Help please - inter-cycle bleeding freak out

[viv73]

Hi there

TTC #1 and all a bit new and scary! Came off pill in June and got first proper AF early August (6 weeks late). Around day 15 16 had a bit of blood in CM. Looked it up and thought possibly either ovulation bleed or just remnants of previous AF. Next AF was 37 days after first one so happy was getting back to normal. Last night had sex (sorry what's the abbrieviation??) and this morning noticed had quite a lot of blood in CM. Has got worse during day - very watery and bright red.

Have looked it up again and websites seem to go from "inter-cycle bleeding totally normal" to "yes you are going to die horribly of cancer" and even "sign of hormone imbalances and infertility"!!!

So just wanting some well rounded advice. Am going for smear anyway as got the three year letter yesterday but until then will be totally freaking out!

I am on day 18 of my cycle and not sure how long cycle will be this time.

[OverThePond]

I have no advice, but am freaking out for the same reason, so will lurk about here for common sense answers. My hunch is I'm having either a freakishly short cycle (15 days) or something like a ruptured ovarian cyst perhaps?

[MummyAbroad]

Hello,

Googling medical stuff is scary isnt it? Must stop doing it myself...

According to my new bible Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler, "normal" intercycle bleeding can be

1. at the time of ovulation
   
2. at the time a fertilised egg implants in the uterus
   
3. bit of spotting just before period
   

however none of these are normally bright red.

I would definitely get an appointment with your GP and get it checked out, its probably something harmless and/or treatable, but being checked by a doctor is the only way you will get real peace of mind. Anything from the internet will always just be a guess (and/or terrifying!)

hypocritical random internet guesswork:
My friend was recently diagnosed with uterine polyps, doesnt need any treatment, was told that she will probably always bleed a bit after sex.

now go make an appointment!

xxx

PS SWI = sex with intent = the acronym for shagging

[viv73]

Thanks

Made an appointment for smear for Friday but appreciate the nurse won't be able to tell me a right lot. It seems to have stopped altogether now. Did some more reading and actually all these things can be bright red or pinkish. I definitely haven't ovulated yet (doing BBTs) but apparently ovulation bleeding happens before ovulation. It is confusing as ovulation bleeding can occur for many reasons and one of those is because of the dip in hormones before you ovulate.

A lady on another site said it happened to her for three months after coming off the pill so could be that too.

Who knows.

Any other guidance though to help me stop freaking until Friday would be good and to help OverThePond out too!

Really want to SWI (love some of these acronyms) tonight but a bit scared however if it was to do with ovulation I should really crack on!

[OverThePond]

Crack on, I say! Just got back from the Dr and have a BFP. Ridiculously early, so I'm nervous as all get out, especially as they still have not ruled out ectopic, but that and the ovulation may be the cause of the bleeding... I'll know more in two days.

The Dr. did say to be extremely cautious about any sharp pain or lots of bright red blood. Small amounts she said not too much worry. I think the important thing is to get it looked into so you can get back to doing the important stuff (SWI).

[MummyAbroad]

tentative congrats overthepond all sounds v good

[viv73]

Excellent news bigfatpond! Wondering if I should be setting down the big day glass of red wine I am drinking! Please keep in touch and keep me posted! X

[OverThePond]

Oy, are you suggesting I change my MN name? LMAO. It's good news, but also scary as who on god's green earth ever finds out this early? I've been poring over my chart and at most I am 8 days post ov, but more likely only 5...

[viv73]

Omg mortified overthepond! Had my second glass of wine in one hand and a friend trying to practice a speech ign my ear and no dinner!obviously both my brain and fingers were out of order. But actually perhaps you could change your name to that in about twenty weeks or so. How are you doing?

[OverThePond]

I think if I get that far in this pregnancy I will gladly change my name to bigfatpond! Unfortunately, I'm still in limbo. Spotting for 8 days now and now definitive answer from the doctor. I'm having blood draws every other day to watch my hcg. That was supposed to tell me if it's doubling (good), climbing slowly (bad, very bad), or dropping (sad, but not the worst). Instead it's "not quite doubling" so they just want to keep checking and I'm supposed to stay calm and hold my breath some more. From 543 it should have jumped to 1100, but instead it's at about 900. So, fingers crossed the little bean is all right and it's not something worse than an eventual miscarriage which sadly is starting to sound a lot better than losing a tube...