 12th. I'll call that CD1. I had 4 days of unmistakable EWCM from CD 15 - 18. On CD19, I had a clear thermal shift on my chart, and my bbt has remained high since. I feel that the signs of ovulation were so certain, and I don't think I would have a biphasic pattern if I didn't ovulate.

But, the catch is this: I have been POAS testing since the D&C with internet cheapies, and have yet to have a BFN. It has been getting lighter and lighter, but I still had BFP even during my symptoms of ovulation. Because of this, I believe I ovulated while still having HCG in my system. I believe right now that I am 8 DPO, and today's test was actually a little darker than yesterday's, so I'm wondering about the possibility of already being pregnant again?

I know that time will tell, and I just have to wait, but I just wonder if anyone else has experienced something similar, anything to corroborate the idea that you can ovulate before your HCG has completely dropped?

[KimAtFertilityAuthority]

Hi Hope,

I am so sorry for your loss. I had a few thoughts while reading your post. First, it will take some time for your hCG to drop so you may still see positive results on a HPT. You will probably also feel cramping and it could very well be different than what you would typically feel during a normal period. I'd say it is most likely this, but I am not a doctor.

Women who undergo infertility treatment take hCG "trigger" shots to induce ovulation. So, in that case, they do have hCG in their system when ovulating... typically the trigger shot gives one last boost toward maturation and releases the egg.


Did your doctor mention anything about an abstinence period after your D&C?

I wish you the best of luck!

Kim

[TTCyears]

The closest data I have is CD2 hCG 5,000, CD5 hCG 2,000, CD12 hCG 51, CD16 EWCM, CD18 O based on BBT shift, and CD26 8dpo hCG 0. For my cycle I would expect a HPT (sensitivity ~20) would have yielded a BFP up until O and maybe a bit later since urine results are "delayed". Since I didn't POAS and my closest tests were CD12 and CD26 (8dpo) I can't say for certain.

Since you were TTC, I take it you would welcome another pg now. If so, FX, FX, FX that this is a sticky BFP.

[HopeJ]

Thanks, Kim and TTCyears...

@ Kim: I never knew about those HCG trigger shots; I guess that alone helps me to realize that the O was possible while still getting BFPs.

@ Kim and TTCyears: My doctor did suggest we wait for one AF before ttc again, and it was completely our intention to do so. We dtd on my husband's birthday, which (I thought) was the day of my thermal shift (it was .5 degrees!), so I *thought* it was safe, since the egg would already be gone. But then the next day, my temp dropped and there was a higher thermal shift following. So, we ended up having our birthday fun the day before O instead of the day after.

In hindsight, we should have been more careful and responsible, and we should have waited for a few high temps in a row to pass. We still don't have our next treatment plan worked out (for elevated natural killer cells, just diagnosed), and it would be better to have all that established before conception. Regardless, I'm in good hands with a new doctor who is experienced in these things, and if I'm actually pregnant, hopefully I can jump right in with appropriate treatments.

I'm new to Fertile Thoughts, and it's been nice to have people to share this journey with. Thanks for chiming in with your thoughts.

[KimAtFertilityAuthority]

Hope,

Trust me, if I had a situation similar to yours, I am not sure I would be able to wait either (knowing how strong that desire to be pg is!) I am glad you are in good hands and will keep my FX that this is your success!

Kim

[HopeJ]

It's true, Kim. Logically, I should hope that I'm not pregnant yet, so that we have a bit more time to settle into our diagnosis and future treatments, but emotionally, I'd sure love for this one to stick. All I can do is leave it up to mother nature... :-)

[TTCyears]

I tried it both ways TTC after loss: waiting a cycle(s) and not waiting at all. Neither worked for us, but I was willing for either one to!!!! Eventually we gave mother nature an assist.

Are you still POAS? What's your next step if BFPs continue?

[HopeJ]

Yup, I'm still POAS, and while it's still positive, the line is definitely getting fainter and fainter. I do expect that I'll get AF by Wednesday. I have an appointment with a new doctor next week, so if AF doesn't come, I'm sure they can help me figure it out.

It's somewhat a relief to me, in that I really do want to do all that I can to prevent another miscarriage before I conceive again. It sounds like at the very least I need to start some type of infusion therapy for the NK cells before conception, although I'm not sure if it'll be ivig or intralipids. I would also like to get a prescription prenatal that has the usable form of folic acid so that I can build that up in my body before conception, too. (Because I also have compound heterozygous MTHFR gene which affects one's ability to break down folic acid.)

After my last D&C, it took 4 cycles to get PG again, so I'm hoping I can be so lucky again this time. I'll be 39 years old in July, so I'm feeling incredibly eager and impatient to figure out how to get my body to stay pregnant.

Thanks again... hope you are enjoying your weekend!

[TTCyears]

You were pg in 4 cycles at 39?! Wow. I once got lucky (at 32) and it took 2 cycles, but then the next time took 22 cycles (at 35), and my average over 5 pgs (losses) was the typical 12 cycles for my age (31-38) with one fallopian tube (lost 1 with pg#4). Of course, regardless of cycles it is important for the BFP to stick! I also am compound hetero MTHFR, but didn't have NK tested. We figure our IF is the perfect storm since there are/were 3-4 "mild to moderate" female and male factors. Popular these days over my way is Deplin as the most "usable form of folic acid". I don't know that it helped IF, but it definitely helped my mood. My BFF is taking it for wellness (not TTC) and concurs. My clinic doesn't promote infusion therapy, but will treat alongside it.

*** Success mentioned***
After 8 yrs natural TTC and 5 pg losses, we went to the RE for the works: IVF ICSI PGS - my babe arrived at 39. Wishing this next year brings you your babe to have and hold and love.

[HopeJ]

Wow; no one should have to experience so many pregnancy losses. I am so sorry you have had to go through that; you have been through so much! I'm so glad to hear that you reached light at the end of such a dark tunnel! I hadn't heard of Deplin, so thank you for that suggestion. I'll research that - so far the ones that keep coming up on my google searches are Neevo and Metanx? I look forward to meeting my new doctor next week, with hope that he really knows what he is doing. Thanks again for sharing all of that. I like reading success stories because it gives me hope.