High HCG at screening - IVF pregnancy

[GB844]

Hi everyone.

I am currently 15 weeks pregnant with my first baby. It is an IVF pregnancy and it’s a PGT normal embryo that we transferred. Meaning it was testing and deemed to have the correct number of chromosomes before being transferred. The false negative chance of this is low at around 1-2%. Despite having a normal embryo we opted for combined screening at my first scan . My results have come back low risk for my age - 1:260 and I’m aged 40. My NT was 1.9mm at CRL 75mm (mom = 1) my PappA was 1.54MOM but my HCG was high at 3MOM.

The screening nurses have said the HCG is likely raised due to IVF treatment and progesterone supplementation, but I can’t help but panic a bit. NIPT seems a bit extreme when I’ve had a normal PGT embryo and a low risk combined result, but wondering if anyone has any experience?

Feel free to tell me if you think I’m being neurotic….pregnancy and IVF have definitely made me more anxious.

Any advice, stories welcome! Xx

[jinis]

Heya, I don't know the actual stats but according to the difference in protocols, I'd imagine PGT would be more accurate than NIPT as there is no confusion between maternal DNA and fetal DNA.

Hope you've been guided by your care provider as to what the best course of action is xx

[Crie1983]

Hi, I hope you don’t mind me replying as I don’t particularly have any advice right now but I am 12 weeks and have received a call after the combined test to say I am high risk 1:150. I had one euploid embryo transferred and so the call did shock me to be honest. I’m waiting to talk to my ivf clinic to ask them to confirm that the PGTA definitely checks for Downs, Edward’s and patau.

As you are low risk, I wouldn’t have thought you’d need further testing? Are they only suggesting this because the high HCG? Mine is also high at 4.3.

It’s all such a worry isn’t it. I thought I’d feel totally calm as it’s an euploid embryo but once someone plants a seed in your head and mentions risk it’s hard to get that out your head.

Am interested to see what advice you get on here. All the best. Xx

[GB844 in reply to Crie1983]

sorry to hear you’re having a stressful time - and we thought IVF was stressful!. The screening nurses and midwife said high HCG alone is not concerning and there is some data to suggest it’s higher in IVF pregnancies due to progesterone (in fact that was the first thing the midwife asked when I said my HCG was 3) and in female babies (we don’t know what we’re having). I ended up paying for an NIPT for peace of mind and came back low risk across the board. I knew I was being OTT with a PGT tested embryo but couldn’t settle once I had it in my head.

From my reading on the topic, I would think it’s very unlikely that 1:150 would return positive in a confirmed PGT euploid baby. Were your NT and PappA ok? The conditions you’ve mentioned are exactly what PGT tests for as they are caused by changed in the normal number/distribution of chromosomes so hopefully that reassures you a bit. Hopefully your hospital will offer NIPT and that it will put your mind at ease!

Xx

[Crie1983 in reply to GB844]

So happy to hear the results of your NIPT 😀.

The NT was absolutely fine at 1.60mm.

They have offered my the NIPT and more invasive diagnostic test but I think I’ll go for NIPT anyway for extra reassurance. X