Chemical pregnancy - 70% or 20%?

[ChocLover]

About.com says that the chances of having a chemical pregnancy are 70%.

My GP said about 20%

What are the actual stats and why is there such a huge discrepancy between what about.com says and what my GP says?

 

[CastawayBride]

I think your Doctor is on the right track with that. Take care and try not to worry about CP's it is something you really can't control...

 

[stephj25]

I've read about it being 70% but this includes women that didn't even know they were pregnant as most of the time, the resultant bleeding of a chemical pregnancy is around the same time the period is due.

In my opinion though, they can't even guess at this percentage purely because most women don't even know so try not to worry. xx

 

[CastawayBride]

I've read about it being 70% but this includes women that didn't even know they were pregnant as most of the time, the resultant bleeding of a chemical pregnancy is around the same time the period is due.

In my opinion though, they can't even guess at this percentage purely because most women don't even know so try not to worry. xx

Exactly, it is all speculation. I think that is the one thing with our really early testing, we can kinda freak ourselves out. UNLESS you have reoccurring chemicals, then you should address that with a doctor....

 

[britgirl82]

Depends on the definition of 'chemical'.

Some people define chemical as eggs which fertilize but don't implant and develop - this is prob around 70% of eggs ovulated. Other define it as those which fertilize, implant (so give a positive pg test) and then not get much further - this is fewer.

I'd say the 20% though is the figure generally given for miscarriage after a positive pg test taken after your period is missed.

 

[CastawayBride]

Depends on the definition of 'chemical'.

Some people define chemical as eggs which fertilize but don't implant and develop - this is prob around 70% of eggs ovulated. Other define it as those which fertilize, implant (so give a positive pg test) and then not get much further - this is fewer.

I'd say the 20% though is the figure generally given for miscarriage after a positive pg test taken after your period is missed.

But will they get positive if the egg fertilizes and doesn't implant? Meaning, will they get a positive test to "know" it happened?

 

[wannabemomy37]

I'd say it's more like 70% as a chemical results in a heavy period which most women get at least once in their cycles.
You can get a faint positive if you test at the right time but it is also possible that you keep getting bfn and then get a heavy painful period.
I've had 3 chemicals and only seen an extremely faint (possible evap) line on the 2nd one. But I've also witnessed a tiny flesh clot come out which I just know was baby.
None of my 3 have been "confirmed" by a doctor because there isn't anything they can do for it as baby is as small as a sesame seed and comes out in a period.

 

[messica]

But will they get positive if the egg fertilizes and doesn't implant? Meaning, will they get a positive test to "know" it happened?

No.

HCG is only produced and shows up in blood and urine once an egg has implanted into the lining of your uterus.

 

[CastawayBride]

But will they get positive if the egg fertilizes and doesn't implant? Meaning, will they get a positive test to "know" it happened?

No.

HCG is only produced and shows up in blood and urine once an egg has implanted into the lining of your uterus.

Exactly what I was thinking, thus, you would not know it is a chemical. I thought the doctors considered the chemical pregnancy when it was detected however issues arise thus it doesn't progress....interesting theory though!

 

[messica]

But will they get positive if the egg fertilizes and doesn't implant? Meaning, will they get a positive test to "know" it happened?

No.

HCG is only produced and shows up in blood and urine once an egg has implanted into the lining of your uterus.

Exactly what I was thinking, thus, you would not know it is a chemical. I thought the doctors considered the chemical pregnancy when it was detected however issues arise thus it doesn't progress....interesting theory though!

You know it's a chemical when you have implantation, get a positive pregnancy test, but the pregnancy is non-viable and doesn't progress much beyond implantation.

Beyond that it's typically deemed a miscarriage loss.

BEFORE implantation (meaning just an egg fertilizing) it's not deemed any kind of pregnancy.


You have to have implantation for it to be deemed a chemical loss.

 

[stephj25]

In my 4 years of TTC, I have had 1 Chemical. Only because I test before AF is due. I've had faint but clear positives on Clearblue plus and First response. I thought they were evaps at first but surely they both couldn't be. Anyway, I had AF 2 days later x

 

[CastawayBride]

But will they get positive if the egg fertilizes and doesn't implant? Meaning, will they get a positive test to "know" it happened?

No.

HCG is only produced and shows up in blood and urine once an egg has implanted into the lining of your uterus.

Exactly what I was thinking, thus, you would not know it is a chemical. I thought the doctors considered the chemical pregnancy when it was detected however issues arise thus it doesn't progress....interesting theory though!

You know it's a chemical when you have implantation, get a positive pregnancy test, but the pregnancy is non-viable and doesn't progress much beyond implantation.

Beyond that it's typically deemed a miscarriage loss.

BEFORE implantation (meaning just an egg fertilizing) it's not deemed any kind of pregnancy.


You have to have implantation for it to be deemed a chemical loss.

Exactly my way of thinking of what a chemical was!!

 

[CastawayBride]

In my 4 years of TTC, I have had 1 Chemical. Only because I test before AF is due. I've had faint but clear positives on Clearblue plus and First response. I thought they were evaps at first but surely they both couldn't be. Anyway, I had AF 2 days later x

Exactly this....before we had these early response tests many didn't even know they had a chemical! I think more knowledge is power though and hope that it helps women in their journey to pregnancy!

 

[ChocLover]

I'd say it's more like 70% as a chemical results in a heavy period which most women get at least once in their cycles.
You can get a faint positive if you test at the right time but it is also possible that you keep getting bfn and then get a heavy painful period.
I've had 3 chemicals and only seen an extremely faint (possible evap) line on the 2nd one. But I've also witnessed a tiny flesh clot come out which I just know was baby.
None of my 3 have been "confirmed" by a doctor because there isn't anything they can do for it as baby is as small as a sesame seed and comes out in a period.

Ahh - sorry, if you don't mind me asking but if you never got a BFP how do you know you had chemicals?

 

[ChocLover]

I know everyone says not to worry but I just want to know what my chances are. If it only a 30% chance then I want to know that so I can prepare for the most probable outcome - hugely probable outcome..

I found out at 10 DPO so really early. I tested again at 12DPO and then twice on the day my period was due (yesterday) .. On the night time test I used a digital and it said pregnant 2-3 weeks which I was relieved to see. But basically I'm really really .. I struggle so much with uncertainty. If it's not viable we will be ok - we only just started ttc and in any event we have each other and a really good life - but the uncertainty of it is really hard for me to deal with.

 

[MorghanW]

It is roughly 30% chance of chemical, and I think that's really based off not great research. Also, getting pregnant period is only about 30% chance per cycle if everything goes according to plan. Humans are not super good at reproducing (as much as it may seem otherwise). Once pregnant, it's like 20-30% for chemical (if you test VERY early).

 

[CastawayBride]

I know everyone says not to worry but I just want to know what my chances are. If it only a 30% chance then I want to know that so I can prepare for the most probable outcome - hugely probable outcome..

I found out at 10 DPO so really early. I tested again at 12DPO and then twice on the day my period was due (yesterday) .. On the night time test I used a digital and it said pregnant 2-3 weeks which I was relieved to see. But basically I'm really really .. I struggle so much with uncertainty. If it's not viable we will be ok - we only just started ttc and in any event we have each other and a really good life - but the uncertainty of it is really hard for me to deal with.

I get my positives at 7/8 dpo and never experienced a chemical. Just because you get an early detection does not mean you may experience a chemical. Many of the girls who wait till after AF passes is just something they feel strongly in....I can't wait that long thats for sure!

 

[wannabemomy37]

I'd say it's more like 70% as a chemical results in a heavy period which most women get at least once in their cycles.
You can get a faint positive if you test at the right time but it is also possible that you keep getting bfn and then get a heavy painful period.
I've had 3 chemicals and only seen an extremely faint (possible evap) line on the 2nd one. But I've also witnessed a tiny flesh clot come out which I just know was baby.
None of my 3 have been "confirmed" by a doctor because there isn't anything they can do for it as baby is as small as a sesame seed and comes out in a period.

Ahh - sorry, if you don't mind me asking but if you never got a BFP how do you know you had chemicals?

Because I had symptoms that lead me to believe I was pregnant and increased during the tww, I have slightly longer cycles (30-35) so I kindof have a 3 week wait and then when I got my period I would lose symptoms and have heavy, clotty periods and 2 out of 3 times I saw a fleshy ball about the size of a sesame/apple seed. At 4 weeks gestation your baby is still small but if you know what to look for you would still see it.

 

[bridgetboo62]

a pregnancy is only present AFTER implantation occurs
so a fertilized egg that does not implant can not be considered a pregnancy
a chemical pregnancy is one that is lost soon after implantation and is technically just a very early miscarriage
dont consider anything you read on the internet to be a fact
i would go with what your OB says

 

[cutieq]

I don't have any stats but agree with a lot of ladies here. I've had two and tested very close to AF.

I went to the doctor today to discuss this and she didn't even refer to it as a chemical.

She said they do happen but wouldn't define them as common or normal. She compared it to a tire. Flat tires happen if you have bad tires or run over something in the road but you shouldn't just get in your car everytime and assume it normal if you keep getting a flat. Weird comparison but made perfect sense to me. I have bloodwork and an ultrasound scheduled in the next 2 weeks.

I wouldn't "worry" though until it happens and hopefully none of us have to deal with it ever again!

I plan to stop testing early. I would rather just get or think it's AF than know what really happened..