I had my IVF transfer on June 8th. I was tested 2 weeks later and my hcg was 175. It kept going up but not completely doubling each time. They say I should be 7 weeks along but I went for my sono today and they only saw the sac - nothing was in it. At this point, we should be able to see the fetal pole and the heartbeat. I have had 2 m/c before and they were not able to see anything in the sacs as well. My Dr is concerned but hasn't given up hope. She said it could just be slow and wants me to repeat the sono in a week. Has anyone had anything like this happen to them? I am just getting really depressed when after 3 times, the sacs are still not containing anything!
PamelaP - I haven't had this happen but I just wanted to let you know that I will pray for you sweetie ((hugs)) - try to keep a positive out look until you know for sure (I now, easeier said than done)
Thanks. I just feel like I am on a roller coaster. I find out it the test is positive and I kept thinking in the back of my mind that I won't we satisfied until I see the heartbeat. And today we found there was nothing so we are back to square one. I need to find the answer to why this is happening.
Hi PamelaP - I have had this happen to me - it was a naturally concieved pregnancy though and not after IVF treatment.
Basically I had spotting at 7 weeks (and actually I never 'felt' pregnant). I went up to the hospital and like you the preg test was positive but all that was there was a sac with no embryo.
They called it a blighted ovum (there is another term which I cannot remeber). This happened to me in my second pregnancy after I had lost my 1st at 6 months with a fetal abnormailty.
I went to see a specialist and basically they said that 'for unknown reasons - although the egg and sperm fertalise and implant - the actual baby fails to develop'.
I like you was really really upset - but I know have two normal healthly kids with my 3rd due in 2 weeks.
My best friend pippa also had 2 normal preg's then she had 2 m/c one after another and both of those were due to empty sacs.
Actually I was told that this is frequently the most common cause of m/c and is often lost before an u/sound can be performed.
The doc's will want to play it safe and get you back in another week just to be doubly sure that it has not progressed.
In my current preg I went for an early scan at 5 or 6 weeks and they could see the yolk sac - basically the sac with a yolk inside and a fine halo around the sac. They said that the halo indictaed a good blood supply. So it was not empty but there was no heart beat. They said well it could go either way and I had to wait about 5 days and then when I went back there were the beginnings of the heart beat and all was OK.
My friend pippa who had the 2 empty sac preg's has just had a baby boy (litterally last week. I have another friend Elke-Mai who also has had 3 blighted ovums - one after her first boy - then two more after her 2nd son and she has just had a baby girl.
It really helped me to have these two to talk to on the phone. It deffinately does not mean that this will keep on happeneing - as they said to me it really is just plain old bad luck. Of course that is not very comforting when you are having hard time of it - but we are proof of the pudding that despite it you can still have a healthy baby.
A small peice of consilation to us all was that at least we knoew that we could all get pregnent either by natural means or with assistance.
I really hope you are OK - I know how hard it is for both you and your DH. My thoughts are with you.
We had the same experience in Oct. 2002. They did a D&E and I cried for hours afterwards. I just had a M/C last month with the same thing. I am starting Clomid and have been told that I am not at any greater risk of the same thing happening and they don't alway know why it happens. Hang in there!!! I'll pray that you get a tiny heartbeat at your next U/S!!
Empty Sac after IVF 
Taz
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