Beta test or not?

Hollowvic

So I'm scheduled to in Monday morning for my beta test. I'm OOP and it costs $120. I asked my RE if I could just do a HPT bc I'm trying to save every penny right now, being as though we will possibly be paying for IVF this fall. She said because I'm on Progesterone (very low dose) I have to do the blood test so they know for sure to tell me to stop taking it. I get it, but on Monday will be 15 dpo, I would think a HPT would be accurate by then. Also I'm switching REs so I most likely won't be going back to them. Do you think it's ok to rely on a HPT and then stop the progesterone on my own if it's negative? A friend of mine says that's actually what her RE does so I fee like it should be ok. I don't want to risk anything over 120 bucks either.

catlover790

Hmm, I'm not sure. I also have a beta on Monday! Mine is a package for the month for monitoring though so I'm going to go since I already paid. I understand the RE is probably trying to cover themselves in case someone stopped the progesterone and ended up being pregnant.

Could you go to your OB instead? I'm not sure how it would be billed.

I'm a worrier and would probably worry that my test was defective or something strange like that and would want the beta anyway. Sorry I'm not much help!

Hollowvic

My RE doesn't give me a break on ANYTHING!!! It's a big reason I'm switching. I know it's to cover their ass, I'm just nervous about skipping it.

jencity9

When I was doing IUIs I was on progesterone, and my RE's policy was only to use home tests. They only do betas for IVF. So I tested on 14dpo and if negative I stopped taking progesterone... so I know it's okay to do but if you wanted to wait a few days you would significantly increase the accuracy of the HPT if it makes you feel more comfortable.

Hollowvic

@jencity9‌ that made me feel better. My friend said the same thing. At 14 DPO if the HPT is neg. she stops the Progesterone.

Waterlily234

I'm in the same boat, my beta for IUI#4 is Tues and I will be 14/15 dpo...I have already decided if I don't get a positive hpt by Monday morning at the latest I'm stopping the progesterone and canceling the beta. I'm taking a break before IVF anyway, so I don't need any depressing calls/extra trips! I know people say it's possible to not get a BFP till later but it is not likely. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure I'll keep POAS until AF comes but the sad truth is, she has her bags packed for me I'm sure. :-L

kristyn831

It seems to really depend on the RE.  With my IUIs, I just did an HPT.  Because I need a hysteroscopy to move forward with IVF, I need a blood test even if I get my period because they want to be 100% sure before putting something in my uterus.

Hollowvic

@Waterlily234‌ I'm pretty sure bags are packed for me as well. Btw your siggy is hilarious! I'm going to think about it over the next couple of days, but I think I may skip the beta and do a HPT.

BunnyBerry

Hm...is the only reason for the certainty of a beta to tell you if you need to keep taking progesterone? If I had a history of low progesterone or luteal phase defect, I would get the beta, because there are always those few percent who don't have a HPT+ yet for whatever reason but are pregnant. But if not, I would seriously consider skipping the beta. Just make sure you get a beta before starting any fertility meds with your new RE!

theholmanherd

Sounds like a real peach of an RE's office. Nickel and diming over everything. I would follow jencity's advice. GL!

Pintobean39

jencity9 said:

When I was doing IUIs I was on progesterone, and my RE's policy was only to use home tests. They only do betas for IVF. So I tested on 14dpo and if negative I stopped taking progesterone... so I know it's okay to do but if you wanted to wait a few days you would significantly increase the accuracy of the HPT if it makes you feel more comfortable.

That's exactly how my clinic handles it. If it were me and I got a BFN on a test I wouldn't want to go in for a beta.

Tiko99

BlueJoan said:

Will your RE bill it as a pregnancy test?  Mine bills betas that way so at least I get a bit of a break on the cost.  I think I had to pay a little over $10 for it.  I think they do betas to make sure they cover their butts.

I never thought about seeing if my insurance would cover the BETA since it is technically for pregnancy. I'm going to check this out tomorrow! Thanks BlueJoan for bringing this up.

Hollowvic

I feel it a beta should be covered being as though it's pregnancy related and not infertility related. I had an argument with the billing lady in my RE office bc she charged me OOP for the consult to go over all of my test results, that's just giving me options on what to do, how is that infertility related?

kushie77

My RE always codes BETA as amenorrhea and I've never had any issues getting it paid for by insurance.  And we are also 100% OOP.  

Hollowvic

I just got off the phone with the lady in the billing department and she said the beta will be coded as pregnancy related, so they'll cover it. So I will go in for the beta on Monday morning. Finally I feel like I caught a break. So glad I called. Don't know why they couldn't do this last month.

kushie77

Ask them to recode and resubmit it for last month and refund you. Happens all the time around here.  

Hollowvic

I'm going to ask them when I go in on Monday.