HCG Level of 15?

**reneenay** · May 29th, 2007, 06:58 PM

Hi there everyone

My SIL has just emailed me looking for answers and she is almost in tears. She suspected that she might be pregnant at the end of last week as she has had some cramps, sore bbs, tiredness. The doctor ordered a blood test on Friday and she has got the results back today with a HCG level reading of 15. The receptionist told her that it was too low and now she is in a right mess. 1. I didn’t think they could give results over the phone and 2. Out of all people I didn’t think a receptionist could of given them out over the phone! Personally I have never heard of such a low reading even a few days after ovulation.

She has had some brown spotting today. And from what I can gather her periods were due on Saturday?

What do you think?

**satya** · May 29th, 2007, 07:43 PM

It does sound too low. I think there are a few possibilities - a missed m/c, a m/c is imminent or she might not be as pg as she thought she was & the rise is still to come.

I'm surprised that the results would be given over the phone by a receptionist. I'd be switching doctors and getting a second test done in a few days.

**rissigirl** · May 29th, 2007, 08:15 PM

i've received pregnancy BT results over the phone with each of my pregnancies, you can for PG BTs and you can also sign something to allow them over the phone

**Danni** · May 29th, 2007, 08:19 PM

it is very possible that she is sustaining a healthy pregnancy, just in the very very early days. Hope all goes well for her

**briggsy's girl** · May 29th, 2007, 08:20 PM

i was thinking that the result is low, but not too low - a number of people on here have mentioned low hcg levels and a need to retest a few days later - i'm really hoping for your sister that the results are low because she conceived late in her cycle, and that it's not bad news

big hugs for her (and you - for being such a great sister and trying to get some answers for her!)

**Meluchja** · May 29th, 2007, 09:55 PM

Yeah I am was thinking along the same lines as Niass. I thought, anything over 5 was a positive result. Some HPT give a positive result with a reading of 10 or above, but most I think is 15-25. So it definately sounds like she could be pregnant to me, just might be in the very early days.
And even though the receptionist might be allowed to give the results over the phone, I don't think she would at all be qualified or be in the right position to give an opinion on weather or not she thinks the levels are too low or not, I'd be making a complaint if I were your sister. But I'm sure it's the least of her worries at the moment. Just might be better saved to a later date, when she is poping at the waist.

Fingers crossed for your sister, that in a couple of days she can prove her wrong

**Sequoia** · May 29th, 2007, 10:15 PM

I had a hCG of 13 last Monday and miscarried the next day. I was 5 weeks 5 days.

I really, really hope for your SIL that it is just a low reading. How far along is she?

The receptionist at my surgery gave me results and laughed when I asked what the levels should be!!

**cheekyfrog** · May 30th, 2007, 12:02 AM

OMG, Shoegal! That's a disgusting response from the receptionist to your question.

Big hugs for your SIL, Reneeay.

that all goes well for her.

**Sequoia** · May 30th, 2007, 11:00 AM

OMG, Shoegal! That's a disgusting response from the receptionist to your question.

Thanks Kerry, that's what has upset me the most over this past week!! If my GP wasn't so caring and wonderful I would tell everyone I know to boycott that surgery.

**reneenay** · May 30th, 2007, 11:37 AM

Thank you so much for your help everyone! I haven’t heard from her yet but I am hoping to soon. I will send her this thread, I’m sure it will really help her.

I really hope Rory will have a little cousin on the way soon.

XOXOXOX
Thanx again!

**Beccas** · May 30th, 2007, 11:38 AM

from what i understand its not the first level itself that matters as much as whether the levels are doubling every 48hours in the early weeks. she should have a repeat blood test to see whether the levels have risen as they should. my first hcg level in my second pregnancy was 7, then it rose to 49, 48 hours later so it may be that your SIL is just really early in her pregnancy. Third pregnancy, level was 33, then 80 next day. both times i was told levels were low but after the second test they said everything was fine because it was all doubling nicely. she should definitely have a second test.

ps all my pregnancies ended in healthy babies so the low hcg levels at the start didnt affect anything.

beccas

**LadyRaven** · May 30th, 2007, 11:52 AM

Maybe she ovulated a lot later in her cycle? Repeat test to see if it's doubling is probably the way to go. A lot of ppl get spotting instead of a normal period esp if ur levels are low. I had some light spotting inplace of a period, then had a big bleed that was caused by a subchorionic haemotoma at the implantation site.

**Mrschunk** · May 31st, 2007, 02:28 PM

Anything over 5 hcg is positive, and within the first 3mths the level should double every 48hrs.

That is actually not correct. At about 6-7 weeks HCG levels will begin to slow down and not double every 48 hours.

**Pandora** · May 31st, 2007, 02:34 PM

Hi Renee, I hope everything was OK with your SIL.

**LisaL** · May 31st, 2007, 03:57 PM

Renee - i hope all went well with your SIL. I had a positive result last year with a reading of 12 - it went up to 30 or so a few days later, but then a week later I bled and had a full natural m/c but ive heard of other people go on to have super healthy pg's even when they started out on low levels like that. I did get pg again within two cycles though. The dr gave me the levels on both occasions.