Chemical Pregnancies

[Anonymous]

Just had my second chemical pregnancy. Pregnant on 14 dpo, but with low HCG...went up on day 15 and then back down. Has anyone ever received a medication or treatment approach to avoid this? I can't take another one.

[Anonymous]

My understanding is that they can't be prevented and are very common (something like 50% of all fertilized eggs don't make it to the time of the missed period, I think). Most women have them without ever knowing about it. Unfortunately, those of us who are very aware because we are ttc will always know when we have one (I've had three). It is very disappointing, particularly if you are paying for each try. The way I understand it is that they are caused by a bad egg or early problems in the cells dividing, which is why there's no way to prevent them. It would be nice, though, wouldn't it?

[Anonymous]

I agree with pp. The positive way to look at them is that you know things are working correctly and you ARE getting pregnant. In general, I see the women who have chemicals get and stay pregnant at some point. (I don't even get any positives.)

[Anonymous]

If you have a third one, I would consider seeing an RE to have your progesterone tested. Mine was low (which resulted in multiple chemical pregnancies), and once I started on progesterone supplements after I ovulated, I was able to maintain subsequent pregnancies.

[Anonymous]

I was told to take a baby aspirin and a b12 (maybe it was b6?) vitamin every day. I now have a 12 week old! best of luck, I know it sucks.

[Anonymous]

Ditto on the progesterone supplementation suggestion - there is absolutely no drawback to taking it (usually in vaginal suppository form) and you should start immediately after ovulation. There is no need to wait to ask your doc for this. It won't hurt and it might help.

There are different causes of chem pgs - some are from low progesterone levels/luteal phase defects or clotting issues and some are simply zygotes that don't have the chromosomal integrity to make the grade.

Also, taking one baby aspirin a day starting after ovulation can help many women - and, again, it won't hurt assuming you don't have any cardiac or bleeding conditions.

GL!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was told to take a baby aspirin and a b12 (maybe it was b6?) vitamin every day. I now have a 12 week old! best of luck, I know it sucks.

I was told baby aspirin and progesterone by a doctor friend of mine (in another country, or I would have gone to her). My OB wouldn't prescribe progesterone because I'd "only" had one miscarriage. After my second, I took baby aspirin on my own. I was able to carry that pregnancy to term. In general, I'm not an advocate of self-medicating, but thought the risks of taking a baby aspirin once a day were minimal/worth it to me. Perhaps you have a more open-minded doc.