Do you get spotting before AF / period? Come and talk to me here

@Pipbin this is great to hear. Sorry for your loss on your first. Did they ever say you had low progesterone or anything ? Best of luck with your current pregnancy x

Hello, I commented on this thread back in October, as a fellow spotter.

When I joined I was spotting for up to five days before AF was due and having mild cramps too. In October, the spotting started a lot earlier than this - which obviously worried me. However AF didn’t arrive that month and I got a BFP! Unfortunately, I miscarried at 8 weeks and when cycles were back to ‘normal’ the spotting persisted, but periods more irregular.
Beginning of March had a bout of bleeding after sex, which I saw the doctor about immediately (was too soon to be my period but around about time of ovulation) - doc took a few swabs and all was fine. AF never arrived again and got a BFP on 20th March. Now 10 weeks 3 days pregnant and hoping for a more positive outcome this time.

Sorry for the essay, I suppose what I’m trying to say is, for me really early spotting is a positive sign - must be something to do with implantation. And the spotting I experienced before my period was no reflection on my fertility. For those who may have concerns spotting isn’t always a bad thing. Some of us just bleed more than others.

@PancakesAndSyrup do you track your cycles? Would be interesting to see if you can see some kind of pattern. Rap with ovulation/ not ovulating.

I always spot before my period, sometimes it's for a few days before, sometimes longer. And sometimes I spot mid cycle too, although that's not as much of a problem as it was a couple of years ago. I don't ovulate every month though so I'm not sure if there is a correlation.

@Morgane777 yes we definitely need to be own own fertility advocate. No doctor knows everything and we know our bodies. I've never been satisfied with gp and gynae saying my spotting is fine and won't stop me getting pregnant. Well something is!?

@Bubblybub they are trying to get clearance to sell to U.K. Hopefully they will get it soon. Proovtest.com but your being referred when this is over so I wouldn't worry. I'm sure a fertility specialist will recognise that an 8 day luteal phase is not ideal and try help you with that straight away.

@orangeloo that’s really interesting. I need to get hold of some!! I don’t no anyone out there though which is annoying. Why don’t the UK do something like it. Ridiculous. Not sure what happened to mine then as I spotted from 1dpo this month haha!! Only a 8 day luteal phase though if I come on when expected on Friday.

Welcome @Kiza,

@orangeloo so you have proof! That's quite interesting! Sometimes we need to take matters in our hands. Medicine is not an exact science, and doctors often go with the "try and see". You now have important information for your doctor. Hope you can make an appointment soon!

Welcome @Kiza, you'll find a lot of support here!

@Bubblybub that (isoflavone) seems like a good choice for women that are not taking any medicine or do not have any hormonal issues!

So I had my appointment with the doctor today. As @orangeloo said, my cycle starts the day I have a full flow, so I took Letrozole wrong this cycle! He says it is OK, but maybe less effective if I took it some days before expected.

He also asked how long before AF I had spotting. I said I had it for 4 days. And he told me 4 days was OK. So I don't know if more than 4 days is not considered normal.

So that's for the news.

We still have to wait to come back to normality before doing anything else to help me get pregnant. While waiting, I will continue with Letrozole and DTD the natural way!

Hi all,
@orangeloo recommended I join this thread as I'm an ad hoc spotter, some cycles fine some not.
I'm a walking pill popper and talked to my consultant about spotting and unfortunately she was very dismissive of it and said as long as I don't have other PCOS or Edno symptoms there's nothing to worry about despite us TTC for 20 cycles and only 1 chemical during that time.

You ladies are a wealth of information on spotting and quite a lot to digest and read up about

Hi just to update on those progesterone tests I mentioned a while back. I managed to get some 'proov' tests sent to my OH when he was working abroad before lockdown. They are American and can't ship to U.K. they test progesterone. You test 7,8,9 & 10 dpo to give you a better picture of healthy ovulation/ progesterone levels. Mine was negative for adequate progesterone levels from 8DPO which coincided with my spotting that started 8DPO. Which is what I've long suspected and even suggested to gp and gynae and they rubbished my theory. As my blood progesterone tests 7days after Ov have always been fine. However I now have the proof that after 7 DPO it falls too much too quickly. I'm going to seek a private consultation and want to try progesterone supplements first if they don't work then I guess it will be some ovulation strengthening drug. Sorry for the long post and this won't be of interest to all of you but anyone who spots regularly before 10DPo may be of interest. If you know anyone in a country they do deliver to they could then send the. Onto you. X

@Bubblybub 😂 yes brown def seems thicker. I know it's so pants! We just want a baby FFS ppl get them by accident 🙄

@orangeloo it’s deffo thinner then my usual spotting. Not sure about you but brown spotting is usual quite thick. This seems to be quite watery. It’s amazing what a low dose aspirin can do. Not sure what I prefer. Thin red or thick brown. The choices are endless. What a treat we have every month

@Bubblybub could well be the aspirin as it thins the blood.

@orangeloo actually have red spotting today and yesterday which is new! So that’s just great!!! 4 and 5dpo. Started off brown on 1dpo and has just got redder. Now bright red. Think I’ll stop the aspirin as that’s what I’ve done differently this month!

@orangeloo oh god yes there’s quite a few things you can take because of that. Sucks!! I heard about the non essential things I was trying to find out what that included. Soon as IVF is back up and running I reckon the fertility side should be. I might give them a call

@Bubblybub oh yes as your so close definitely find out how long the wait will be. Before spending for private. I heard yesterday that non essential care is re-starting but I'm not sure how true that is or if it included fertility.

Unfortunately I can't take soy due to thyroid interactions. So many things like this, it's very annoying.

@Morgane777 I will get onto that with the doctor, thank you for that

Have any of you thought about taking soy isoflavone? It’s meant to be like the natural version of clomid. Take on day 3-7 which is meant to help the egg. I’m gonna do it next month to try and bring my ovulation forward. @morgane777 @orangeloo
I had another word with him as I wasn’t speaking to him and he said we can go there if I don’t feel the nhs one is enough. And to ring when they open. I’m hoping as my appointment was literally a few days into locksdown that I might be one if the first on the list. If I’m not then I’ll go private!

@Bubblybub is a fertility medicine. It helps you produce more eggs (if you're already ovulating). For women not ovulating, it helps ovulate as well.

@orangeloo according to the book is better to take Ubiquinol which the body will absorb faster... or just take more doses of CoQ10 per day.

@SSMKKM your doctor should check for hormonal factors (PCOS, thyroid, etc.).
www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/amenorrhea/symptoms-causes/syc-20369299

@Bubblybub personally I'm not asking my DP I'm telling him haha. But seriously speak with him again, make him realise what this means for you both conceiving and you physically and mentally. It's a lot for them to get their head around and truly understand.

@Morgane777 I have been taking COq10 for about 6 months now I will now buy the better forms of it as the book recommends.

The first day of fresh red blood around when AF is due is CD1

@SSMKKM research supplements but your GP should really be helping you find out what's going on blood tests etc. Good luck

No I havent had a period for nearly a year now. I will do some research on some herbal products to take. Does vortex work?

@morgane777 oh yes that’s true. I seem to judge it as, the day I’m due on I’ll be heavier rather then just light spotting. And I’ll normally have like a cramp before it comes to. Even tho I cramp for 6 days before my period this cramp is more crampy 😂 what’s your medication meant to do?

@SSMKKM so have you not had a period in a year? Good idea taking pre Natals there good to get in your system before you start trying. Have you googled if there’s anything herbal you can take to induce a period? I.e vitex?

@orangeloo take your time with the reading, or just read the parts that concern you... but I found it really helping. :)

Has anyone experienced with Coq10 or Ubiquinol?

@SSMKKM I've never experienced your situation, but I hope you'll find an answer soon. Did your doctor prescribe blood tests? Do you have PCOS?

@Bubblybub it's so annoying this coming on and off... for me it's important because I have to take Letrozole from days 3 to 7 of my cycle, but I'm never sure how to know what's my day 1!! I just decided to count my spotting as Day 1 of my cycle if AF was due that day. I just take it as my lining it's already shedding slowly. How do you decide when is your Day1?
This is useful: helloclue.com/articles/cycle-a-z/what-is-spotting

Hi all I am TTC (Trying to conceive) Have stopped having the depo contraceptive injection coming on a year now and still my periods have'nt returned. I was prescribed medroxyprogesterone by my doctor to take for 5 days but still I havent had a break through bleed as yet and it's been over 3 weeks. Has anyone else been through a similar situation and what steps have been taken? I have started to take pre conception pills at the minute but I just dont know where I stand with my body