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

Hi

I used to get brown spotting for 2 days before my period, and then after a mc last feb sometimes it lasted for up to a week, and one month (October I think) I also had mid cycle spotting for a week. I saw a gp who said it was hormonal. I've also previously been diagnosed with cervical erosion during my first pregnancy - I spotted most days for the first 3 months but the baby is now 3 so it was not a major issue, just annoying!

Anyway, my day 21 bloods were normal in the summer so I don't have an lp defect. I started acupuncture 2 months ago and that seemed to cut the spotting back down to 2 days and last Friday I got a bfp !

So I guess what I'm saying is, it's probably normal and shouldn't affect your chances of conceiving, although it did take us 10 months this time (dd was a first month of trying baby and I don't think I used to have the spotting back then, I can't tell you for sure though, until we started ttc I never really paid attention ) I don't know if there's a connection. I think it's just a symptom of cervical erosion mixed with frequent sex !

Hello whysoserious, count me in!
I've been TTC for just over a year. I spot brown stuff from 5-6dpo before AF starts 'properly' at around 10-11 dpo. So, I also have a short luteal phase.
No-one I've seen yet (one NHS fertility consultant, one private consultant) seems to be worried about the spotting or the short LP. I have had my progesterone tested - that was great - day 4 bloods were all normal, ultrasounds show PCO, HSG clear.
I am on another forum and I'd say from my experiences there that the spotting thing isn't a pregnancy preventer - some women who spot have continued to do so even when they get a BFP, some women haven't.
Good luck! x

I didn't realise spotting was anything other than normal.
I get about two days of spotting before AF. I figured it was just warning shots.

However, I did get some mid cycle spotting a couple of months ago, and, as I was of to have a smear test done I mentioned it to the nurse in a 'while you're down there' kind of way. She had a look and said that it was a tear.
I also had post AF spotting this month too and that was the same tear.

Too much SWI!

Hello OP

I never had brown spotting until after I had my first child. Then when I was pg a second time, I noticed a little brown spotting about 5/6 weeks. This light brown spotting ended in m/c at 13 weeks. I went on to have another baby.

Now I find that like you, before AF arrives I get brown spotting 1 to 2 days before and no doctor has ever given me an answer as to why.

However I am now trying to conceive no 3 and a friend recommended Maca, a herbal tonic, which apparently 'boosts fertility and balances the hormones'. I thought it sounded like total twattery but I've been taking about 10 drops a day in water for the past month and even though I haven't conceived, the brown spotting has stopped.

Highlove, clomid made it worse for me too, i bled for 3 weeks solid on my second cycle of clomid so just stopped after that.

Hi Ladies - wow a whole thread about my exact problem! I've been TTC now over 4 yrs, so no good news about outcomes (yet) i'm afraid, but I've been tested for everything under the sun for this (they've ruled out cancer, std, fibroids, endometriosis, which i think is standard list) and the doctors can only come up with that its probably due to cervical erosion for me (which i do have according to the numerous professionals who've had a viewing). They've also said its nothing to worry about, and as my progesterone levels are normal they haven't thought it was lupeal phase defect, but their only solution was ivf. I have tried some months without actually ttc to see if I still got the spotting just to check it wasn't implantation bleeding, and it still happened so don't think its that.

What I've found interesting recently is a whole load of explanations in the chinese medicine world for this. Still not sure how much i believe in all this, difficult when the doctors don't really promote this, but in Randine Lewis' 'the infertility cure' she gives chapters on this and says its due to 'spleen qi deficiency' (according to this the spleen has a holding function of holding the menses in place) and there's loads of treatments like accupuncture and dietary changes etc. I've been seeing an accupuncturist weekly who's also been telling me about this chinese view. The brown / black blood or clotting is something else - stagnant blood, that needs clearing out to get the right environment, again the treatment is acupuncture, diet and other things along those lines. I've been following all this since last summer and in the 3 cycles Sep / Oct / Nov, my spotting reduced from 5 to 2 to 1 day spotting. However last cycle I flew to the other side of the world and back and i was back to square 1 of 5 days of spotting before AF (but not brown). So don't know definately yet if this stuff is going to work but just thought i would post in case it interested you.

Also i've read loads of posts from people in the past who spot and get pg so its definately not something that prevents it on its own.

Hi OP, I have been off the pill since March and for the last six cycles I have been TTC. I usually have 5-6 days of light spotting that is brown in colour before AF arrives. I had a day 21 blood test this month after I went to see the doctor about it all. His theory was that my cycles were still regulating after coming off the pill and that the corpus luteum doesn't produce enough progesterone, hence the spotting. I have an appointment the week after next to find out about the results.

I've tried Vitamin B6 to see if that would help with the spotting but nope! I too am concerned about whether it will affect my chances of conceiving...

I get this and would also live to know a bit more. It can be anywhere between 2-7 days and varies each cycle. I've been TTC a year now and sadly no even a hint of a BFP. I've just done two cycles of Clomid which doesn't seem to have made any difference, had two days of spotting on the first but about six on the second.

I've had endo ruled out by a laparoscopy so guess it is hormonal. But my consultant isn't too bothered by it. I am though - even if the actual spotting itself isn't a problem then surely whatever hormonal imbalance is causing it could be?

Sorry can't help any more, but I feel your pain!

I had this when I was a teen, but not now I'm older (27). I've no idea what caused it, though thinking back my periods were insanely heavy back then, I just didn't realise it (I thought it was normal to need a new Super/Heavy pad every hour and a half ). Either way, since I no longer get it, I guess I wouldn't automatically assume it was something as drastic as erosion?

Hello Why & Winkly
Not that I'll be much help, but last month I encountered this spotting malarkey, something I'd never experienced before!
It started about 5 days before AF was due, I wondered if it was implantation bleeding. AF arrived on time, but was different to other AFs!
I saw doc for some other things but mentioned the spotting, she was concerned so sent me for a smear, Wednesday just gone, so I may get some answers when the results come, I may not.
I've googled and found stuff about cervical erosion, but it's all guessing!
Is it worth checking with the doc?
Enough waffle from me, Christmas cake anyone?
MM xxx

Hi, I never normally do. Two days ago I got some red spotting and thought it was my period starting, but nothing more has come of it. Very unusual for me.