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

Alright so I can confirm the spotting did not interfere with me getting pregnant as I got a positive test in the past few days. I thought For sure AF was here once I got the spotting so was surprised when it never fully showed up and tested then. Spotting was basically identical to all the other times! A few days of pink or brown or both etc. I wonder if the spotting is a result of the dropping progesterone levels pre implantation but doesn’t actually mean you can’t get pregnant? I hope this one “sticks” and everybody can rest a little easier that the spotting likely doesn’t mean much either way. But it is SUPER ANNOYING and gave me great anxiety so you aren’t alone there.

@RealSmart1459 I agree I'd still like to know a reason. There must be one.

@Morgane777 keep us informed of your test results

I'll let u know how I get on with my gynae appointment- not holding out too much hope on this.

I’ve been doing way too much googling on this and there are lots of people who seem to get pregnant with the spotting but honesty it would be nice to have a reason for it! Especially since last time I had spotting for so long. Trying to take more b complex vitamins in the hopes that might help....

Thanks @Morgane777 this is good to see. X

@orangeloo take a look at this thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/conception/3757888-Constant-spotting-between-ovulation-period
Spotting seems normal for some....

@orangeloo I really do think is a good thing the doctor decided to put my dose up. I read somewhere that TSH at 1 is the target...
Hope your blood test will give you some good news!
I hope the new dose will also help with my spotting. I'm looking forward to see the doctor in January... I'm hoping he will also test my progesterone levels at the luteal phase (they were tested at follicular and came OK).
For instance, I think I'll just have to relax during the holidays!

@Morgane777 that's good they put your dose up anyway as ideally Tsh should be 1.5 or lower to conceive - yet another hurdle to get over. Mine isn't that low yet, blood test on 19th- fingers crossed.

That's interesting about ovulation bleeding seems nothing to worry about like you say and may be hormones shifting after Ov.
Crazy how we have to do so much research for ourselves. Female reproductive system is so complex and our regular gp's aren't experts sadly.

I have read of women getting pg with spotting so it doesn't make me lose all hope, but they do seem few and far between so it's still something I'd like to get to bottom of.

@orangeloo Thanks a lot for your answer! Please keep us updated after your visit on the 17th! We are surely a lot looking for some answers.
I have indeed an underactive thyroid, but it has been under control for a couple of years. This month, my doctor decided to increase my dose a little bit (I received only a message from the nurse, so I don't know the reasons for this decision. I'll be seeing him on January or February -still waiting for my appointment). I hope this will help. I started with the new increased dose this month, so maybe the next cycle will get better.
I have read a lot of scientific literature about Ovulation bleeding. It seems to be an old subject (the papers published about this are really old) and new studies only focus on women under the pill. No one seems to continue research about this. What I concluded after some readings is that is a condition that has been observed in some mammals, like chimps LOL... they have a tendency to bleed mid-cycle, when ovulating. So it seems like an accepted fact, but no one seems to understand why this happens. They have even reported some cases when women had some pain, that did the job with their husbands and they had success in pregnancy! It seems you can track ovulation with this little bleeding and a bit of pain. But my spotting is afterwards....
As for the other mid-cycle spotting (not in relation with ov) this seems to worry me the most. I have passed fertility tests and all seems OK, so I think it has something to do with hormones indeed. So, it doesn't seem as something dangerous, but I don't find any answers as if it affects fertility or not. That's why I hope to read real cases and hope to get positive pregnancy stories with mid-cycle bleeding
SORRY FOR THE LONG POST!

Spot around Ov that should say.

Also one of my tests found I had slightly underactive thyroid. So I've been treated for that a year and a half. But sadly it didn't stop my spotting. Worth mentioning if either of you do go to gp and have any other symptoms as it's quite a common condition and it effects your hormones.

Thanks @RealSmart1459 I will bear that in mind I've been ttc a year now and it's been a stressful one on top of that I really need to enjoy this Xmas haha.

Hi @Morgane777 I have read some people spot around if and that is normal but I would say in a couple of months maybe go to gp. I did and the ran a few basic tests- all fine so they kind of lost interest and I didn't push as I had read that ppl can still get pg. however I'm now a year in so I have a gynae appointment on the 17th. I don't want to be negative but I'm also not holding out much hope for her getting to the bottom of it or being that interested. I'm pretty sure it's hormonal so really need an endocrinologist or fertility specialist. I'll update on here either way after. I'm so glad for this thread haha I def feel a bit less alone.

Hi all,
I'm happy to find this discussion!
I stopped the pill in August and have been TTC and spotting ever since. I have regular cycles and I started tracking ovulation for 3 months. It seems to be OK.
But my spotting tends to get worse every cycle, it lasts longer now...
I have little bleeding that comes around ovulation (at first two or three days consecutively after ovulation, but this cycle is 4 days after ovulating) and then 3 to 4 days before AF.
Does anyone experience the same?
I hope this is normal!
Hoping I can read more success stories of women that can get pregnant while spotting!

It does indicate that sugar is bad for the Qi spleen deficiency... but a few months ago - July- October really - I was eating very healthy, barely any sugar Except fruit, etc, lots of lentils quinoa etc and was still getting spotting that whole time. All I’m saying is dont feel bad about enjoying the holiday season since clearly eating crazy healthy didn’t help me!

@RealSmart1459

@realsmart1459 I do bbt but not all month- only to confirm Ov. I will start being more thorough with this to see if temp drop corresponds.

I started acupuncture last month and too see mentioned some Qi deficiency or stagnation. I could do better eating wise but I'm not bad at all and don't want to start in December with Xmas coming. I'm gonna start Maca and seed cycling so will let you know if they help at all. Lay off caffeine and after Xmas all booze too.

@orangeloo oddly enough I had just come off the pill when I got pregnant with our first (I know very lucky) but I didnt spot like this. I’ve been measuring my bbt as well and noticed a temperature drop the days I have spotting as well. Do you track your bbt?

I also dont after its old blood. Firstly because sometimes its pink and sometimes it’s brown, and second because it doesn’t make sense it just hangs out for weeks until the exact same time every month. I’ve been seeing an acupuncturist and although my mood swings seem to have levelled off my spotting has not. Last month I had it after my period as well for about 5 days! That was the worst. Just hoping this time I can spot less. I’ve heard it’s because I’m short on Qi spleen or something but when I look At the suggested diet that’s basically what I eat so not sure how I can Improve it further without living a very sad life I already basically live off lentils quinoa and oats!

Hi @RealSmart1459 sounds very like me. Did u have the spotting issue around the tone you conceived your 1st? I'm convinced it's low progesterone even though I've had x2 21 day bloods and they are normal. I've seen fertility specialist say this test is useless. Other theories I've heard is it's old blood that didn't come out last time. Logistically I'm really not convinced by this one. Also have heard a few times that it can be normal but I don't want to believe this either as I don't see how an egg can implant if my lining has already started shedding. Trying to improve my hormone balance naturally atm as gp not overly helpful.

Hi all-

Joined this site just for this thread as it’s been a really helpful one to read as I navigate TTC with the pre bleeds. My spotting is happening 4-6 days before AF stops then AF starts on schedule. I’ve got a 28-32 day cycle.

It’s sooooo frustrating reading other boards because they are all obsessed with implantation bleeding which this clearly isn’t. This is my 4th cycle ttc and the dreaded spotting arrived. I’m convinced (rightly or wrongly) that I only spot when I havent conceived. With our first child when we got pregnant, I dont recall any spotting the first few months at all.

Hoping we can keep each other informed and updated.

@Cooks86 sorry if I'm being dumb so is that you didn't or did get some spotting the month you got your BFP? X

@gingerspaniel Thank you!

I think my spotting was linked to my AF starting around 9-10 dpo (4-5 days prior and then my normal cycle would begin) so figured if we fell pregnant the spotting wouldn't happen that month. I didn't have any implantation bleeding, then BPF on 9dpo and no spotting afterward. Hope that helps!

@Cooks86 congratulations on your BFP! Could I ask whether the spotting stopped this cycle when you fell pregnant or did you get your BFP despite the spotting? Thank you

Congrats @Cooks86 !! and thank you for posting it's nice and reassuring to hear if bfp's despite spotting.

I just wanted to write a quick message as we've been TTC for the last 5 months with number 2 and I had been spotting 4-5 days consistently before my AF arriving each month which is not normal for me. I scoured these boards for information and went and had all my bloods taken and scans etc. All results were normal, but the spotting persisted.

Just a note to say we got our BFP this week at 9dpo!

I would recommend going to get checked just in case, but if all is normal, then it didn't stop us from getting pregnant! Best luck everyone!

Been spotting 6-8 days before period for about 2.5 years now. I was pleased to find this thread and that it's still going.
I have had blood tests. Day 2 and 21 bloods all normal and internal scan- normal. Can't find concrete answers anywhere. I've been ttc for 10 cycles with no joy. DP sperm is fine. I'm being referred to gynae clinic as In My area it's 3years of trying for fertility referral. So I protested and said they can't leave me trying that long when I have a symptom that there may be something wrong which is the only reason I got that referral.
I have tried vit b complex but am going to again with a different tablet

Starting acupuncture next week.

Need to exercise more/ massage as have also seen another theory that is is old blood / poor blood flow. Also started red raspberry leaf tea and have white peony on the way.

I will let you know if any of those improve things. X

@Hannah1925 still no period, but on Friday i felt a lump on my cervix and had an emergency visit to my docs. It’s thought to be a polyp due to the bleeding, however I’m awaiting a referral to the hospital to have a closer examination since I have history of abnormal smears. Hope your visit to the docs went ok? X

@PipTed I'm going to the doctors this Friday so will let you know what they say xxxxxx riggers crossed. Sorry for tmi but I have brown clots that come out before and after my period. So disgusting