Memories

    HPTs: Home Pregnancy Tests

    I suppose we’ve all battled this dilemma at one point or another. When our 2ww is coming to a close, and we’ve already googled the appropriate timing to wait until we can “safely” test…the symptoms are there (or not) and the only question still unanswered is…pregnant? Or not?

    On one hand, you may have a blood test scheduled or a period coming and you can simply wait it out. (But the waiting is definitely NOT simple). On the other hand, you need to know like yesterday and taking a test in your own time, on your own terms could be a better way to get it over with. (But how reliable are the results?)

   I’ve heard about it happening…one woman thought she was pregnant…got a positive result on an HPT only to be let down with a negative blood test a couple days later. Sometimes, the HCG hormone (that many of us take when triggering our eggs) can still be in our system if we test too early. Other women I met online got pregnant with their HPT and sadly  got their period soon after. Unfortunately, chemical pregnancies can and do happen to a select few. In fact, we in the infertile world seem to be the only ones “in the know” about what chemical pregnancies even are…many others may just get a late period and never even bat an eye to it.

   But I’ve also heard about more than one woman who didn’t have any symptoms, tested with an HPT the day before or even the morning of their blood work, got a negative test and with devastation stopped their medications (progesterone, estrogen, etc.) only to get positive blood tests (and sometimes pretty high numbers to boot!).

  And, I’ve been there…on both sides of the fence. With my first IVF, I tested the day before my blood test and got a negative but I went a bit crazy not knowing whether I should trust it. In the end though, it did prepare me for the “official” negative I got the next day. For my next cycle, (which was frozen), I didn’t take an HPT and I was ridden with anxiety the entire morning until I found out I was indeed pregnant (but only slightly) until I retested 2 days later and I wasn’t anymore. My next cycle was handled a bit better (with no HPT and only slightly less anxiety) and the blood test was positive. But, it was only measuring at a 28. That most likely wouldn’t have shown up on most HPTs if I had tested and I could have potentially been one of the women that I mentioned above.

   On my next round at conceiving, I decided to test on the next IVF and got my very 1st (faint) positive HPT ever in my life 2 days before my blood test. I was on cloud nine and went in early for my blood work. Everything was going well until the next day when I started cramping and a day later, my levels never doubled (which ultimately ended in another chemical pregnancy).  I began to loathe HPTs and didn’t test the next time on my own. I got the call that my next frozen cycle didn’t work at work and I never wanted to experience that again. So, on my final cycle, I tested the day before and it was positive (and turned right away) and my number on my blood test was so high that I knew it was multiples. The elation and confidence going into that test was beyond words!

   So, I suppose I didn’t quite clear anything up. There is quite a lot to think about when deciding whether you’re going to test or not. But here’s my best advice: if you think you can wait it out, then do it!  A test may only stress you out more since it could be too early, or your little one could implant late. The bottom line is: if the test (or lack there of) only causes you more anxiety, then do the opposite. Let’s face it, there’s no easy way to face it,  but you need to pick the lesser of two evils, and make the right decision for you!

What has been your experience with HPTs?