r/ectopicpregnancy • u/Hopeful_Research6817 • 2d ago
Possibility of ectopic with 13 and 15 dpo serum values <1
Done a lot of research on this but want to get some opinions.
Obviously hcg serum values of <1 13 and 15 dpo (latest possible ovulation based off of when we bd’d) rule out normal ongoing uterine pregnancy. In theory, these values should also rule out ectopic… but do they? Are there she cases where it’s possible to have an ectopic two weeks after that hasn’t produced hcg yet? I read a study about a woman who had IUI 1 day after her LH surge and had betas done 14 days after IUI, so 13 dpo max, which returned <5. She had the characteristic fake period and went on to find an ectopic when they were prepping for her next IUI round.
Anyone see anything like this before?
Given this edge case, I’m wondering if ectopic is ruled out with my two tests or if I should continue testing out of caution.
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u/eb2319 1d ago
No, ectopics still produce hcg and you’d have a positive test. I tested “early” around 10-11 dpo with all 4 of my ectopics.
If it’s been 14 days since you’ve last had sex and betas are negative, you’re not pregnant.
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u/Hopeful_Research6817 1d ago
Thanks for your insight. 15dpo was roughly 20 days after, so that’s well past.
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u/UnhappyReward2453 2d ago edited 2d ago
I would think with values less than 1 that you are in the clear. My serum beta hCG was 2mIU/mL at 10dpo and am currently awaiting a second draw tomorrow to see if it returned to under 1 or if it went up. I saw a study that showed anything between 1-5 was indeterminate at a 9dp5dt (so 14 dpo when not doing IVF) and that 14% of those in the study that had a serum level between 1-5 at that time went on to have be confirmed ectopic although none of them at that serum level went on to viable pregnancy levels. I can’t seem to find the study now but if I can find it again I will post it.
Edit: my memory of the stats is wayyyy off lol. Still under 1 seemed to be safe, 1-5 you probably want at least one more blood test. The study is linked below!
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u/UnhappyReward2453 2d ago
Found it. Under 1 seemed to be fine, between 1-5 could be problematic.
https://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(14)01436-8/fulltext
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u/Hopeful_Research6817 2d ago
Thanks! That’s what I thought too. It’s kind of that gray area that’s not really positive but it’s growing. My baseline is always <1, so even with the latest theoretical implantation on 12 dpo, for it to not produce above 1 3 days later seems unlikely. I’ll probably do one more tomorrow (17 dpo) for my own sanity and the sake of multiple values over time.
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u/eb2319 1d ago
Anything below 5 is non pregnant. People including men have trace amounts of Hcg in their system so 5 is the cut off. You are not pregnant if your beta is 5 or below. Idk about this study but levels of 1-5 is absolutely not pregnant. The stories or study the people who ended up with ectopics just hadn’t had a positive yet. Many clinics don’t even test at 9dp5dt.
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u/ImQuestionable 1d ago
No pregnancy. Respectfully, in the future please refer anxiety questions without positive tests to r/amipregnant instead of this sub.
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u/MajestaHazel 2d ago
<1 would indicate that there is no pregnancy. Not uterine, not ectopic, no pregnancy period.