pre-AF spotting and breastfeeding

[lilysma]

I'm not sure how many people will have experienced this, but if you have please can you share your experiences?

I have had pre-menstrual spotting (brown blood) for an average of 4 days before AF properly arrives for quite a while (at least a year) and am also having difficulty conceiving. My DD (3.5) still bf a little until about 8 weeks ago. A gynae consultant put the spotting and (in part) the difficulty conceiving down to the bf, though my charts showed I was ovulating every month. I have now stopped bf but am still spotting.

Has anyone else experienced this and if so, how long did it take for the spotting to stop after stopping bf?

Hi Lilysma

I have been TTC for just over a year and I have brown spotting for about 4 day also before my AF properly turns up. I was getting worried as I sometimes have a slight bleed also about 5 days after ovulation as well. The doctor said brown spotting is just normal and the bleed can be just the small blood cells around your cervix being irritated when you have sex. I had a swab taken yesterday by the nurse so they can test for any infections even though I had a smear a year ago (which was normal) but they did say spotting was was common (though annoying as you feel like you are taking ages to get your AF properly).

To put your mind at rest ask for a smear or a swab taken to check in case of any infections. I get my results Friday so will let you know what they say

Hope this helps

Thanks absentbump, good idea to get a swab/smear - like you I had a smear last year but am not sure exactly when the spotting started. It definitely didn't used to be as bad. I have seen two consultants who both initially said the spotting was not an issue. Then when I told the second consultant I was still bf he changed his mind and said that was probably the cause of the spotting and also the lack of conception (though I have issues with my tubes as well). So I wasn't fully convinced due to his change of tack but decided to stop bf anyway just in case...

Anyone else been told anything similar?

Anyone? Shameless bump