Long-time luteal spotter - anyone else?

[Chooklass]

Hi ladies,

Since my early 20s I've always had heavy spotting from ovation to AF. 36 now, TTC for first time and worried this is a problem. Just wondering if any other ladies out there with same problem who can offer mutual support! Doc says not a problem as long as I've a regular cycle (which I do) and only on cycle 3 of TTC so early days. I just don't see how bean will ever stick if I bleed so much. I've read it can be due to low progesterone, so started taking vit B complex and following a low-GI hormone-balancing type diet. Any advice greatly appreciated! Xx

[Flashinthepan]

I have had this for 18 months but also had a short luteal phase. I have started taking agnus castus which seems to be working for me. You might want to research it and decide if it's right for you. Some people report that it messed up their cycle, but for me the only changes have been positive eg spotting now only 2-3 days before AF and a 13 day luteal phase. And I've only taken it for one full cycle so far.

[Betsyboo87]

Yep I'm a spotter! I usually spot from 6/7 days before af is due. I've seen a couple of drs who have said the same as yours - af is regular so it's not a problem. I actually followed up with my gynae last week as I've been TTC since the start of the year. She was very insistent that it's nothing to be worried about so maybe I should take her advice and relax. She did refer me for an u/s but I had to push for it. I read about progesterone issues but she doesn't think it's that. I've been taking b complex for a couple of months but it hasn't worked for me yet.

[Chooklass]

Thanks for replies - very reassuring it's not just me! I have a fairly short cycle (24/25 days) but luteal phase seems long enough (12-13 days). Will look into agnus castus - thanks Flash. Even when I was on the pill I spotted mid cycle, so it's maybe just my 'normal'!

I've not noticed a change with b complex yet either, Betsy, if anything the spotting was maybe worse last month but I'll give it another month and see.

Difficult to get the right balance between positive changes and not mucking about with my body too much!

[eekmumps]

I've always spotted before my period. Worried me a lot before I had children. Took 6 months to conceive my first, 2 for second and one bonk for third! So it's not necessarily the sign of an issue. When I TTC my first I did have acupuncture but other than that did nothing

[Chooklass]

Thanks, eekmumps - that's incredibly reassuring! It's difficult not to fret over everything when starting TTC over the 35yr mark! I can Keep Calm and Carry On Bonking now

[Betsyboo87]

Oh I tried acupuncture but it didn't make a difference. I have some agnus cactus but I'm a little scared to use it. I meant to mention it to the gynae and forgot - I'm like you that I don't want to mess my body up trying to fix this one thing!

Don't stress about your age either - loads of ladies over 35 have no problems conceiving. If you look at the stats 36/37 isn't much of a drop from 30.

[Chooklass]

That's good to know, Betsy. Might try acupuncture if no luck in a few months. I've heard reflexology is good too.

I think not stressing is probably the most important (and difficult!) thing.

[Chooklass]

Thought I'd just post updates now and then on this thread incase anyone else is having same issue. Now 6/7dpo in cycle 4 and heavily spotting as usual.

I had day 21 progesterone bloods done last month and results were inconclusive, but cycle turned out 3 days longer than normal so think I timed test badly. Getting day 21 bloods done again tomorrow so hopefully results will be clearer.

Over past 3 cycles I've had every pregnancy symptom under the sun, and nowt but bfn, so actually much calmer this cycle knowing symptom spotting won't tell me anything!! X

[dinodiva]

I'm a spotter. Was referred for scans and turns out I have fibroids, which is thought to be the cause of the spotting. I also have short-ish cycles of 26 days. My fibroids aren't particularly big or positioned awkwardly so haven't impacted my fertility in any way.

Not having spotting has been the first indicator for me both times I've been pregnant!

[NaturWilde]

I had exactly this! In fact was getting it checked out when I had a surprise pregnancy aged 32. Bled a lot in early months but otherwise perfect pregnancy & birth.

Pregnant again, first cycle TTC, aged 38!

Angus castus good. Read "it starts with an egg" for other useful supplements.

And don't listen to the old "you ovulate on day x." Only temping or maybe sticks will show you when you ovulate!

Good luck!

[Chooklass]

@dinodiva - really reassuring to know you're spotting didn't affect fertility, and useful to know you didn't get spotting when pg. When I start spotting each month I always feel like that's me out. Who knows though?!

@NaturWilde I've been using opks, can't be assed temping but might try it eventually! My ov day shifts around a bit so agree - can't just assume day 14ov. My spotting always starts 2days after +ve opk, so pretty good indicator! Did you still have spotting the cycles you got bfp? X

[Betsyboo87]

Thanks for keeping this thread going Chooklass. I finally heard from my gynae this week and she said my u/s was completely normal. I'm around 9-11dpo and have light spotting as usual. I hope your bloods look good this month.

[Chooklass]

That's good news @Betsy! Though I guess it might be frustrating not to have a cause? Is your gynae doing any more tests now? I'm keen to keep this thread going as when I began googling to find out about the spotting I couldn't find much, and what I did find was mainly doom and gloom! I feel like my blood test will be timed well this month so fx the results will tell me something this time x

[JeNeBaguetteRien]

It's work getting the spotting checked out. It's been my normal for years with regular cycles and every month I got a peak on Clearblue but progesterone tests showed some months I ovulated and some I didn't. GP thought regular periods = ovulation but fertility consultant has prescribed Clomid (on 4th month). There could be other factors with me but do push to get the “day 21" test done 7 days after you think ovulation has occurred. In a way I was lucky that first test was inconclusive (24) as it meant I was re-tested. The result on the retest was 51 so that would've been considered okay.

[Chooklass]

Yes, GP very much of the opinion that spotting is not a worry if periods regular! I'm pretty lucky she suggested these tests when I'd only been ttc 3 cycles and she seems happy to test for a few months to get a better picture. I tried getting to the bottom of this in early 20s and it was much more of a battle to get any tests done, every doc just threw the pill at me and said that would sort it (which it didn't entirely). Seems to be taken more seriously now I'm 36 and TTC!

[Betsyboo87]

Chooklass part of me would have liked it to have found a cause but it's also reassuring that nothing came up. She's said we can do hsg, sperm analysis etc but we've decided to give it until the end of the year. She is so reluctant to do bloods though! I originally saw my gp when this started in my mid 20's and apart from sti testing she wasn't bothered by it at all. As I wasn't thinking about babies at that point I didn't worry about the effects on my fertility but now I wish I'd got it sorted then.

I did find a good thread about this from a few years ago. I'll dig out the link now.

[Betsyboo87]

Few positive stories:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/1375264-Spotting-pre-AF-and-getting-pg

[NaturWilde]

@Chooklass I did still get spotting with my BFP cycle! I had bleeding also each time my period would have been due! For the first 4 months. Otherwise all perfectly healthy!

[Chooklass]

Thanks for that link @Betsyboo87 - really interesting stuff there.

@NaturWilde thats's good to know. My Mum told me she didn't know she was preg with me for months because she still got bleeding around period time!

I should get results of last weeks day 21 bloods later today, though got AF yesterday so onto cycle 5 now anyway x

[Chooklass]

So bloods showed progesterone fine and I def ov. One less thing to worry about (this month anyway)! Interesting to read on that thread you linked @Betsy that there is a link with gluten intolerance. Might go gf this month and see - can't do any harm!

[Betsyboo87]

@Chooklass that's great your bloods were good. I hadn't thought about the gluten applying to me as I don't eat that much with it in but, like you said, there's no harm in trying. I think I'll join you on that!

[Chooklass]

I'll be suprised if it makes a difference - I've never noticed any sensitivity to gluten, but it feels good to be trying something new each cycle. Like I'm actually properly trying! I'll post an update as to whether it makes any difference x

[Betsyboo87]

I have to try something else each month too - this month is more water! I'm terrible at drinking water during the day.

[Chooklass]

So I'm 5/6dpo now and spotting as normal. Been strictly gf since AF and haven't noticed a difference (with anything), which is actially great because gf stuff is so expensive!!

[Betsyboo87]

That's rubbish that you're spotting but yes, a gf diet would be pricey/inconvenient. I've totally failed at drinking more water this month.

Have you ever temped? I did for a few months and my temp stayed high until the day before af. It gave me a little more comfort. I'm convinced I'll still spot with a bfp seeing as start around 7/8dpo and implantation likely wouldn't have occurred by then. That keeps me positive until af does arrive anyway!