Why all of the betas?

[Anonymous]

Question from someone who is about to start first IVF cycle - why all of the betas??? I understand that the first is to determine pregnancy, but the betas following the initial test don't seem necessary and seem like they only produce heightened anxiety and stress! Anyone have any thoughts? Is there any reason that they are medically necessary? If you get pregnant naturally, they tell you not to come in until week 8 I think!

[Anonymous]

A second beta is done to see if it is doubling, and sometimes subsequent ones are done to rule out an ectopic. There is no medical reason to keep doing betas, but nowadays patients demand them and also demand certain medications. Since things like progesterone support are not harmful, demands are usually given into. I agree, it is more harmful than helpful with regards to the serial betas. Also, progesterone does not prevent miscarriage it prolongs it's occurrence if it is going to happen.

[Anonymous]

my 3rd beta confirmed i was miscarrying and when i had an ultrasound it was obvious and having had that 3rd abnormal beta helped diagnose the mc

[Anonymous]

Betas are a quick way (simple blood test) to determine whether the pregnancy is viable/thriving or not. If your levels don't double within 48-72 hours, it may mean that the pregnancy isn't "sticking."

I think that at that early stage they may not be able to tell much with an ultrasound, which is far more invasive (it is vaginal) and expensive anyhow.

Does that answer your question?

[Anonymous]

There is also a huge range in betas, and like PPs have said, what is important is that they are doubling every 48 hours. The first number means very little, I believe, unless it is very low or very high - its just used to confirm pregnancy and a starting point for the doubling.

For what its worth, my REs protocol is betas every 48 hours till you reach 2,000, then an ultrasound. Maybe its overkill, but it helps determine if miscarriage is imminent and ectopic pregnancies so the issue can be addressed before it becomes a bigger problem.

[Anonymous]

Also, for progesterone - it does help prevent (reduce risk of) miscarriage but only if its used in patients with low progesterone to start, and only if the miscarriage hasn't begun - it doesn't stop miscarriage.

[Anonymous]

OP here - I get that the betas are to make sure a pregnancy is "sticking," but wouldn't it be better for our sanity just to get the first beta to confirm the pregnancy and then wait it out until the ultrasound? It seems like going back to the doctor over and over again to get tests puts unnecessary stress on us during an already stressful time. If women who get pregnant naturally don't have to go through this, why do we??? I still can't see any legitimate medical purpose for it.

[Anonymous]

I think progesterone is actually necesary for ivf patient since Er removes body's ability to produce

[Anonymous]

OP here - I get that the betas are to make sure a pregnancy is "sticking," but wouldn't it be better for our sanity just to get the first beta to confirm the pregnancy and then wait it out until the ultrasound.

That's fine! You can do that. I had three betas and didn't feel my sanity slipping at any point. Some people who don't even do IVF/IUI have intense anxiety between the time they get a positive pee stick test and the time they go to the OB. There's no one right way to feel about this.

Your RE is not going to go out and track you down and force you to submit to betas. If you don't want to do them, just don't go back after that first test. Done.