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

@burtle4 Thanks for the advice I do think I need to try and ride it out till the new year as I guess I don’t want my body under extra stress during IVF.

I do really worry about the spotting starting the month of my vaccine. I’ve seen a few women on forums etc that have said the same but I can’t understand it. I know It doesn’t happen to many people but I feel it’s what’s happened to me. :( xx

@Loz2467 if I were you I would give it until January, continuing with the progesterone but as you said maybe not the clomid as you should be able to tell from taking your temperature whether you're ovulating or not?
I know it's so much easier said than done but maybe just try and go with the flow a bit for the next couple of months. You've done everything you can to try and help the situation so now just try and relax and see if not focusing on it so much may help? As I said, it's the stupidest thing to suggest because it's impossible not to think about it when it's all you want and out of your control but try and take some time for yourself to destress (although again, probably easier said than done working in retail in the run up to Christmas 😂)

@burtle4 Thank you always for your replies. It can feel so lonely trying to figure this out. I know that’s true I do remember you saying 3 fairly easy conceptions. It’s so hard to make sense of. I’ve had hormone tests. The camera done. Everything I can think of. Worried if it’s lining issues or egg quality really.

I work in retail so If you was me would you wait till the new year to start IVF. I can potentially start from my period in November but in hindsight is that really a good move when im a manager in a retail store that’s open 10-10 and I’ll struggle to get to scans and blood tests etc. I do have 2 more months of cyclogest and to be honest maybe it is a good idea to try it without the clomid. I’ve only ever done it with clomid. I didn’t use the estrogen this cycle as I’ve heard it can slow down the development of the follicles - they use it in FETs. The Dr even said he didn’t fully believe in it.

So I could still have my appointment next Tuesday - although it’s a fortune. See if he has any other options for the last few months of the year but maybe a cycle no clomid.

@RugbyGirl1 I agree with the above seeing a heartbeat is brilliant news! Fingers crossed for tomorrow and keep us updated xx

@RugbyGirl1 congratulations! That's lovely news, I know you're going to be naturally cautious, but seeing a heartbeat is a big achievement. I'm sure everything will go well tomorrow, good luck! I wondered if it was just coincidence that I got pregnant on progesterone but I think it would be a pretty big coincidence given how long it took us, and how quickly it happened when i was on it. There's definitely something in it and I definintely think doctors should consider it more.
@Loz2467 it took me nearly 2.5 years to finally get a positive test after three fairly easy conceptions (two children, one mmc) I was exactly the same as you, so so confused as to why it wasn't happening. I really hope you get the answers you need soon - and I think you should definitely stick with the progesterone for another couple of months x

@burtle4 @RugbyGirl1 I can’t help but think it must be an implantation issue for me. Even though I’ve had my hysterscopy I just can’t help but think about my spotting and about how the texture of my period has changed post miscarriage. Xx

@RugbyGirl1 gentle congrats! I hope your scan goes well tomorrow. I know you’ve probably heard of before but when they are so small it’s easy to measure out by a couple of days at that point 💗 heartbeat is great news!

it will have to be paid privately not NHS funded so it’s a big decision. I’d pay anything knowing it would work but it’s such slim chances isn’t it! It’s crazy how it seems to be the missing piece for so many people but it still hasn’t worked for me. I can’t understand xxxx

Hi @Loz2467 lovely to hear from you although I'm sorry that the progesterone hasn't worked and you're looking at IVF. Do you have to go private or can you go via NHS?

I had a private fertility consultant meeting after NHS just said wait it out. She prescribed me progesterone to try from 2dpo... Which seemed to be the magic bullet as I got pregnant that round! It's still early days, I'm 8+3 by LMP. Had an early scan at 6+4 and was measuring a little behind although there was a heartbeat so got a follow up scan booked for tomorrow. I'm pretty worried as had hardly any symptoms but no bleeding or cramping etc so will just have to see what's there tomorrow!

Difficult to tell if it was the progesterone or just luck - it was almost a year to the day since my last (unsuccessful) pregnancy.

@burtle4 aw that’s so kind of you! I know I’m completely blown away how I’ve got pregnant easily twice and now I’m here contemplating such a large sum of money. It just all feels like a bad dream. It’s exactly 2 years ago this month since I last got pregnant.

Me and my partner agreed to do 2 more months of the progesterone which takes us to the new year but I’m feeling impatient hence me booking the appointment. However I work in retail so really what are the chances of a transfer before Christmas when it’s my busiest time of year. So am I better off riding out the rest of the year on the progesterone but then have all the paperwork sorted and signed and my screening bloods done ready for the new year xxx

@Loz2467 randomly I was just wondering how you were getting on earlier today! So sorry to hear that the progesterone hasn't worked so far but don't give up, you've successfully got pregnant twice already so it's definitely possible. Just so frustrating when you can't work out why it's suddenly become so difficult. Good luck with the IVF appointment, hopefully you'll be one of those cases that ends up getting pregnant just before the appointment 🤞

@RugbyGirl1 just to check in how you are getting on. Unfortunately for me cycle number 4 on progesterone hasn’t worked 😞 I’m feeling so deflated after 2 easy conceptions and this since my miscarriage. I had so much hope it was going to work. I’m at the clinic for an IVF appointment next week but I’m struggling to understand how it’s come to this and also the financial costs for such little chance of success xx

@RugbyGirl1 yeah I’m thinking a couple of months break will do us good but then it’s also hard to take a break at the same timeS October is out of my hands though so I’ll see how I feel for September. Yeah it can be messy the next day but I’m on less than you so might not be as bad. I’m on 400mg cyclogest once at night.

Yeah stress did come to mind because of everything that happened last July! But now I’m worried it’s endo. That’s just appeared When I turned 35. From some inflammation. I don’t even know. I don’t have any other symptoms endo literally just the spotting before period but if the cyclogest is stopping the spotting surely it’s low progesterone but I know low prog and endo is related. Because my temps stay high on bbt I’m thinking maybe I’ve developed endo and the cyclogest is controlling the progesterone drop. I must sound like a broken record but it’s a 2 year wait for laproscopy and I’ve already been waiting since Jan this year xxx

@Loz2467 makes sense to have a break from clomid, especially if you're having a hard time with the side effects 😔 I'm on utrogestan 200mg x 3 a day, mornings lunch and night time. What about you? I find the capsules can get a little messy if I erm don't get them in far enough... Sorry if that's TMI!

I think you and @burtle4 had previously talked about being stressed and its impact on fertility. I always like to think I'm fairly stress free and relaxed about things but I went for reflexology last week and she said my left (which means present/now) was very active like I was overthinking things, so perhaps I'm subconsciously stressed!

Thanks @burtle4 it’s such a lonely time and I’m constantly thinking why. Why all of a sudden this Imbalance and not able to conceive. I feel desperate for a sibling for our boy and it makes me so sad that we had it then lost her :(

@RugbyGirl1 that’s great you managed to get the progesterone. What mg are you on? I’ll have everything crossed for you this cycle. This month will be my third one on progesterone. I actually barely had side effects from it just cramping when you initially put it in but that’s it really. Clomid feels like the devil 🙈 but I’m having the next 2 months off clomid because first month I need a break and the second month I’m away with work in my fertile week so I’m not experiencing side effects for nothing or wasting a month.

Hey ladies, I had posted on this thread a little while back but not recently. Had an appointment with a private fertility consultant earlier this month and she prescribed progesterone to see if that will help with spotting. Only 4dpo so will let you know how it goes 🤞

@Loz2467 sorry to hear about the side effects of clomid. How do you find progesterone as I've heard that can have varying side effects too?

You're welcome, it feels like such a lonely time but there are so many women out there going through the same and it's good to support each other. I swore to myself if I found out what was wrong and ended up getting pregnant I would try and help as many others as I could to do the same x

@burtle4 yeah I remember yours being prolonged spotting too! It’s just so hard isn’t it and then me wanting to know why it’s happened and things have changed with my body because If the meds don’t get me pregnant do I have to put up with spotting for the rest of my life. I’ll just have to have some hope for the next couple of cycles! Thanks for always listening.

@Loz2467 I think you're the same as me in that progesterone levels dropped enough to start the shedding of the lining but not enough to bring on the full flow. Levels are supposed to be above 30 but mine were always in the twenties. Doctor was trying to tell me it's because I hadn't ovulated but I knew I had because I was taking my bbt every morning. I'm sure the same thing must be happening to you so just keep at it for a few more months, I'm sure you'll get there!

Thanks @burtle4 I felt really low again this month during the days taking the clomid. The side effects aren’t great but needs must. Someone made a good point actually. Because I’m spotting for a whole week my progesterone is obviously dropping but it’s not dropping enough for full flow? So maybe it’s only a slight drop in progesterone. Last month when I had the prog blood test on the first day of brown spotting it was 21 n mol. I thought anything over 30 was best for pregnancy but I’m not sure now and I don’t know if I’m wasting more time before starting IVF. I just can’t understand why it’s happened and I can’t help but think of the vaccine.

I think stress does play a big part so try to de-stress in any way you can! Good luck, will be keeping everything crossed for you 🤞🤞

Aw thank you @burtle4 I nearly messaged on the thread last week when I got a negative but I didn’t want to being anyone down. :( I said to my partner if I didn’t need medication I’d just “not try” and see what happened but because I feel like I’ve no chance of conceiving with spotting from 5/7 dpo I have to take my medication which is frustrating. I’m going to keep going with it. I’ve got 2 more cycles left after this one but I’m going to push him for 1 more because it’s only 5cycles of progesterone. Then that takes us right to Xmas and I’m away my fertile week on October with work but the month off meds and TTC might be just what I need. I pray your right and I will one day have that sibling for my boy! It’s so cruel when it all got taken away and then I was hit with this infertility. Do you think maybe stress can trigger it? After researching a while back seems like stress or early menopause etc. Thats great you’ve had no spotting :) it could be a bit of both. A reset and less stress and not thinking about it. Last month when I was on hols I didn’t have spotting into period it just started on the Sunday. This month was the same in terms of stopping the prog on the weds but I got brown spotting Friday and Saturday and period tried to start the Sunday - I had enough time to implant but I was extremely stressed and I spotted. Not sure if it’s linked but we will see. I started my clomid again last night. Here’s to month number 3 🤞🏼 Xx

@Loz2467 I'm so sorry, I was really hoping for good news 😔 Please don't give up, at least you've explored every avenue so you know there's nothing physically wrong. It's the hardest thing to do and the worst advice to give but just try and relax and enjoy life again, put the pressure of it all to one side for a few months and it may happen. I think you should try continuing with the progesterone if you can because it clearly helps and just remember that on average it takes 6 months to get pregnant so like you said, maybe wait until the new year until you look into IVF. Interestingly I've just had my first period since having my baby 8 months ago and it was a very straightforward, no spotting, 5 day bleed. It's like my body has reset itself - or maybe it's because I'm not stressing, who knows?!
The one thing I will say is there is a baby waiting to be born and he or she will be the most perfect thing. When it arrives you will thank God that none of the other eggs made it or you wouldn't have the baby in your arms that was meant to be. I think that all the time about my 2 years of trying for our third - if any of the other attempts had worked i wouldn't have my beautiful baby boy, and I wouldn't change him for the world 💙

Hey @burtle4 that’s so kind of you to remember and check in! I’ve not been good! Medicated cycle number 2 was a fail and it hit me like a ton of bricks. I just can’t understand this issue after no previous problems :( I’ve decided to try and stop looking for a reason like you said. It’s not my thyroid etc and sometimes these things can just happen. It’s just not something I want till menopause if I’m not lucky enough to have another baby. We’ve said we may try IVF in the new year then we’ve tried everything. I’m finding it so so tough. We should have a one year old not battling secondary infertility after loss. I hope your okay. Xx

@Loz2467 how are you getting on? Hope this month has gone by quickly, you must be coming towards the end of your cycle again? 🤞

I was being too impatient! It did turn into full AF yesterday. A little lighter but it’s properly today. Also sorry for TMI but my AF since my loss have also changed in texture. They are more “slippery” and like slick! I’ve looked online and saw about estrogen which could be a problem as it’s meant to be low through menstrual period and my hormones are definitely off balance somewhere but then I also saw a lot of things saying not to worry. Not sure if it’s my age or what?? Kind of stresses me out though. Starting my last month or clomid this evening.

I’ve woken up with brown spotting :( I was hoping it was just going to go straight to flow. I know the length of time has been fine etc for my luteal and grateful for no spotting from 7 dpo but I just wanted a normal period like I used to have. :(