What are beta #

kswifetobe

What exactly are beta #s, I have seen on some people's signature different numbers and was wondering what they truly reflect.  Just wondering...Some look crazy high, is it better to have a high number or does that reflect something not right?? Our embryos have a tendency to multiple either too quickly and not evenly, or just not at all with some added fragmentation.   Thanks 

ecleptic

A beta test measures the amount of HCG in your body. This is the hormone produced after an embryo has implanted-. Over 5 is considered positive for pregnancy BUT, the number should double every 48 hours to show that the pregnancy is healthy and progressing.

Since IF patients tend to know very very early that pregnancy has been achieved there's still a moderately high chemical pregnancy (miscarriage before the heartbeat is established if I recall correctly) rate, so REs typically check beta levels at least twice if positive to confirm not only a positive but a positive and growing pregnancy.

The specific number doesn't (usually) matter as much as the doubling rate and a number that is within the "normal" range. There's a huge range of "normal" though and being on the high or low end of normal doesn't mean anything specific. The only time it matters is if the number is below the normal range- that may -but does not always- indicate that the pregnancy may have already been lost and the HCG numbers are falling rather than rising.

If you see two beta numbers in someone's sig with exclamation marks usually means a good result

kswifetobe

Thanks, great explanation!