Share expectant management experiences?

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I am currently 2 weeks into expectant management (~8 weeks pregnant) and my HCG levels have plateaued at 35 for a week now, after dropping 90-60-38 in the first week. Some days I feel completely fine and some days I have symptoms like one sided pain, aches, lightheadness, bleeding. It’s all relatively mild and doctors aren’t currently concerned, but it’s making me feel very anxious. I just want this to be over!

How long did others take for HCG levels to drop with expectant management? Did anyone’s levels plateau for a length of time? What kind of symptoms did people experience?

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Dear Lucie,

I am so sorry to hear of your ectopic pregnancy loss,

hCG levels can commonly plateau for a week or so before they drop again. The main key is that they aren’t rising. I completely understand how worrying it is during this time as it is so difficult to predict his long it will take for hCG levels to reduce fully. It can take anything between two weeks and three months, for your hCG levels to fall back to a non-pregnant level but, for most, hCG levels have reached a non-pregnant state within around four weeks. The advantage of expectant management is that it doesn’t have the side effects of methotrexate and it is not as invasive as surgery so your physical recovery will ultimately be faster.

To help the hCG levels reduce, stop taking folic acid supplements and avoid any other vitamin and/or mineral supplements until the hCG levels confirm that the ectopic pregnancy has ended.

You have friends here who understand the worry when waiting for your hCG levels to fall so please continue to lean on us for as long as you need. I will keep everything crossed for a reduction in your levels on your next blood tests.

Sending much love,

Karen x

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Hello

From diagnosis of EP to 0 it took 5 weeks and I had been bleeding for about a month before I found I was pregnant (surprise)- I put it down to hormones!

The hospital essentially discharged me once my levels went to 22 but I asked for a blood test 2 weeks later and they were 0.

I found that my levels dropped once I had a heavy bleed (I bled on and off during the EP). Your levels are quite low so they should be 0 soon!

I also had some twingy pain which I still get now but apparently that is normal…

Good Luck!

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Hello,

I had an ectopic pregnancy in February. Mine was a failed ectopic in my left tube which means baby died in there so very unlikely my tube could of ruptured ( lucky me eh ) it was only 3 weeks ago that I finally got the all clear and that my hcg from a blood test was negative, I was still getting positive urine pregnancy tests all that time! I have had a period every month since but it has changed a lot, some months I bleed heavier and have severe back pain, this month I bled for 2 days and had brown discharge for a week after ( before ectopic I would bleed for 4-6 days )