Pregnant. Taking Hcg Injection. Scan Report Showed Beta Hcg Level 99.8 Nt/ml. Safe?

Posted on Tue, 28 May 2013

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 28 May 2013 Answered on

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 Last reviewed on

Question : Hello doctor , My wife is 12 weeks pregnant , This is our first pregnancy we dont have misscarriage . she is regularly taking hcg injection weekly as adivised by doctor , The doctor has adivised to take it for 16 weeks. last week we went for Triple screen Test for DS and USG scan , The scan report found to be normal (placenta formation & nasal bone ok, adequate amino acid) and Triple screen test report shows low risk category for trisomy 21, with free Beta hcg level 99.8 Nt/ml (corr MOM : 2.55) and PAPPa (corr MOM : 2.75) showing high . some reports in web shows high free beta hcg levels can bring chromosome disorders & OHss, shall i advise doctor to stop hcg injection, whether high beta level is due to hcg injection.
M. XXXXXXX , Chennai -117

Answered by Dr. Aarti Abraham (29 minutes later)

Hello Mr. XXXXXXX
Thanks for your query.
The high beta HCG level is due to the injections.
It can cause OHSS not during pregnancy, but when the injections are being given for infertility to stimulate the ovaries.
Also, it is not associated with chromosomal disorders.
It is proven to reduce the risk of miscarriages.
If there is no high risk factor in the pregnancy such as previous miscarriages, bleeding in current pregnancy, low lying placenta, pain and suspicion of loose cervix etc, then there is no indication to take HCG injections.
As such there are no side effects of which you are afraid, but still, consult your obstetrician as to why they have been prescribed.
All the best
Feel free to discuss further.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar