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

[Whysoserious]

Morning ladies!

I have bleated on about spotting before AF a lot now on these conception boards and have realised that it does seem to happen to a log of people, can be for many different reasons and also people can be fobbed off by the doctors as "nothing to worry about".

My periods were normal until last August when I started getting brown spotting 4 days before AF came in full force.

I have googled and googled and there are lots of threads of women TTC with this mysterious affliction, but they only last about 20 posts so you can never find out what the outcome was. What were they treated for? Did they manage to conceive? And the one that I'm always desperate to know the minute I start spotting every month; did they get the spotting the month they conceived?

So I want this thread I be a place for TTC mumsnetters who spot before AF to come and share their experiences and stories and support. The information out there is so conflicted so it would be so good to keep this one going until we get some answers and some BFPs!!

@Rae444 how are you getting on with the progesterone?

Any news from You other ladies at all?

I'm 7DPO so entering the worst week of cycle haha.

@orangeloo so this month I have been taking low dose aspirin. I didn’t ovulate until cycle day 19/20 🙄 so now I’m 2dpo. Had spotting yesterday and the day before but it seems to of gone today. This month I’ve added b vitamin complex. Other half also now on fertility meds as his morphology is 3.5 percent so hopefully it’ll give that a boost. I’m due on on Friday so it gives me a 8 days luteal phase this month which is s**t. So I’ve ordered some progesterone cream from eBay (now brand) and I’m hoping it’ll be here Monday. I’m hoping this will extend it. But I’m also trying to eat more seeds and pomegranate juice. If your on Facebook join ‘the TTC community’ there’s loads of women on there with different ideas. It’s been a great help to me.

@Whysoserious I had a MMC in December, since then all cycles since then I’ve have 4days spotting before AF. We have just got our BFP - one of my signs for knowing, was. I had NO spotting!

Before my last BFP, I had a tiny blob of CM with some pink blood in it - I thought it was my period coming. But I imagine it was implantation as I then had nothing at all for four days until I got my BFP. Again something that made me think this is weird and persuaded me to test!

Hello!

So far so good with the progesterone. I've used it for 2 cycles and it has extended my LP from 9/10 days to 10/11 days with no spotting at all beforehand. The second cycle I used it I ovulated on day 13, when I usually ovulate on day 17/18.

I feel like this is starting from the beginning for me when really I'm on cycle 11. The fertility Dr said to try this for 6 months and then see her again so fingers crossed! Getting my period this time was really heart breaking (no chance of a 2020 baby now), I'd ovulated the earliest I have ever and had the longest LP I have ever had but trying to remain positive that these are all steps in the right direction.

@Bubblybub hopefully these things work for you. Sadly they have done nothing for me. What has made you take the aspirin? That's one thing I haven't tried haha

@Rae444 oh that's so good! Don't be put off by one month even with perfect conditions there is still only 30% chance per cycle. Its great ure spotting has stopped. I know what u mean about starting again as I would feel exactly the same if I had a solution to the spotting issue. Have you ever had your progesterone tested and was it normal?

@orangeloo it’s meant to basically get more blood flow to the uterus and help implantation. I’m only doing it this month if it doesn’t help then I probably won’t do it again as it’s just another thing added to the list of drugs lol. My progesterone cream hasn’t arrived still which is annoying so I haven’t been able to start that. I’ve been spotting on and off since 1dpo. Brown and then bits of red which is just fantastic 🙄 I contacted a private fertility clinic today as i might do down that route rather then wait for the back log of NHS appointments to come back up after covid. Have you started spotting again yet?

@Bubblybub ah okay. I may try that next month haha. I started spotting 8DPO which is a bit better as it's often 6DPO but still typical for me. Yes I'm eligible for nhs referral in August. Was supposed to have a private hsg two weeks ago but couldn't due to covid. So when they resume treatments I may ask them about their take on the spotting too.
Have you ever had your progesterone tested? I have twice and both were normal so at a serious loss as to why I spot.

@orangeloo urgh covid is really not helping. Mine was my first initial appointment which got cancelled. But I’ve heard nhs don’t take spotting seriously so it’s making me want to go private anyway. And if it gets me in quicker then I might aswell. I got my progesterone done in April last year. It was 43 nmol/l. Which is apparently normal so it says on the blood test. I use to ovulate on day 13 back then though and now it’s day 19/20 with a 28 day cycle. So not sure what’s made it move. Next month I’m gonna try soy iso tablets from cd3-7 see if that brings my ovulation forward. Doesn’t help that other half has 3.5 percent morphology. So think it’s a mixture of that and me! Did your OH have his done? X

@orangeloo Yeah progesterone tested and was 'normal'. Starting opks today for my next cycle, maybe this will be the one!

Hi ladies,
I've been taking the Letrozole but not BFP yet :(
My cycles are weird as they begin at expected day but start really light... like spotting during 3 or 4 days. I've wondered if my spotting before AF that I used to count as just spotting was just my cycle beginning and I had a REALLY short luteal phase. If that's so, Letrozole has helped my luteal phase.
Other than that, I read the book "It starts with the egg", I found it really good and informing. I'm following some of the advice, so I bought Ubiquinol and Prenatal vitamins as it may help me produce better quality eggs.

I have a "virtual" appointment with my fertility doctor tomorrow. I'll let you know if I have some important new information.

@Bubblybub gp's def don't take it seriously but I'd like to think once we are referred to a fertility specialist they will or at least know more.
Yes OH is fine luckily. A couple in my fam had low motility two rounds of IVF that didn't work. Not long after they got pregnant naturally and now have 2 kids. Take his supplements etc things really can improve.

@Rae444 yes mine is normal too so I'm glad that didn't stop the fertility doc still giving you progesterone. FX for you this cycle.

@Morgane777 fx for you too and hope the virtual consult goes well tomorrow. I'm reading that atm too although it's taking me a while to get through it as it's very scientific and a lot to take in. I find I only want to read it in small doses.

@morgane777 my cycle is like that. I spot on and off for a week before I’m due. Then when I come on it’s really light and basically brown for like 4:5 days then I get two full flow days. Then one day brown then off. Totalling to around 9 days. 16 if you want to include the pre af spotting 😂 I’ve given up today I’ve never felt like I’ve given up but today I asked my OH if I could go private as I think I’ll be seen quicker and he told me to be patient and that they just rip you off. So it’s drained me hearing that. Obviously doesn’t understand what it’s like to bleed for basically 16 days out of a month and know that all while that’s going on you won’t be able to make a child.

Hi all I am TTC (Trying to conceive) Have stopped having the depo contraceptive injection coming on a year now and still my periods have'nt returned. I was prescribed medroxyprogesterone by my doctor to take for 5 days but still I havent had a break through bleed as yet and it's been over 3 weeks. Has anyone else been through a similar situation and what steps have been taken? I have started to take pre conception pills at the minute but I just dont know where I stand with my body

@Bubblybub it's so annoying this coming on and off... for me it's important because I have to take Letrozole from days 3 to 7 of my cycle, but I'm never sure how to know what's my day 1!! I just decided to count my spotting as Day 1 of my cycle if AF was due that day. I just take it as my lining it's already shedding slowly. How do you decide when is your Day1?
This is useful: helloclue.com/articles/cycle-a-z/what-is-spotting

@orangeloo take your time with the reading, or just read the parts that concern you... but I found it really helping. :)

Has anyone experienced with Coq10 or Ubiquinol?

@SSMKKM I've never experienced your situation, but I hope you'll find an answer soon. Did your doctor prescribe blood tests? Do you have PCOS?

@morgane777 oh yes that’s true. I seem to judge it as, the day I’m due on I’ll be heavier rather then just light spotting. And I’ll normally have like a cramp before it comes to. Even tho I cramp for 6 days before my period this cramp is more crampy 😂 what’s your medication meant to do?

@SSMKKM so have you not had a period in a year? Good idea taking pre Natals there good to get in your system before you start trying. Have you googled if there’s anything herbal you can take to induce a period? I.e vitex?

No I havent had a period for nearly a year now. I will do some research on some herbal products to take. Does vortex work?

@Bubblybub personally I'm not asking my DP I'm telling him haha. But seriously speak with him again, make him realise what this means for you both conceiving and you physically and mentally. It's a lot for them to get their head around and truly understand.

@Morgane777 I have been taking COq10 for about 6 months now I will now buy the better forms of it as the book recommends.

The first day of fresh red blood around when AF is due is CD1

@SSMKKM research supplements but your GP should really be helping you find out what's going on blood tests etc. Good luck

@Bubblybub is a fertility medicine. It helps you produce more eggs (if you're already ovulating). For women not ovulating, it helps ovulate as well.

@orangeloo according to the book is better to take Ubiquinol which the body will absorb faster... or just take more doses of CoQ10 per day.

@SSMKKM your doctor should check for hormonal factors (PCOS, thyroid, etc.).
www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/amenorrhea/symptoms-causes/syc-20369299

Have any of you thought about taking soy isoflavone? It’s meant to be like the natural version of clomid. Take on day 3-7 which is meant to help the egg. I’m gonna do it next month to try and bring my ovulation forward. @morgane777 @orangeloo
I had another word with him as I wasn’t speaking to him and he said we can go there if I don’t feel the nhs one is enough. And to ring when they open. I’m hoping as my appointment was literally a few days into locksdown that I might be one if the first on the list. If I’m not then I’ll go private!

@Morgane777 I will get onto that with the doctor, thank you for that

@Bubblybub oh yes as your so close definitely find out how long the wait will be. Before spending for private. I heard yesterday that non essential care is re-starting but I'm not sure how true that is or if it included fertility.

Unfortunately I can't take soy due to thyroid interactions. So many things like this, it's very annoying.

@orangeloo oh god yes there’s quite a few things you can take because of that. Sucks!! I heard about the non essential things I was trying to find out what that included. Soon as IVF is back up and running I reckon the fertility side should be. I might give them a call

@orangeloo actually have red spotting today and yesterday which is new! So that’s just great!!! 4 and 5dpo. Started off brown on 1dpo and has just got redder. Now bright red. Think I’ll stop the aspirin as that’s what I’ve done differently this month!

@Bubblybub could well be the aspirin as it thins the blood.