Hello all, I am wondering if you can help or offer some advice or reassurance by sharing your own stories? I am 34 years old, not on any hormonal birth control, and have always had very regular periods. However, for two months now I have been experiencing mid-cycle bleeding. The blood (so far, at least) is not fresh (i.e. bright red) blood, but brown/dark brown, indicating old blood. The first month was quite light, more like brown-tinged ovulation mucus, but it was the first time I'd seen anything like that on my panty liner. Following that, my period was 10 days late (definitely wasn't pregnant, and confirmed with two home tests). I am currently mid-cycle again and this time am losing significantly more old blood - enough to need to wear a sanitary towel. Again, it is dark brown, but there are clots - it is definitely more like period blood, just not bright red. I am also cramping in my lower back as I would do on my time of the month.
I don't know if this is at all relevant, but I have recently been to the doctors and just this week have been diagnosed with iron-deficiency anaemia; I am due to pick up my prescription for iron tabs today. My periods are normally very heavy, so the doctor has attributed that as the cause and is not worried. I did mention to my doctor the bloody ovulation mucus (at that point I had only experienced it the once), and she didn't seem concerned. But this time the blood is heavier, so I am worried and have booked another consultation with her on the 22nd. (My surgery is so busy that it's really hard to get an appointment, and at this point, the 22nd seems so far away...)
I know that this may be normal for some, but it's never been normal for me, and I'm so confused about what's going on with my body. Could the anaemia be wreaking havoc? Maybe I haven't been expelling as much as I should have on my period, and now my body is clearing out what's leftover?
Thanks so much for taking the time to read, it's so much appreciated.