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AIBU?

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Original poster

To be worried about mid cycle / odd spotting ?

36 replies

mickgravey · 22/08/2023 08:46

I'm 43 and I've recently had a weird couple of periods.

My periods always last for 6/7 days. The last one in July went on for usual amount of time but then 2/3 days later I had very light brown spotting intermittently for about 4 days.
This seemed to coincide with ovulation which I normally can feel. however it was very early as usually it's about 12/14 days after the start of my period. I also generally get a drop or two of light brown pretty much at the same time I ovulate but this has happened to me for years and years and I believe it to be normal.

This month my period arrived 2 days early, lasted for 6/7 days as usual. Then 5 days later which was Saturday just gone again I had light brown spotting started in the evening. It's been intermittent since then and obvs it's Tuesday morning now and I've had a tiny bit when I wiped this morning as well (sorry if tmi)

I've got a drs appointment on Thursday to discuss

My mind just keeps going to sinister reasons for this 😩😩 I have severe health anxiety anyway which I'm going to speak to the dr about too. My smears are up to date and have always been clear but I do have one due end of September

Has anyone else had this and if so was it for non scary reasons? Help as I'm freaking out 😢

OP posts:
colachive · 22/08/2023 08:49

Hey, sorry to hear about this. I have something very similar, it’s been investigated with hysterecscopy / biopsy / ultrasound, and all came back completely normal. Have you gained weight recently? Mine tends to flare up when I gained weight. FWIW I’ve stopped eating ultra processed food and that’s really helped too. Good luck at the docs!

Original poster
mickgravey · 22/08/2023 08:54

colachive · 22/08/2023 08:49

Hey, sorry to hear about this. I have something very similar, it’s been investigated with hysterecscopy / biopsy / ultrasound, and all came back completely normal. Have you gained weight recently? Mine tends to flare up when I gained weight. FWIW I’ve stopped eating ultra processed food and that’s really helped too. Good luck at the docs!

No my weight is steady I'm fairly slim.

I am hoping it is perimenopause related as I do have other peri symptoms like severe anxiety and terrible sleep

OP posts:
LyndaSnellsSniff · 22/08/2023 08:55

I had something similar which turned out to be a benign ovarian cyst and thickened womb lining. All sorted and totally non-sinister.

Legoroses · 22/08/2023 08:56

Hey. I've had this sort of thing happen twice - about 5 years apart. A few months of mid cycle/odd bleeding. First one looked like it was due to low vitamin d - that was the only thing the obst could find wrong. Just had another round of these investigations - and probably just hormonal changes/peri because everything is normal.

I did really worry the first time but I think it's way way more normal than you think.

Very much feel you on the health anxiety. Good luck with it.

Original poster
mickgravey · 22/08/2023 09:01

LyndaSnellsSniff · 22/08/2023 08:55

I had something similar which turned out to be a benign ovarian cyst and thickened womb lining. All sorted and totally non-sinister.

Glad all was okay !

I'm terrified of any sort of investigations though 😩😩😢 it's the waiting and wondering

I had irregular bleeding a few years ago and had ultrasound and biopsy etc but turned out to be due to my coil which I then had taken out. But I don't have one now and not on any contraception so that's not why 😞

OP posts:
GrumpyOldCrone · 22/08/2023 09:08

I had this and it was just age-related hormonal changes. It started in my late 30s and continued, from time to time, until menopause.

If it were red blood that might be a different matter. But brown blood was (for me at least) completely unproblematic.

Original poster
mickgravey · 22/08/2023 09:17

Legoroses · 22/08/2023 08:56

Hey. I've had this sort of thing happen twice - about 5 years apart. A few months of mid cycle/odd bleeding. First one looked like it was due to low vitamin d - that was the only thing the obst could find wrong. Just had another round of these investigations - and probably just hormonal changes/peri because everything is normal.

I did really worry the first time but I think it's way way more normal than you think.

Very much feel you on the health anxiety. Good luck with it.

Thank you 🙏

Didn't know could be due to low vit d.
I do take a supplement though so I'm my case i don't think it's that

OP posts:
Legoroses · 22/08/2023 09:24

Just to say that it was red blood for me - and ask totally fine.

Original poster
mickgravey · 22/08/2023 09:51

GrumpyOldCrone · 22/08/2023 09:08

I had this and it was just age-related hormonal changes. It started in my late 30s and continued, from time to time, until menopause.

If it were red blood that might be a different matter. But brown blood was (for me at least) completely unproblematic.

Yes it's only ever been brown blood and it is very light brown so fingers crossed 🤞🏻

OP posts:
Original poster
mickgravey · 22/08/2023 14:08

Legoroses · 22/08/2023 09:24

Just to say that it was red blood for me - and ask totally fine.

That's good then ...I bet you were very relieved. I'd be more worried if was red but even so brown is still odd

did you find out why it was was happening ? X

OP posts:
43ontherocksporfavor · 22/08/2023 14:13

Had similar a few times in my 40s. I also started to skip the odd period. I didn’t go to gp though as presumed normal peri symptoms . Now 52 and in menopause.

StonwEd · 22/08/2023 14:16

Same age, going through the same. Happened a couple of years ago after having Covid and then stopped and periods were normal again.
this month, late period by 2-3 days, normal heavy after that for 5 then stopped. 8 days later, just a tinge but then bled red blood for 3 days. Dr has given me tablets for heavy bleeding and I’m seeing them in person Friday.
they said it was probably perimenopause related and they expect I’ll have a normal cycle now however if I don’t, ie it comes again in less than a month, they’ll scan me.
Frightening but hopefully normal.
big hugs though, I know exactly how you’re feeling x

Original poster
mickgravey · 22/08/2023 14:50

43ontherocksporfavor · 22/08/2023 14:13

Had similar a few times in my 40s. I also started to skip the odd period. I didn’t go to gp though as presumed normal peri symptoms . Now 52 and in menopause.

Ahh that's interesting ... some of my friends have said they had similar in perimenopause

OP posts:
Didimum · 22/08/2023 15:28

I had very similar earlier this year. After 2 cycles of it I went to GP – she did an internal exam and said if it kept going for another 2 months then to come back and she'd schedule an ultrasound. It lasted 4 months in total and then cleared up. I think a lot of things can knock your hormones out and it takes a while for your cycles to reset. And at 43 this sort of thing is pretty common. It's right you're going to the GP, but the most simplest explanation is usually the correct one, so try not to be too worried.

cinnamonfrenchtoast · 22/08/2023 15:31

I've had this on and off since I was in my late twenties - I had internal exams and scans and they never found anything. They just put it down to hormones!

It really freaked me out at first and I was terrified I had cancer or something but most mid-cycle bleeding is nothing sinister so try not to worry!

Original poster
mickgravey · 22/08/2023 15:35

StonwEd · 22/08/2023 14:16

Same age, going through the same. Happened a couple of years ago after having Covid and then stopped and periods were normal again.
this month, late period by 2-3 days, normal heavy after that for 5 then stopped. 8 days later, just a tinge but then bled red blood for 3 days. Dr has given me tablets for heavy bleeding and I’m seeing them in person Friday.
they said it was probably perimenopause related and they expect I’ll have a normal cycle now however if I don’t, ie it comes again in less than a month, they’ll scan me.
Frightening but hopefully normal.
big hugs though, I know exactly how you’re feeling x

Everything crossed that yours turns out to be nothing as well

It does sound like it's quite common . Hugs

OP posts:
Original poster
mickgravey · 22/08/2023 16:45

Didimum · 22/08/2023 15:28

I had very similar earlier this year. After 2 cycles of it I went to GP – she did an internal exam and said if it kept going for another 2 months then to come back and she'd schedule an ultrasound. It lasted 4 months in total and then cleared up. I think a lot of things can knock your hormones out and it takes a while for your cycles to reset. And at 43 this sort of thing is pretty common. It's right you're going to the GP, but the most simplest explanation is usually the correct one, so try not to be too worried.

Oh I'm glad to hear yours just settled down

Tbh I am hoping the dr suggests an ultrasound as I'd rather get fully checked

although annoyingly I'm having to go private (due to my own gps being useless which is a whole other rant tbh) so if I have to pay for both gp and an ultrasound will be an expensive day 😩😩😩

OP posts:
VisitorDilemma · 22/08/2023 16:51

I've had similar and am similar age. I checked with GP, who examined me and found a cervical ectropion, which I'd never heard of but is harmless. It only happened a couple of times then seems to have stopped again.

Original poster
mickgravey · 22/08/2023 18:07

cinnamonfrenchtoast · 22/08/2023 15:31

I've had this on and off since I was in my late twenties - I had internal exams and scans and they never found anything. They just put it down to hormones!

It really freaked me out at first and I was terrified I had cancer or something but most mid-cycle bleeding is nothing sinister so try not to worry!

Thank you for this it is very reassuring and I'm glad all was okay with you

OP posts:
Legoroses · 22/08/2023 20:24

mickgravey · 22/08/2023 16:45

Oh I'm glad to hear yours just settled down

Tbh I am hoping the dr suggests an ultrasound as I'd rather get fully checked

although annoyingly I'm having to go private (due to my own gps being useless which is a whole other rant tbh) so if I have to pay for both gp and an ultrasound will be an expensive day 😩😩😩

Show quote history

Um. You really should push for your GP to refer you. I ended up having an appointment with an obstetrician, ultrasound, smear and colopscopy, then repeat ultrasound and hysteroscopy. That would have been bloody expensive! Kick off or change GP.

Original poster
mickgravey · 23/08/2023 07:57

@Legoroses

Oh god really 😩😩 yes that would be expensive privately

So did they find out a cause ?

OP posts:
Original poster
mickgravey · 23/08/2023 11:08

VisitorDilemma · 22/08/2023 16:51

I've had similar and am similar age. I checked with GP, who examined me and found a cervical ectropion, which I'd never heard of but is harmless. It only happened a couple of times then seems to have stopped again.

Oh I've heard of that before

Glad yours was also something simple and that it has settled down now

OP posts:
Original poster
mickgravey · 23/08/2023 16:35

Just a quick bump in case anyone else has any positive experiences

My appointment is tomorrow and I'm really really anxious today 😢 did not sleep much last night and have barely eaten today

OP posts:
Goslowglowworm · 23/08/2023 16:41

Try and not worry too much. I'm sure it's hormonal. I have PCOS and have had this sort of thing on and off since I started my periods in my teens. I'm not saying yours is PCOS obviously but it's likely a hormone imbalance as well, due to peri. Obviously you're right too get it checked though. Good luck

43ontherocksporfavor · 23/08/2023 17:38

OP I think the thing to bear in mind is that we are not machines, hormones are fluctuating all the time. I’m always amazed at women who have a dead regular cycle and say they are a day late as mine were never like that! Perhaps that has helped me not to worry about minor blips. So many minor reasons for your situation. Good luck.