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!!

Thanks so much for the suggestion. I’ll definitely raise it with my doctor. Willing to give anything a go :)

Hi Ladies,

I can see this is an older thread but is there any positive stories from the recent 2021 posted in TTC with spotting?

I had a late second trimester loss last Feb 2021 and since then I’m getting spotting for 5-7 days before AF. I’ve had day 3 bloods. Progesterone checked twice. 61 and 37 (UK) I’ve had a hysterscopy and biopsy done 3 weeks ago and he was hoping that would correct the spotting but no luck as it’s started again today at 7 DPO and is 100% not implantation bleeding as I’ve had that with 2 pregnancies and it’s different.

just loosing hope now and not sure what else to get checked :(

Hello!! First of all, sorry for your loss. That must be very tough. So I had my baby 16 months ago. I always spotted before my period. Usually from day 7 after ovulation. The problem when they check your progesterone levels on day (can’t remember when it is) but basically your progesterone levels might be dropping before ur AF. which then causes the lining to shed a bit. I used progesterone cream from 3dpo to when my period was due. This was the month I fell pregnant. Surely not a coincidence considering I’d been trying for 17 months with no success.

the doctors wouldn’t give me progesterone pessaries which I wanted as they say there’s no science behind it. Even though there is the internet full of it and they give it to all IVF patients.

this however didn’t stop the spotting. Did reduce it though and I continued to spot during pregnancy until week 8. I carried on using the cream until week 13. If you have a good doctor which you sound like you do as his been testing you for different things. Maybe ask him for progesterone pessaries to take from 3dpo. The idea is to then do a pregnancy test the day u are due on, if it’s negative then you stop using the progesterone to then bring on your period.

I’m also not the only one who’s had success with progesterone. Two of my friends who kept having miscarriages begged tbere doctors for some. One of them got the pessaries. Other one wasn’t successful with getting her own way and had to order the cream. But we’ll worth it as it held on to baby after 6 miscarriages.

im in the UK not sure if you are. If you want the name of it I can search my emails just let me no!

hope this helps x

100% agree with what @Bubblybub said. I had my baby 6 months ago after trying for 18 months with no luck. Managed to convince my consultant to let me try progesterone pessaries since I was spotting from as early as 7dpo every month, and I fell pregnant the second month on them. Surely can't just be coincidence! My bloods always showed my progesterone was borderline so they never flagged it as an issue and I had to really fight to convince them that it was my progesterone that was the issue.

@Bubblybub congrats on your little one! Thank you so much for this invaluable information! I’m in the UK too. So do you think maybe at 7dpo my progesterone is okay but could be starting to drop too quickly? I’ve gone private now so I’ll be paying for private prescriptions which I don’t mind I’m willing to try anything so when I speak to my Dr at the fertility clinic hopefully on Monday I can ask him if for my next 2 clomid cycles I can try progesterone. I do chart my BBT and my temps remain super high all through the TWW and even when I get the spotting so I didn’t really think it was that but unless your having blood tests daily you wouldn’t actually know would you. If you could send me a pic of the cream that would be great thank you. I just had hope that the hysterscopy would help as the Dr suggested so I’m really upset today that it hasn’t “worked” or given us any further answers to our secondary infertility.

Thank you @burtle4 and congrats on your little one too! It seems like progesterone may help because I’m completely stuck what else to even check and ask for now. Thank you both so much!

Sorry to hear of your loss @Loz2467

I had spotting before AF which was usually around the time of ovulation. I had my bloods checked but my hormone and thyroid was all okay, but then I had a scan and they found a small polyp which they think could have been the cause.

I was due to have a polyp removed in December last year, but I found out I was pregnant in November which meant I couldn’t have it done.

I’m now 33 weeks pregnant and the polyp hasn’t been picked up in my scans, but I do now have a fibroid which hasn’t grown since my 12 week scan or interfered so far with the pregnancy.

I would recommend getting checked for polyps if you’ve not had it done as I know they can sometimes interfere with conceiving, but they can also not mean anything, like in my case.

Hope you get some answers soon!

If you’ve gone private then most deffo get progesterone. My temps also stayed high until AF. but yep I reckon your progesterone starts lowering after 7dpo. Which would explain the spotting. Something is deffo making the lining shed and it’s got to be that. If you get the pessaries then make sure you start them 3dpo. I’m just asking my friend which cream it was as I’ve totally forgot. When she responds I’ll post it in!!

@Firsttimetrier congrats on your pregnancy! Not long to go now!

Thats a great point about the polyp. On my private scan they did see something that looked like a polyp hence the reason so have the hysterscopy done however he said it was an endometrial fold which doesn’t usually affect conception but he corrected it anyway. I’m waiting on the rest of my biopsy report but I was convinced I had something called endometritis (not endometriosis) which is infection and inflammation of the uterine lining. As we lost our baby due to an infection and I had to be induced etc and give birth and apparently it’s quite common after second trimester losses but apparently my biopsy is negative for it.

i was thinking when the Dr calls me Monday so maybe ask for the month of antibiotics and treat as if I’ve got endometritis and then ask for the progesterone as @Bubblybub suggested. That’s interesting that all though your BBT was high your prog was still the lower end. Like you say there is definitely something making the lining come away and if he’s been in there with a camera and not picked anything up then surely it has to be hormonal imbalance!

i was hoping he was going to remove a polyp and have the endomretriis and the surgery stop the spotting so it was well worth the money and answers but unfortunately I’ve spent a lot of money and I’m no further forward. :(

@Firsttimetrier I forgot to mention a very small fibroid was also picked up by the private clinic but apparently wouldn’t change my chances of conception because of the placement.

@Loz2467 I'm so sorry for your loss, that must have just been such an awful experience to go through. You say that the spotting has started since you had your loss and I'm wondering if your hormones haven't quite balanced themselves out since the birth. I managed to get pregnant three times relatively easily before having trouble conceiving our third child and I definitely think it was down to my low progesterone which for whatever reason had decided to start dropping early. My temps would also stay sky high through the spotting, sometimes not even dropping until a few days into my period. I would find it so upsetting because I would convince myself each time that I must be pregnant. The first month on the pessaries I had no spotting and the second month I got pregnant and had no spotting either. Definitely ask for them if you're going private, definitely worth a shot x

I also forgot to mention I had a hysterscopy done which showed up nothing, mixed emotions of being happy nothing was wrong but so upset that I still didn't have any answers!

@burtle4 that’s really helpful thank you because I was always like my bbt is so high surely it isn’t progesterone and I’ve no other symptoms of low progesterone but I’m absolutely going to ask him when he calls me next week. I’m hoping he doesn’t say no :( because I know it can be such a fight to get medication these days. I thought my prog might of been better this cycle because of the clomid assuming I might of released 2 eggs. My MMC was Feb 21 so a good 17 months ago. I did over exercise a little after as running was my coping mechanism and I was running to raise money for Sands but surely that wouldn’t be having an impact 17 months later? I think exercise can affect those particular cycles but not so long after. I’m just exhausted trying to think of options! If someone said to me 17 months after loosing your baby you wouldn’t be pregnant again I wouldn’t of believed them after getting pregnant relatively easy twice. I’m also nearly 36 now so maybe my hormones are to blame.

@Loz2467 I really feel for you because I was in your position at the beginning of last year, completely at a loss with what to do next. We started trying for our third child when I was 37 and I was convincing myself as the months went by that I was too old. I finally got pregnant at 39 and had my best pregnancy and recovery from birth yet! I think hormones do change as we get older and what may have worked previously won't necessarily work again. I was very lucky that my consultant agreed to let me give the pessaries a try but I was the one that suggested it otherwise it wouldn't have been an option. I worked out that it doesn't matter how much you ovulate, if your progesterone is dropping the egg doesn't have a chance of implanting. I often wonder how many good, fertilised eggs were wasted because my lining kept shedding too early - but then I tell myself if any of those other eggs had made it I wouldn't have my beautiful boy ❤ There is a baby waiting for you and you will meet him/her eventually, just don't give up x

@burtle4 thank you so much for your kind words 💗 I do think a lot changes. I had just turned 34 when I got pregnant with our little one we lost and now to be 36 that’s a big difference. Someone worried me and mentioned egg quality but I know you can’t find out about egg quality unless you have IVF and see how many fertilise. My AMH is lower end at 8.4 and my FSH was a little high. I’ve cried so much this morning. I should have an 11 month old not wasting my days on google trying to figure out my problems (our frenemy). I’m thinking to email my nurse at the clinic ahead of my call with the Dr so he can come prepared. I’m going to ask about the progesterone for sure. I had implantation bleeding my last 2 pregnancies and I implanted at 5dpo with my now nearly 3 year old and 7dpo with the one we lost. However the brown spotting is obviously old so it’s coming from somewhere and is fresh at some point. I’m just worrying if it’s not progesterone and he doesn’t give me the antibiotics for endometriris what do I even do next. IVF is such a huge financial cost for the chances x

@Loz2467 I totally feel your pain and can only say tomorrow is a new day and please don't give up hope. Don't worry yourself with things like egg quality, although in the medical world we are considered 'old mums' 36 is still young and women these days are having babies well into their 40's! As I said, I was 39 and had my best experience! I can only imagine how hard it is knowing that you should have an 11 month old and be past all this worry but you just have to try and remain positive and tell yourself that one day it will happen x

buynaturalprogesterone.com

there you goooo!! It’s quite expensive but was worth it in my case!

Thank you @burtle4 I’ve made some notes for when my Dr calls me this week. I was at a children party yesterday and the amount of times I was asked “is he your only one”. I just wanted to cry! If this surgery would of fixed the spotting I’d be happy to just keep trying naturally till the 2 year mark but the fact I have this is just super frustrating.

thank you @Bubblybub that’s really helpful! It sounds silly but do you just rub the cream anywhere? Xx

So you alternate it in certain areas. Thighs, arms, stomach. So mornong I use to do one area. Then night a diff area!

Hello!
I'm so glad I found this thread!! I hope you dont mind me posting, trying to make sense of what is going on.
Trying to convince #1 cycle 5. I've been getting spotting 5 days before AF since coming off the pill Jan 2020 (year and a half ago!!). It's my first month of tracking bbt and I noticed my temp started to drop 9, 10, and 11 dpo and today at 11dpo the spotting has started...5 days before AF is due. I honestly thought spotting before/after AF was normal but after reading more into it and this thread I'm quite worried it could be low progesterone?? Would my temp drop if it was a progesterone issue? (sorry if thats a stupid question) I'm 35 and worried time is against me 😥

Hi @Cactus87 it’s so frustrating isn’t it knowing your out and just waiting on your period when the spotting starts. I literally cry for a few days when the spotting arrives. I’ve exhausted all fertility tests / options to get down to the bottom of the spotting. I don’t even know what else to test now! I’m bbt charting too but my temps stay high during the spotting for example today is still brown spotting and my temp is 37.80. What are your temps dropping to? Spotting at 11DPO isn’t likely an issue as it’s enough implantation time. Spotting before that is usually an issue like I’m experiencing. I’ve had 2 pregnancies (lost 1) and my luteal before those was only 11 days. So it’s enough time to implant. X

@Loz2467 I'm so sorry for your loss, I can't begin to imagine that pain 😥
It's horrible getting your hopes up each month for the spotting to start. Sometimes I even convince myself it could be implantation which is stupid because I just get more upset when AF arrives. I starting spotting 11dpo this month, but last month it was 9dpo and the month before I'm not even sure I ovulated....all over the shop 😐
My dropped to 36.1 on 11dpo, they haven't got passed 36.8 my whole cycle! I really hope someone can shed some light on what's going on for you too...I wonder if the progesterone cream will make a difference. X

Not read full thread but I have/had this. Conceived on third and first cycles of trying (two kids) so didn’t impact my fertility but I was diagnosed with cervical
erosion as I spotted throughout both pregnancies but esp the first.

@Cactus87 it really is. I was told this was my most fertile cycle after having the procedure done and using the clomid so I got my hopes up and thought I’d have a positive test by Father’s Day so I’m feeling completely hopeless and deflated. This is month 15 I think of TTC. My first 2 pregnancies I conceived the first time twice so if you can imagine my anxiety and worry is spiralling out of control and looking for things to blame. I only got the spotting after my miscarriage too. Before that my cycles would just go straight to full flow. Sorry that was a typo with my temps I meant 36.80 etc. this morning it was 36.78 so still high with the spotting which is odd but the other ladies on here experienced that too.

i had my progesterone blood test but I went by accident at 8dpo and not 7dpo and it was 21 so I’m wondering if it’s dropping too quickly as that’s the day the brown discharge started for me.

@Isthisjustnormal thank you for that info. I’ve had my smear done and nothing was noted for cervical erosion and it was checked during my surgery too but I did read online somewhere that it can be coming from your cervix or lower uterus or something and not your lining but I just don’t know. I’m exhausted looking for answers so that’s why I thought I’d pay and get the hyterscopy and biopsy and hopefully get answers and be “cured” and then get pregnant but the fact they haven’t found anything is even harder.

@Bubblybub I got my progesterone tested on which I thought was 7dpo but looking back I think it was 8dpo. It was only 21 so so you think it’s dropping too quickly? This is the day the spotting started too? Is it likely an age thing (36) or something my miscarriage caused. It just seems strange after never having these issues before. I’m waiting for my Dr to call me at the end of the week. Hopefully!

It’ll just be hormonal basically. So anything can cause it. Just where your body isn’t making enough progesterone. Mine started at around 26 - hadnt changed anything, just started happening. So I don’t think it’s a age thing or anything. Im 30 now and it’s still the same even after having a baby. I was hoping the baby would make my hormones go into place but it didn’t! So good luck to me again when trying for my second hahahaha. Let us no what the doctor says!