(non pregnancy) causes of HCG increase?

Does anyone know what could cause HCG to rise other than pregnancy?

4 weeks ago today I had a D and C, following a loss at 8 weeks 3 days. 8 days ago I had a blood test that showed my HCG was down to 3. All Good they said, run away until you get your period.

So yesterday AF arrived, and I duly trotted over to start my blood tests for a stim cycle this month.

No, they said this afternoon, your HCG has gone up, so dont start the injections. Come in for another BT in 3 days. What does this mean I ask. We dont know, they reply. Aaaargh.

Could I be pregnant? Probably not I guess, and if so, it isnt doing well, given that a) I am bleeding and b) the levels have only gone from 3-12 in 8 days.

Buuut.....maybe I WAS pregnant? We only DTD once this cycle but it was around the middle of the cycle so ????

So I guess I am wondering if anyone knows of anything other than pregnancy that can cause an increase in HCG?

If we did conceive naturally, then (given that this stim cycle is a bust) I am thinking I might ask for an IUI this cycle rather than just sit on my hands.

My IF issues are age related rather than tubal etc so it might be worth a a shot?

Thoughts/suggestions?

Given that the levels only went from 3 to 12 is it possible that it is a lab error? As they are usually looking at levels in hundreds or thousands, just wondering how accurate they are in the levels below 20?

ETA:
I found this on the SydPath website:

:

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To be confident that a pregnancy is present a serum hCG concentration greater than 25 U/L is desirable. If a concentration between 10 and 25 U/L is obtained on a pregnancy test, then a further sample in 1 - 2 days is suggested for confirmation.

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hope you get some answers,

Kate

They are pretty accurate - it would be unusual for lab error but never impossible.

Considering you had a D & C and you had a negative result - less than 5 is considered negative in most labs. It would be unlikely for any placental tissue to be left over and growing.

Less than 20 isn't called pregnant either - you need to wait. Going from 3 -12 isn't such a worry if you were pregnant as implantation could have just occured.

Another BHCG QUANTATATIVE level done in another 24 hours will giive a better picture.

Thinking of you honey.. :hug:

Could there possibly be some tissue that they missed in the D+C? It could be causing your body to be producing small amounts of HCG.

Other than that, I have no clue!!

Hope that you get some answers soon!
Sue x

Thanks ladies, I appreciate those ideas.

kate07, I'm not sure about ab error, but think not. You are right we are right down at the bottom end of the scale, but I think they are pretty accurate generally. But who knows, maybe someone didnt ave their coffee one morning! :)

Flowerchild and sue1979, I agree, I cant imagine anything is left placenta-wise, especially since had pathology done and the trophectoderm was considered 'normal'. This suggests to me they got it all, but who knows? Had anther blood test this am, so will know soon nough if it has dropped back down again or not.

Thanks again! Will update when I get results....

My HCG sat at 17 a few months after my D&C. It seemed I had a tiny bit of something left inside me so it is possible it is that... But I don't see how it could have gone from 3 and then up again as less than 5 is considered negative.

Hope you get some more answers from the blood test you had today.

Hi ladies, well my blood test showed a progesterone of 30 and an HCG of 21. They believe that I am pregnant!

I cant really believe it, and of course at my age a loss is a real possibility. Our miscarried bubba had a trisomy which they discovered through genetic testing after my D and C.

Still I will choose to be positive, and will do a ticker fr this one, and cross my fingers again!

Wow Wow Wow! Congratulations! Best wishes for a healthy and happy 9 months!

take care,

Kate

OMG what a miracle! You go drbeee, just fantastic, crossing all crossables that this is a very sticky BFP. All the best for the next 8 months.

Aaah a sneaky little one who wants to hang around hey!!!! Congratulations honey. May this pregnancy grow a strong healthy term baby for you... :hug:

That is amazing hun, congratulations!!
Hugs
Sue xx

wow that is amazing :stickyvibesgirl::stickyvibesboy:

Just wanted to drop in and give my condolances to drbeee, I'm so sorry about this result, I really hoped this was your time. Please look after yourself, thinking of you hun oxo