Pre Af Spotters??? come join me!

[mama31]

Hello ladies! I thought I'd start a new thread for ladies who get pre af spotting as I feel so frustrated every month when I get on and off spotting wondering if it is af coming but hoping every time that it is implantation bleeding! I though it would be useful to share our experiences but more importantly to log when we get our bfp's! As well as to see if the spotting continued before the bfp or if it did not happen the month a bfp was achieved!

[mama31]

So I will begin with my stats:

Mama31 ttc2 #cycle 8

Please join and include your details or if you already got a bfp and you were a spotter please share your experience! I'd love to hear!

[Helen87]

Not sure if I fit in this group but I came off the pill in October and have had loads of spotting on and off through out the month and I have no idea if it's ovulation bleeding, implantation bleeding, start of AF or something totally different! Very frustrating!!

My stats are TTC 1, cycle 1 (not counting last cycle as had just came off the pill and no idea what was going on!)

[allchatnicknamesgone]

Hi. Mama seen you on the buses before. I made decision to stop jumping on and off for a while as I was finding the 2ww even harder.

Anyhow, just wanted to say that last month I had 3 days of spotting before AF showed. I really thought it was my month, but alas it wasn't.

Same is happening this month. 2nd day of spotting.

Like you I'm on cycle 8 and can feel myself getting more and more down each month. So I went to docs today and started process of getting everything checked out, including checking to see if there is any reason for the few days spotting before AF. Bloods first, then go from there.

I completely sympathise. It's agony.

[mama31]

Hi allchat! Yes I remember you!!! Awh cycle 8 as well, it does get harder but I'm really trying my best to stay positive. DH is hopefully getting a sperm test soon! Said we'd get January over with first!! I've had bloods done and apparently all fine! Where are you in your cycle now allchat?? I'm cd1 of cycle 8 so it's all doom and gloom here lol

I know what you mean, some months I find it easier being on the buses and some harder but overall I think the support helps me and I do try and have a laugh on there too! But please do keep me posted on how your getting on! Has your DH had sperm checked??

I always have the spotting every month, but this month was on and off giving me even more false hope :( we must stay positive though and believe it will happen! Coz it will :)

Helen hello!!! Your welcome here, maybe your spotting is just down to coming off the pill as all sorts of strange things happen! What pill were you on?? Hopefully your spotting doesn't continue and you get your bfp soon! :) good luck keep us updated on your progress! When is next af/bfp due??

[allchatnicknamesgone]

I'll be CD1 of cycle 8 on Saturday. I sort of keep changing my mind which cycle I'm on because I'm discounting the first few because we didn't 'try' hard enough and we were still using ky. doh!

So, I'll get my first bloods done early next week. He's dropping his sperm off next Weds and I'm going to go for smear in few weeks. She said that the nurse can have a look at my cervix to check it looks healthy at the same time. She was quite proactive and talks about the dye test thing too. I was a bit worried that I was just going to be sent away and told to try harder, so although I'm not looking forward to tests, I'm feel like I'm doing something positive.

Warning - TMI question, but what is your pre-af spotting like?

[mama31]

That's good your being so proactive!!!and your DH! So your not technically on cycle 8 your at the end of 7! Still hope for you yet!!

I could say I'm on cycle 6 as first one was withdraw bleed from pill, and 2nd didn't use opks and totally dtd at the wrong times! But prob once at the right
time! But it's cycle 8 of dtd regularly with no success I guess!

Ok so pre af spotting before this month was always the same: 4 days before af it would start with a few brownish spots, stringy initially and dark old blood, then would be watery brown, then turn to watery red by the day before af with a bit of brown cm sometimes. Hope not tmi, sorry!!!

But this month really threw me off, at 5dpo I got the dark stringy old blood light flow for 2 days, then it completely disappeared (when I say light flow, one liner for the whole day would cover it). So anyway yes it went away totally until 10dpo then I spotted very very little light brown cm at 10dpo and 11dpo only one small spot, yesterday small amount of brown light cm then watery brown last night and watery red by bedtime yesterday. Nothing this morning then full red flow by mid morning!!! I knew it was coming though but dragged in from cd19!! On and off! Sorry that was so graphic and descriptive! :/

[Halfpastthelegofmyshirt]

The one month I didn't get any spotting I got a BFP! My baby is just being put to bed by his daddy

[mama31]

Awh halfpast thanks for sharing that! Definately makes me feel better! How many days before af would you have spotted? How old is your baby?

[Jessewalt]

I am on cycle 8 of ttc #1. Pretty pissed off to be honest. I have always spotted a few days before AF. It varies from month to month, sometimes throughout luteal phase, sometimes just 2/3 days before AF.
I never paid close attention prior to ttc, but I am now a little obsessed with looking at my pants and toilet roll (sorry tmi)!
I am currently day 11. If no positive hcg this month, I will pluck up the courage to go to gp for some initial tests.

[mama31]

Jesse I know exactly how you feel! Cycle 8 as well, so frustrating! And I am very impatient also so it's getting a bit much really!!!!! Please keep me posted on your progress, I'd love to see some serial spotters getting bfp's!!! We need some success stories on here! Good luck!

[Missmidden]

I have posted on similar threads before because I feel this is an area it can be hard to get taken seriously.

My history was no spotting while TTC no. 1 which took 8 cycles. But as soon as off pill and TTC no. 2 I had spotting before AF for 3-6 days each cycle. Tried for a few mths then started investigations and ended up having IVF for unexplained infertility. I got pg 1stcycle with this but had an early mc, but then got pg naturally 6 wks later in a cycle when I spotted for 6 days before getting a BFP at 12dpo. I am now 13wks.

All the doctors I saw dismissed my spotting as of any relevance even though my own reading told me it was most likely due to luteal phase defect (basically low-ish progesterone for any one of a number of reasons). Finally, the last doctor I saw after my IVF mc said he thought it very significant and that if he had seen me a year before he would have had me on Clomid, timed intercourse and progesterone supplementation after ov and was confident I would have got pg easily (given my other test results).

That said, people do clearly sometimes fall pg despite spotting, as I did eventually. I am not sure if any of you here are ready to take things further, but if you do prepare to battle for spotting to be taken seriously. I now wish I'd made more of a fuss or sought out doctors who would take it seriously much sooner- it could have saved us a huge amount of time, money and heartache. Good luck to you all.

[Helen87]

Hi, thanks for the welcome I've just come off Jasmine. I'm not sure when next AF is due because last one was my first one off the pill and it was crazy. I've had ovulation symptoms at the beginning of the week and also had a positive opk on tues so going to guess AF should be here in about 1.5 weeks.

I've been spotting on and off for the last few days so am thinking it's unlikely I'll get a bfp this month but I don't know. Any advice anyone?

[allchatnicknamesgone]

Thanks for your useful info Missmidden and huge congrats on your bfp!

And thanks mama31 for your graphic detail. Never tmi here! Anything goes. Mine is creamy brown and usually just after a bm. Maybe few spot during day, but only thin liner ever needed.

My CD 1 came today instead of Sat meaning CD4 will be on Monday so I will definitely have to get bloods done that day.

I suppose I'm lucky in the that my LP seems ok and I only spot for 2-3 days before AF. It must be really hard for you. I never believe it will be implantation spotting because I don't believe it's really that common. I also have pretty huge pre-menstrual pains so I always know that spotting is sign of AF.

One Q back to you mama - are there any further checks being done despite your bloods being ok?

Helen87 - sorry, but my only advice is to try and just not read in to anything with your body this month and to just make note of things. It may take a little while for your cycle to settle. CD1 will be the first day of full blood flow (if you don't get your bfp!) - you never know. The body is a weird one!

[mama31]

Allchat awh sorry af arrived! After DH gets his sperm checked if it turns out to be ok then I plan to make a gp appointment to be referred for more tests! Probably won't be until next month though.

Thanks for the info missmidden and congrats on your bfp :)

Helen Definately do not worry as it takes a while for your body to settle after the pill! Early days for you, relax and enjoy it!

[allchatnicknamesgone]

Thanks mama. I knew it was on it's way and I was in so much pain last night it kept waking me up. Bloody awful. Anyhow, every month means another opportunity. I almost feel better on CD1 than the last few days of the 2WW. It's like confirmation and you just have to move on. I'm very lucky to have what I have, so I must keep things in perspective. I did have a little cry though.

My DP drops his little tub next weds. Not sure how long the results take.

Got to have my smear once my AF gone, so like you it will probably be next month before any sort of results come in. Who knows we might be up the duff by then!

x

[mama31]

Oh my! Back to the pre af spotting stage again.....already!!!! have been spotting for the last 4 days.....just wish af would come I hate this part of my cycle! for some stupid reason I keep a small bit of false hope until I get full flow! Depressing really as I know once the spotting starts it's only a matter of time before af arrives!

Spotting seems to be getting earlier as well started at 8dpo!!!! Frustrated!!!

[jass43]

hello, I have pre-AF spotting for three years now. It started after my first mc. Since then, I have amassed 10 mc, and during one erpc for mmc I had a biopsy done to check for diffuse form of adenomyosis. This is the uterine lining growing into muscular layer of uterus, and if it is not very fat and is difuse, adeno only shows up in biopsy. On the other hand, it cannot be treated and often it does not cause infertility/mc, so might not be that much of a problem. hence doctors neglect to test for it most of time. I wrote this not to scare anyone (after all, i have 4dc, all came from the same adenomyotic uterus). but this is another common reason for pre-af spotting. Low progesterone, of course, is another one, but if spotting continues even if you get prescribed progesterone during the Luteal phase, adenomyosis can be another very common reason.
Good luch with ttc!

[Andcake]

Just wanted to add my story - I had other fertility issues (low ovarian reserve) had had pre Af spotting after coming off pill. Anyway a few mc etc later I read about high levels of b6 over 50mg - 6 weeks later I had my sticky bfp. Best £3.00 odd I spent.
Might be worth a try - some say b complex rather than just b6,
Good luck

[mama31]

I tried b6 and it didn't help the spotting it just delayed af arrival but the 4 days of spotting came prior.

I'm on cd24 today and this is my 4th day of spotting so expecting full af tomorrow or Monday at the latest as 25 days cycle most common for me but 26 is possible.

Sides of my boobs are so sore to touch and I do always get sore boobs but this is really painful! Hate that I grasp on the the hope until full flow arrives....its so hard not to! good luck ladies hope the spotting does not cause issues for our bfp's!

[allchatnicknamesgone]

Gutted to hear you are spotting again Mama. I know it's so hard to try and keep a lid on optimistic thoughts.

Dig deep. Your (our) time will come. X

[mama31]

Thanks allchat! Im taking a very proactive approach for cycle 9 (hopefully tomorrow when af comes full flow!!). I have ordered maca and vitex capsules and have booked a reflexology session...im certain my issue is hormone imbalance...so after researching I think this combination of things may help! Let's hope so!

Where are things at with you? X

[mama31]

Oh and optimistic thoughts are gone....ive just eaten a huge bar of wholenut....choc craving=immenent af! wish it would just hurry up and be gone by next wkend as have a wkend away with DH!!!!

[allchatnicknamesgone]

What do you mean by hormone imbalance? Wouldn't something like that show up on bloods?

I'm due Friday. In a way, I'm so used to getting my period, I would be in total euphoric shock if I got a bfp. Trying to forget about it but because I suffer cramping for about 10 days before AF it is impossible for my brain to think about anything else.

In other news - DP sperm is normal. I'm waiting for my blood results, but had internal scan and all normal and she said she could see I'd ovulated on my right side (I had a feeling I'd ovulated a day or 2 earlier and asked if she could look for me!). I suppose I'll wait for bloods results and give the doc a call.

Glad DP is ok though and hopefully it will give him a boost as he's been finding it really hard to perform the last couple of cycles.

Lets hope your AF hits you tomorrow morning iykwim! Do you ever try and kick start it yourself by having a bonk or anything? (probably last thing on your mind!)
x

[allchatnicknamesgone]

PS - did you see other thread about spotting on conception page?