how many beta tests? ETA: *loss mentioned*

[pinkpeony24]

Hello, ladies. After 18 months ttc with PCOS and no ovulation, we finally succeeded not too long ago with clomid 150mg and an ovidrel trigger. I'm 6 weeks tomorrow and still wary of loss as I've never conceived before. My question is, how many betas did your RE request before moving you on? I'm going in for my 5th one this coming Tuesday. My numbers were as follows: 1/26-24, 1/28-52.9, 1/30-152, 2/3-832. My progesterone has also been good rising from 21 to 36 currently. The nurses keep reporting back that everything looks great and it seems like my numbers are doubling/tripling so why are we still testing? Is that just a routine thing? Hopefully this 5th one will be my last!

[lilyharper]

My office said they tend to run betas until it hits 500.

******prior loss mentioned******

I've run 5 before, but that was because it wasn't doubling right.

*******end mention********

Maybe they're waiting for it to hit 1000, or they want you to have some reassurance before the scan? When's your u/s?

[Deleted]

My office does four beta draws over the course of two weeks.

[sunnyb]

My office does 2 unless they aren't doubling at the rate they like to see.

[sunnyb]

And congratulations!

[vballbaby]

Congrats! Mine did the first two betas two days apart, and then a third one a week later. Ultrasound a week after.

[anchovies]

My RE does 2, they draw them 1 week apart

[sewfie2]

My RE did 3 betas 2 days apart between each.

[jessimi06]

My office does 2 beta draws unless they aren't doubling or start off very low.

[alpcrna]

I ended out doing 5, but it was more because I was bleeding and needed some reassurance. After the first two doubled nicely, RE gave me the option to do one more. Then I started bleeding so we did two more. Once we did an ultrasound we stopped doing betas.

[Deleted]

I had a total of three. First at 9dp5dt, another two days later, and another one week after that.

[nomnom]

I only had two that were three days apart, but the second was 1310 with a doubling time of 42-43 hours. Not sure if they would have done more with a lower second beta.

[viola]

Congratulations! My RE draws the line at 2. period. Five seems like a lot to me, especially with your numbers so high now. I continued with progesterone and estrogen blood draws until I was off the medication.

[ProfessorChaos]

My REs were nutty. For this pregnancy they had me test HCG and progesterone with every single visit until 9 weeks. So, every single time the doubling wasn't optimal, they let me know. They even tested long enough that the HCG plateaued (or fell a bit?), which I didn't even know was a thing. I kept trying to get them to stop giving me the numbers so I wouldn't worry about it, but they'd just leave them on my voicemail.

Congratulations!

[lolasky]

I just had two betas (hcg 71 and 156, progesterone >80). Office protocols? Or, perhaps it depends on when they schedule your ultrasounds. Mine were at 6 weeks and then 8 weeks before the RE released me to the OB.

[pinkpeony24]

Ok that's reassuring. Maybe it's just my office. I haven't had any bleeding at all and barely and cramping anymore. I haven't been given my ultrasound date yet, but hopefully after Tuesday's beta we'll get to do that next. Thanks for the replies.

[bunnybun]

i had three run and at that point they were high enough to schedule an ultrasound...I would guess that they are waiting for yours to be over 1000 so they can schedule your us!

[julie216]

My RE does 3 beginning at 14dpt, 16dpt & 18dpt. Then they schedule the u/s.

Congratulations!

[cml112]

I had 3 Betas (720, 2284, 16,660)
Fist one was 10dp5dt, then 12dp5dt, 18dp5dt

Congrats!

[Deleted]

My RE normally does three before the first u/s. I had four betas, but only because I had a small bleeding scare, so the nurse tacked on a beta draw to the blood work I had done that morning for the hormone levels. After two u/s, I was released to my OB.

[daydreamernyc]

It's difficult to say since they were measuring my progeterone level as well. But once I had the 6 week ultra sound, they didn't meantion beta again.

[pinkpeony24]

So my number today was 2229 and "it's pretty good" again according to the nurse, but they want me back for a 6th draw on Thursday and now I'm freaking out. I hate this.

[pinkpeony24]

And still no ultrasound mentioned.

[ProfessorChaos]

Feb 10, 2015 12:35:33 GMT -5 pinkpeony24 said:

And still no ultrasound mentioned.

I'd call and ask. At six weeks most people have had one, or at least know when it will be. FYI, you usually get one if you have spotting at all. Cough, cough. Do with that info what you will.

It does sound like your REs are closest to mine, and a little test happy. It doesn't necessarily mean anything. It sounds like your betas are doubling well, so try not to get hung up on the minutiae.

[pinkpeony24]

So I called and was told that my number should be in the 3000s and that cells may not be dividing properly. And now I'm even more worried. This is the worst. I have no bleeding at all still at least.

[meatandbandp]

Has the number been doubling every 48 hour? From the earlier numbers you gave it seem as though they were. How far along are you now? I would think with betas that high they would bring you in for an ultrasound, at the very least to confirm a uterine pregnancy.

[ProfessorChaos]

Feb 10, 2015 15:39:18 GMT -5 meatandbandp said:

Has the number been doubling every 48 hour? From the earlier numbers you gave it seem as though they were. How far along are you now? I would think with betas that high they would bring you in for an ultrasound, at the very least to confirm a uterine pregnancy.

This. Did they say anything about when they would bring you in?

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this. Limbo is the worst. Sending you big ((hugs)).

[pinkpeony24]

Thank you. This morning when I went in for the draw the nurse told me she thought this would be the last time and then they'd schedule me for a scan. Apparently my doctor didn't like that my number wasn't in the 3000s now and wants me tested a 6th time on Thursday. No mention of a scan since this. Perhaps if I have good numbers Thursday, they'll schedule me. Should I be concerned about an ectopic?

[pinkpeony24]

6 weeks 2 days based on my last stairstep of clomid.

[meatandbandp]

At 6w2d an ultrasound is the best way to see if everything is ok. I would call and push for that on Thursday.