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

I spot, didnt use to when I was younger but my periods were so heavy and prolonged but I thought that was just me, also they were very painful. After I came off the pill, I started to spot more at the beginning of AF. Also they were prolonged again and it felt like something was trapping the flow.
Anyway had a chat with doc, told them I wasnt happy and also I was ttc, they sent me for bloods and hormones check. I was given the all clear, but I still wasnt happy. So the doc sent me for a scan, and there was the culprit or should I say culprits, I had several fibroids. I was told thats why I spot and also thats why my AF's are crazy long and heavy.

Hi, another spotter here. In fact last night, which was 5 days PO (I think) there was the familiar pink tinge when I wiped, but it will be elusive now for another day or two. I had implantation bleeding with DS and had never had spotting before this year (it started with an AD) so EVERY month I think it's implantation bleeding and it drives me crazy! Onedaybaby has a good point: when do you start to count the first day of your period if you have 4 or 5 days of spotting before it arrives properly?

Jennifer86 thanks for that very useful explanation. That would make sense for me as I get quite a lot of CM I think.

This cycle my spotting started 5 days before AF, 4 days of proper flow then 4 days tailing off spotting. So a total of 13 days. That can't be normal, can it?

Will try B vitamins to see if it helps.

Hi

I have been TTC for 18 months and not a whisper of a pregnancy.

My "spotting" usually lasts about 7 days before before I get a proper heavy flow. TMI - Once or twice a day, when I go to the toilet, I find that a tiny red blood clot has "fallen out of me". So when I wipe, I see bright red blood but rarely anything on a pant liner. I then get very bad cramping and proper period with a full flow, up to 7 days.

I count the spotting and the full flow as my period and it lasts up to 14 days. It usually starts 8 days after ovulation so not much of a luteal phase.

For 3 months I had acupuncture, weekly, and the spotting reduced to 1 or 2 days. Unfortunately it was very expensive and then they decided to go travelling so I haven't been able to keep it up.

GP says there is nothing wrong with my cycle (!) but I am hoping to be referred to a fertility clinic soon with the hope that they have more understanding.

I was told by my DR the reason i get brown/blackish spotting is that its old blood that has been stuck behind, which just didnt make its way out last time i had my TOM, as i dont have them often that sounds like something that makes sense to me.

Oh that's good to hear bossy I just bought a B vit complex yesterday. So fingers crossed!

sunshinesue - you've reminded me that I started taking a Boots own brand vit B complex supplement before I conceived DC1. It may be a coincidence but I do remember reading about it helping to reduce hormone fluctuations (at that point I was prepared to try anything!) Good luck to those of you ttc.

thankyou jennifer :)

Hi,
Ive just recently joined and although posted seperate to this, noticed this thread and thought i'd see if you can help me.

Been taking Agnus Castus for about 6 months now, and started taking vit B6 about 6 weeks ago. First AF with both of these started 26th Dec on a normal 35 day cycle (roughly 32-35 days normally), but was extremely heavy. I normally last around 5-6 days, this was 11/12 days! Anyway, it stopped, everything fine until the other night I went to bed and found blood. It was red, sticky, a fair bit (wouldnve thought it was AF), it has since gone watery pink, and is now brown/stringy/bitty (sorry TMI). It started 16 days after my AF. I've never had this before and as I've no pain at all (just mild cramps night it started then nothing) I've ruled out ov cyst bursting. I did have a dodgy PCOS diagnosis almost 3 yrs ago, based on a single blood test, while thyroid meds were lowered and was still breast feeding-not sure how 'reliable' that was. So although I know through my cousin PCOS can cause this bleeding, I dont think it's that...but what could it be? Im reluctant to go DR's as i'll probably just get fobbed off again.

(just to add after having no ttc problem in the past-we have 5 aged 10,8,6,4&3 and an angel who would be 7-we are into our 3rd year ttc! with no explanantion or entitlement to any investigation because we have kids).

Sorry if TMI here...

Nagoo, cervical erosion is when you get more "columnar" cells, which are the ones that produce mucus. Usually, the columnar cells are only in the middle of the cervix but in erosion/"ectropion" they are also at the edge of the cervix. This is definitely normal, and is very common especially in teenagers or women who are taking the contraceptive pill.

Cervical erosion might be responsible for spotting because these cells are more likely to bleed on contact (eg SWI). It also means you might get more cervical mucus because it is these cells which produce the mucus and you have more of them.

Hope this makes sense.

another spotter here! I had it from 3-4 days after ov off and on until a couple of days before AF when it would stop, nothing then until AF. I had this every month for 6 months after coming off the pill but still got pregnant (sadly miscarrried but this was at 9 weeks so I don't think it had anything to do with spotting).

I still had spotting after mc. I started taking a vit B complex (just a cheapo Seven Seas one from the supermarket) and it stopped. I'd already made an appointment to see the dr about it on the advice of the nurse when I had my smear. Told her I'd had spotting every month but this was the first "non-spotty" month after taking vit b, she said that a vit b deficiency can cause a hormone imbalance and it sounded like I'd cured myself. I had another couple of non-spotting cycles then got pregnant again. Had another sodding mc but was a mmc at 11 weeks so just bad luck I think.

AFAIK youu need to take vit b in a complex, something to do with one b vit being needed to help the body absorb another one.

I have had this for years and so does my sister; doctors don't seem too concerned. We ttc for 4 yrs before having DC1 and I was also told it may be something to do with pogesterone levels falling quickly after ovulation (both the spotting and the failure to conceive). I was about to start taking clomid but then found out I was pregnant! We conceived DC2 within a month of trying.

Oh how confusing. God it's bloody frustrating isn't it, just always trying to speculate what it could be the cause.

Indeed I have- I thought it would be the test that would reveal I had low progesterone- causing the spotting- particularly because the evening before I had it done I had a bright red breakthrough bleed and the day of the test, I'd been leaking brown sludge all day. But it came out at 65! (need a baffled emoticon but can't find one on my phone)...

mrs just wondering...have you had the 7dpo progesterone tests while on Clomid?

Oooh thanks highlove (scuttles off to look)

Hi ladies, just wanted to say a few more people have shared their experience of this and getting pg over on the pregnancy board - thought you might want to take look.

What is cervical erosion? I am afraid of google.

Joining thread to nose about what the spotting is, but not TTC.

Sorry to you too mrs it's crap isn't it?

I'm on a Clomid break this cycle because of Christmas and next cycle I go up to 100mg. Started the cycle with no expectations because I was on the break, but then out of nowhere I seemed to Ov - lots of cm and definite pains - so really thought I might be in with a chance. Have got mega tender nipples, boobs have been having these aches on and off and have had quite a bit of cramping last few days, all in a very specific place low down and right hand side...so as you can imagine really thought I might have got lucky.

Funny how it doesn't seem to get any easier no matter how many cycles you've been through..

Hi Highlove - I know the feeling and it's pants isn't it. I too got my hopes up this cycle - it was my first cycle on 150mg Clomid and I ovulated earlier than ever before, and managed to get to the evening of 6dpo without spotting which for me is a minor miracle (usually starts 3-5 dpo). But spotting started with a vengeance on Tues night and I've had quite a lot of rusty brown spotting yesterday and today - and am only 8dpo today. So, I sympathise, I really do x

Can I share a low? Just that I'd rather stupidly massively got my hopes as I am pretty sure I ov'd this month and with the Christmas break got in loads of SWI. Spotting just arrived an hour ago so AF on the way. Bit gutted here.

The needles usually go in various points around the legs, arms, some around the tummy but it will depend on your pulses etc You can't feel them at all.

I go once or twice a month and it costs £45 for an hour, mine also turn into therapy sessions!!!

Whyso thehe's usually a diagnosis bit first, make sure u understand which points they are going to use and why its quite interesting / bemusing at first. The needles are really fine and nothing like a blood test for example. Then you're left for about half hour. I take headphones with meditation on just to up the woo factor. Hope u enjoy, I find it relaxing plus my af lady has turned into my therapist. Prepare to share tmi. X