Recently, a fertility patient we were treating became pregnant. We sent her out to check her 5 wk hCG level which was 770 mIU/mL confirming the pregnancy was well established.  She scheduled an appointment with her OB/GYN a week later.

At that appointment she had an ultrasound where they could not find an embryo. Her doctor sent her for another hCG test which the patient requested to be faxed directly to us.  We saw the patient the day after the ultrasound but before the lab results were in.  During that appointment she relayed that the ultrasound tech and doctor said she was not pregnant.  In our re-evaluation of her we suspected she was indeed pregnant based on her symptoms of extreme breast tenderness, no cramping and her pulses were forceful and very slippery in all positions (a “pregnant” pulse in TCM and not her typical pulse). 

We informed her of our suspicion and concern that if the embryo was not seen in the uterus it may be ectopic. The results came back that morning showing hCG at 7700 mIU/mL, again confirming a strong, well-established pregnancy. 

Upon receiving these results, we immediately called the patient instructing her to call her OB/GYN asap to schedule an ultrasound and not to leave until they locate the embryo.  She was now in a very dangerous situation with a 6 1/2 week pregnancy that was most likely ectopic.  She spoke with her doctor’s office who instructed her to come in for an injection of Methotrexate.  This is a drug indicated for hCG < 5000 mIU/mL, under 6 weeks gestation, and no fetal heartbeat.  Her doctor’s office was resistant to doing another ultrasound but agreed because she was insistent. The second ultrasound found a healthy embryo with a heartbeat in the fallopian tube.  She was rushed to surgery and was able to retain her tube. 

My practice is built on communication and constant re-evaluation. Because of this, a potentially deadly situation was caught early enough that the patient was able to retain her fertility and is recovering very well. 

- Alameda Acupuncture, The Classical Chinese Medical Clinic of Dr. John Nieters, L.Ac.