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!!

@burtle4 I have been having issues with my periods since March (I made a pity party post about it yesterday) so I called doctor who said they'd run a blood test. They checked thyroid, kidneys, b vitamins, folate and hormones. All came back normal.
She didn't mention a blood test for ovulation but that didn't seem to be an issue at that time, but I didn't feel ovulation happen this month, normally I'm in agony so I can only assume for whatever reason I didn't ovulate this month. Maybe just because I'm getting older now.

@Want2bMumof3 definitely ask for a day 21 progesterone test. They basically check your blood for levels of progesterone 7 days after you ovulate to see if there's enough. If you're in the UK the levels need to be above 30 to confirm that you've ovulated. If they're below it suggests you haven't. My levels were always in the mid 20's which suggests I wasn't ovulating but I knew I was due to taking my temperature every morning. I knew that my spotting had to be down to my progesterone levels falling too quickly after ovulating so an egg never had a chance to implant because my walls were already starting to shed. As soon as I went on the progesterone pessaries I got pregnant and I was 39 by this time after 2 years of trying with no hint of a bfp! Definitely worth a try to ask for the test...

@burtle4 oh really? Do you think that's why I'm spotting maybe then?
When I last spoke to the doctors they said because I already have children they wouldn't be looking to assist any further basically so it's pointless asking them to do the test. Plus this is our last month of trying anyway so I am just trying to accept it wasn't meant to be.

@Want2bMumof3 you sound so much like me this time last year. I've always wanted a third child but it just wasn't happening and I was trying to accept the fact that it just wasn't meant to be. The doctor said I wouldn't get any help through the NHS due to having children already but they agreed to do the day 21 test which showed low levels of progesterone. Luckily my doctor (female) agreed to refer me to a specialist due to the fact I was spotting, not because of fertility and there he took more day 21 tests (amongst other things) which gave the same result. I then asked him if i could try the progesterone pessaries (he hadn't thought of this!) and I'm now 20 weeks pregnant 😊 Nothing else was shown as being wrong on any of the other tests they did.

My advice would be that if you really want it, don't give up. They will give you the tests if you ask and maybe go to them more along the lines of period issues rather than wanting a baby and they may be more helpful. It's so hard and I know the feeling of just being so frustrated each month that nothing was happening, every month was my last month. But I knew in my heart I couldn't just give up on it and I'm so glad I didn't x

I started getting brown spotting before my period. Started as just a couple days but it's now 5 days.
No idea why it's happening, never used to get it. Got blood tests done at the doctors and they said my hormone levels were fine. It's really annoying too as I get really bad cramps with it, just hoping it isn't stopping me from conceiving :(

Checking in as I saw this thread had been bumped and I need to read it later! I spot for 4-5 days before every period. Nothing to do with cervical erosion as it happens even if we haven’t DTD.

@burtle4 how do the progesterone pessaries work? What dosage are you on?

@Goofers I was given them as an attempt to stop the spotting primarily with the hope that it would also help with fertility. The consultant gave me instructions to take 3 pessaries a day at a dosage of 200 each (so 600) but I actually only used 2 pessaries a day (400) one in the morning and one at night. I started using them a few days after ovulation in case they interfered with that and the first month of using them I had a very straight forward 5 day period with no spotting before or after for the first time in years. I did have to stop using them after a BFN on the day my period was due in order for AF to start though. The second month I amazingly got pregnant and I continued taking them throughout the first trimester. Hope that helps x

@Jendrw5, did the hormone tests involve the day 21 progesterone tests? I'm not sure the standard hormone tests show up progesterone which is what you need decent levels off to stop the spotting...

Yes, they didn't tell me what the levels were. Just said it was normal and were consistent with ovulation.
Spoke to a Dr today and she didn't seem too concerned but I'm going in for an examination anyway to make sure everything's OK. She said it shouldn't affect chances of conceiving though, which was my main concern

Ah ok, maybe if all is ok with your tests and doesn't show anything up you could try accupuncture? I know it's helped me before... Good luck x

@burtle4 I'll bear that in mind, thank you :)

Hi ladies, just checking in as I also have spotting for 2-3 days before AF and nice to know I’m not alone. Oddly this has only really started (or come to my attention!) since starting TTC in April. This may be tmi but I think I have quite heavy spotting (?) as I need to use a panty liner to protect my undies from the brown stuff but I know it’s not full AF until the severe stomach cramps and red flow arrives! Just wondered if anyone else has similar experience.
Currently taking vitamin C & zinc and omega 3/Vit D supplements. I’ve heard good things about Vit B complex but it gives me awful acne so I’m steering clear of it for now!
Baby dust to all on this bank holiday evening

@aspiring2021 mines only seemed to start when since TTC too, back in April as well, and mines is also quite heavy for spotting, but not like a proper period.
I was on the implant for nearly 3 years, came off that in October last year, so I'm wondering if it's sort of changed my periods or something and this is just normal for me now.

I find it weird that mine only started when TTC as well, seems to be a common theme...

Mine has been going on for years!

This month I had my normal 4 days of spotting, which started a couple days before I was expecting it too. But then my period didn't start after like it normally does, so I waited a couple of days until it was due and still got nothing.
This morning, roughly 15dpo, I took a test and got a BFP! 😁😁😁 so happy, and relieved that the spotting didn't seem to make a difference, so there's definitely hope for all the spotters, just try not to think that you're out if it starts as that's what I always thought.

Hi ladies, as with most of you I’m so happy I found this thread and that it’s still going near 10 years later!!!!
Hi my name is Becky and I’m a spotter.. Hi Becky
For the last year and a bit, 4/5 days before my period comes I get what most of the others have described as (tmi) brown wet discharge / rusty spotting. I also get cramping for most of that time. Some months the spotting stops 2 days before my period comes (cue emotional roller coaster).
We’ve been TTC 2 years for our second. We were lucky we fell pregnant on the second cycle trying for our first (now 3yr old).

I’ve done everything from fertility acupuncture to drinking and eating disgusting pills and potions, vitamins up the wazoo, 2 different fertility doctors, Metformin, Letrazole and a a hysteroscopy. So far not even a sniff of another pregnancy.
I’m currently CD27/12DPO, I’ve been on progesterone pessaries since 7DPO (started late I know, but my new fertility doctor wanted to see my day 21 progesterone levels without the ‘top up’) and so far no spotting (but still some cramping) fingers crossed we have some luck this month!!
Baby dust ladies and congratulations to all who have conceived despite the spotting!

Hey Becky, sorry to hear of your struggles!

I would suggest asking your GP to check if you have any polyps. I have one small one that causes spotting before my period. Luckily, they are easy to remove but they can cause infertility as it’s harder for the egg to stick.

I hope you fall pregnant soon!

@GingerJar Good luck with the pessaries and keep going with them! I was ttc for 2 full years with no hint of a bfp and the second month on them I fell pregnant! I kept going with them through the first trimester and am now 27 weeks! Fingers crossed the same happens for you x

Thank you for your suggestion @Firsttimetrier! My fertility specialist said I was ‘polyp free’ during my hysteroscopy in June this year. I thought it might have been polyps too (actually was hoping!) so there could be a fix. How are you going? x

@burtle4 huge congratulations!! I was reading through your posts from April and they are actually what gave me the push to request the script for progesterone. (Thank you!!) My specialist was skeptical, but he is really supportive of trying different things. Normally I’d be spotting by this point in my cycle….but nothing! Fingers crossed! I hope your pregnancy is travelling along well! x

@GingerJar I'm so pleased and keeping everything crossed they work for you too! After trawling the internet for so long trying to find answers I swore to myself if I ever found a solution I would try and share my experience in the hope it would help others in my situation. Great news that you aren't spotting yet, that's a really good sign. Just don't give up on them if it doesn't happen the first month as it was the second one for me - good luck!!

@GingerJar that’s good to hear and I hope the new pessaries work. Will keep my fingers crossed for you.

I’m doing well as I had a check up last week and the doctor advised that it shouldn’t stop us from TTC, so we’re going for it whilst we await a confirmed date that I can have the polyp removed properly. It’s our first ever time trying, so not hoping out much hope but we will see next week!

Hi everyone,
My experience with spotting is similar to many in this chat and it’s reassuring to hear that others have had spotting and conceived.
We’ve been TTC for over a year now. After 15 years on the pill, going off it has taught me so much about my body including the fact I spot for around six days before my period. The spotting starts on day 22 and my period generally comes day 28.
My husband and I have been seeing a fertility specialist for a few months now. I recently had a hysteroscopy to try and address the spotting. Fortunately the hysteroscopy found no underlying issues, however the spotting is still happening.
I’ve had a number of tests, as you do when seeing a specialist, and there’s nothing obvious causing the spotting. Despite the fact that my hormone level and my lining appear good, seeing it month after month is unnerving and frustrating.
I’m so happy to have stumbled on this chat today. I feel comforted by the positive experiences of many and hope it’s only a matter of time for us too.

@KateAlix my progesterone levels were always borderline so the doctors never really picked up on that being an issue. I think I always had enough to ovulate but not enough to stop the lining coming away early. If you can, try and get some progesterone pessaries and try them for a few months at least. It doesn't hurt to try and it might be the solution!