HCG almost 4000 but nothing seen on ultrasound

[angel00]

Hi, I should be 6 + 4 weeks pregnant today following IVF, and had 3 embryos transferred. Been having strong positives for a while so I booked a scan at exactly 6 weeks. Nothing at all was seen anywhere. Booked another scan elsewhere the following day and she thought she saw something with my ovary that was possibly a pregnancy (see pic) although this is extremely rare. I went to EPU the following day and they thought the thing in my ovary was a luteal body, and also my IVF doctor agreed with this. Then today, two days later, I’ve been back to EPU, my hcg is now 3905 but still nothing can be seen on the scan. They again advised the thing in my ovary looks like a cyst. Then waited 4 hours to see the head consultant, who thinks it may in fact be a pregnancy growing in my ovary, and wanted to do a laparoscopy with me signing something to say I agree to lose my ovary or tube if they find the pregnancy in there 😭😭.

Before the surgery I said I wanted more evidence it was a pregnancy in my ovary so I was sent elsewhere in the hospital for a much more advanced ultrasound, this time I was told it definitely does NOT look like a pregnancy. So I’ve now been sent home to go back on Saturday when I’ll be 7 weeks and be prepared for a laparoscopy, with strict instructions to go to emergency if I suddenly develop pain or bleeding.

I’m so confused and getting such mixed messages about where this pregnancy is growing and if it’s ectopic. I’ve had no pain, no bleeding. My hcg was doubling every 48 hours until the last 4 days when it’s started rising 45% every 48 hours.

The chances of an ovarian pregnancy are 0.3%. Anyone experienced this or have any advice?

[ki50]

Hi angel00, I don't have any specific advice re the ovarian pregnancy but I also had the experience of going for a viability scan and being told they couldn't see anything and then the worry that it might have been ectopic.. I never did get an answer as to what happened, when I went to the epu they said the neck of the womb was still closed so my body thought it was pregnant but they didn't think it was ectopic as I didn't have any pain when they pressed on the tubes / ovary region but couldn't be sure and wanted me to wait a while longer. I was told to stop the meds on the day of the scan and started bleeding the next day and they did the HCG tests a couple of weeks apart and eventually my levels dropped enough that they were sure I was no longer pregnant although no one ever told me what my levels actually were.

Sorry for the long reply about what happened to me, I don't know if it will help at all but I just wanted to say I feel how difficult this is for you, especially the uncertainty and not getting straight answers. I hope you manage to get some answers soon , am thinking of you.

🙏

[angel00 in reply to ki50]

That’s crazy, so where did they think your pregnancy was located? I’m just sick of being told different things all the time by different people. Honestly the chances of it ending up in my ovary following an embryo transfer are so low it’s almost impossible, one nurse said I have more chance of winning the lottery. But if it’s not there then I have no idea where it is. They are all baffled and called me a medical mystery

[ki50 in reply to angel00]

They just didn't know.. they saw something that could have been the yolk sac but couldn't be sure. That's they wanted to give it more time to see if they could locate it but then it resolved itself. It does sound really confusing that it could be in your ovary... The not knowing is just so frustrating isn't it, I just kept thinking how can it not be found!

[MissSaoPaulo]

I'm so sorry you're going through this, the uncertainty must be awful.I'm no expert, but 4000 doesn't sound very high for 6 weeks. I wonder if it's a blighted ovum that's grown slowly and is not big enough to be seen? I don't even know if this is the way it works, so sorry if this message is wasting your time.

I hope you can get some answers and can avoid unnecessary interventions. Sending big hugs xxx

[Sandyels]

Oh gosh such a limbo and when they talk about ectopic and warn you of all the possible things that could happen it gets scary. I had a pregnancy of unknown location in the spring and for me it resolved itself the day before I would have had to take the metotrexate so I was very relieved about that.

I do think ectopic pregnancies for some reason are more likely when doing IVF, however, as you said an ectopic in the ovary is extremely rare. Look after yourself! Hopefully you would get some answers soon!

[Ell493]

Hi, I'm sorry things aren't going well. Been thinking about you and was hoping for a happy update. I hope you get the answers you need soon. xx 💕