trying to decide weather to take a HPT or just wait for the beta

[Anonymous]

I am 8dpt on a 5dt. I have felt the light cramping off and on since 3dpt. Only one boob is sore and I am super depressed. I am scared to take a HPT incase it's a negative and it will make me more depressed. But this waiting is killing me. I am scared that the symptons I am feeling are just from all the progesterone and estrogen. Should I just take the dang test?

[Anonymous]

It is really hard OP! I usually waited for the beta because I didn't want to upset myself for no reason. However, on my last cycle, I had to do a presentation the night of my beta test. So I did a HPT the day before (Sunday) so I could process the results at home, instead of at work (and before my presentation). Since it was so close to the beta test, I figured I'd wouldn't get a false negative.

[Anonymous]

As someone who took the test, I say don't. Do it the day of the beta, if you like, but don't turn the whole week into the roller-coaster of emotions. There's enough drama in this as it is...

[Anonymous]

I take the beta on Monday. This waiting is just killing me. My poor husband tried making me laugh last night and all it did was make me mad and cry. UGH I think these progesterone shots are getting to me too. They are just brutal.

[Anonymous]

I would wait. It is hard as hell, but you'll make it!

[Anonymous]

I preferred doing a HPT because I didn't want to hear the result from my nurse. I wanted to control when & how I found out.

[Anonymous]

I feel like the last 2 days have been the hardest. Everyone has been so supportive and positive. I am so conflicted.

[Anonymous]

Everyone has their own feelings on this. I start testing at 9dp5dt. When we did IUI, I always waited for the beta and I hated getting the results from my nurse. I'd rather find out by myself.

[Anonymous]

I'm also in the 2WW... 5dp3dt, so earlier than you. My beta is next Thursday (Christmas Eve - awesome). In the past I have always taken an HPT, which was great when it was positive, but when it was negative after my last transfer, my entire week was destroyed each time I continued to test and see a negative. And then somehow the phone call wasn't much easier, because some part of you will always hold onto a shred of hope.

This time, although I do *want* to take an HPT, I think I'm better off just waiting for the call. However, my plan is to just let it go to voicemail and to listen to it at home when I'm not alone. As another PP said, if anything, I'll test the same day... though since I have to be at work that day, that is likely also a bad plan.

This wait sucks. Best of luck to you, OP.

[Anonymous]

This is my first time so my emotions are all over the place. Thank you everyone for all your input and suggestions. I still don't know what I am going to do.

[Anonymous]

i would always take on the day before my beta. i was mentally prepared.

[Anonymous]

I always do it the morning of the beta. Highest chance of getting a correct result but the chance to process it at home. My spouse can look at the results with me instead of hearing my report from the nurse. But any earlier than the day of the beta leaves us too much time to wonder "well maybe we just tested too early and the bloodwork will be different..."

[Anonymous]

If you haven't tested your trigger out then I would definitely not advise taking the test until day of beta. I've done it both ways. First IVF I tested the trigger out and then continued to test all the way into a Big. Fat. Negative. Second IVF, I refused to test the trigger out, refused to test at all, had the nurse call my husband with the results of the beta (which were positive) and then still didn't do an HPT until three days later. That was the only HPT I did that entire successful pregnancy. I just wouldn't let myself go through that roller coaster again.

[Anonymous]

Sorry but what do you mean by testing your trigger?

[Anonymous]

if you used a trigger shot, it includes HCG. And that's the hormone that shows up on pregnancy tests. So you have to wait for the HCG to leave your body and then see whether a pregnancy test is positive or negative.

But how do you know if it's left your body? One way is to wait 2 weeks after the transfer, since that's enough time. Another way is to test every day after the transfer. You'd see a positive right after the transfer, eventually get a negative, then keep testing to see if it eventually turned positive again.