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!!

I have had this for years and so does my sister; doctors don't seem too concerned. We ttc for 4 yrs before having DC1 and I was also told it may be something to do with pogesterone levels falling quickly after ovulation (both the spotting and the failure to conceive). I was about to start taking clomid but then found out I was pregnant! We conceived DC2 within a month of trying.

another spotter here! I had it from 3-4 days after ov off and on until a couple of days before AF when it would stop, nothing then until AF. I had this every month for 6 months after coming off the pill but still got pregnant (sadly miscarrried but this was at 9 weeks so I don't think it had anything to do with spotting).

I still had spotting after mc. I started taking a vit B complex (just a cheapo Seven Seas one from the supermarket) and it stopped. I'd already made an appointment to see the dr about it on the advice of the nurse when I had my smear. Told her I'd had spotting every month but this was the first "non-spotty" month after taking vit b, she said that a vit b deficiency can cause a hormone imbalance and it sounded like I'd cured myself. I had another couple of non-spotting cycles then got pregnant again. Had another sodding mc but was a mmc at 11 weeks so just bad luck I think.

AFAIK youu need to take vit b in a complex, something to do with one b vit being needed to help the body absorb another one.

Sorry if TMI here...

Nagoo, cervical erosion is when you get more "columnar" cells, which are the ones that produce mucus. Usually, the columnar cells are only in the middle of the cervix but in erosion/"ectropion" they are also at the edge of the cervix. This is definitely normal, and is very common especially in teenagers or women who are taking the contraceptive pill.

Cervical erosion might be responsible for spotting because these cells are more likely to bleed on contact (eg SWI). It also means you might get more cervical mucus because it is these cells which produce the mucus and you have more of them.

Hope this makes sense.

Hi,
Ive just recently joined and although posted seperate to this, noticed this thread and thought i'd see if you can help me.

Been taking Agnus Castus for about 6 months now, and started taking vit B6 about 6 weeks ago. First AF with both of these started 26th Dec on a normal 35 day cycle (roughly 32-35 days normally), but was extremely heavy. I normally last around 5-6 days, this was 11/12 days! Anyway, it stopped, everything fine until the other night I went to bed and found blood. It was red, sticky, a fair bit (wouldnve thought it was AF), it has since gone watery pink, and is now brown/stringy/bitty (sorry TMI). It started 16 days after my AF. I've never had this before and as I've no pain at all (just mild cramps night it started then nothing) I've ruled out ov cyst bursting. I did have a dodgy PCOS diagnosis almost 3 yrs ago, based on a single blood test, while thyroid meds were lowered and was still breast feeding-not sure how 'reliable' that was. So although I know through my cousin PCOS can cause this bleeding, I dont think it's that...but what could it be? Im reluctant to go DR's as i'll probably just get fobbed off again.

(just to add after having no ttc problem in the past-we have 5 aged 10,8,6,4&3 and an angel who would be 7-we are into our 3rd year ttc! with no explanantion or entitlement to any investigation because we have kids).

thankyou jennifer :)

sunshinesue - you've reminded me that I started taking a Boots own brand vit B complex supplement before I conceived DC1. It may be a coincidence but I do remember reading about it helping to reduce hormone fluctuations (at that point I was prepared to try anything!) Good luck to those of you ttc.

Oh that's good to hear bossy I just bought a B vit complex yesterday. So fingers crossed!

I was told by my DR the reason i get brown/blackish spotting is that its old blood that has been stuck behind, which just didnt make its way out last time i had my TOM, as i dont have them often that sounds like something that makes sense to me.

Hi

I have been TTC for 18 months and not a whisper of a pregnancy.

My "spotting" usually lasts about 7 days before before I get a proper heavy flow. TMI - Once or twice a day, when I go to the toilet, I find that a tiny red blood clot has "fallen out of me". So when I wipe, I see bright red blood but rarely anything on a pant liner. I then get very bad cramping and proper period with a full flow, up to 7 days.

I count the spotting and the full flow as my period and it lasts up to 14 days. It usually starts 8 days after ovulation so not much of a luteal phase.

For 3 months I had acupuncture, weekly, and the spotting reduced to 1 or 2 days. Unfortunately it was very expensive and then they decided to go travelling so I haven't been able to keep it up.

GP says there is nothing wrong with my cycle (!) but I am hoping to be referred to a fertility clinic soon with the hope that they have more understanding.

Jennifer86 thanks for that very useful explanation. That would make sense for me as I get quite a lot of CM I think.

This cycle my spotting started 5 days before AF, 4 days of proper flow then 4 days tailing off spotting. So a total of 13 days. That can't be normal, can it?

Will try B vitamins to see if it helps.

Hi, another spotter here. In fact last night, which was 5 days PO (I think) there was the familiar pink tinge when I wiped, but it will be elusive now for another day or two. I had implantation bleeding with DS and had never had spotting before this year (it started with an AD) so EVERY month I think it's implantation bleeding and it drives me crazy! Onedaybaby has a good point: when do you start to count the first day of your period if you have 4 or 5 days of spotting before it arrives properly?

I spot, didnt use to when I was younger but my periods were so heavy and prolonged but I thought that was just me, also they were very painful. After I came off the pill, I started to spot more at the beginning of AF. Also they were prolonged again and it felt like something was trapping the flow.
Anyway had a chat with doc, told them I wasnt happy and also I was ttc, they sent me for bloods and hormones check. I was given the all clear, but I still wasnt happy. So the doc sent me for a scan, and there was the culprit or should I say culprits, I had several fibroids. I was told thats why I spot and also thats why my AF's are crazy long and heavy.

I had a scan when I had a dodgy smear and they found a fibroid.
I wonder if that is what caused my spotting.

How many women are spotters I wonder. I've never started with a bang. Does anyone?

pipbin and fanjo what is happening with your fibroids? Are you having them removed. I need some fibroid friends!

The lady doing the scan said that it was very small and not likely to cause a problem.
It wasn't the reason I was there so it was just left at that.
I had spotting after AF this time, this never happens, and spoke to the doctor who said that I had a clean bill of health in my lady bits and it was nothing to worry about.

Oh, and taking b vitamins. How much do you need to take? Should I supplement the preconception tablets I'm taking?

Hi, just quick update from me that I've taken a low dose of ginseng this month and bar a couple of days of the faintest bit of colour haven't had any spotting. Due on tomorrow.

One question, luteal phases: are they meant to be fixed or varying? Mine have ranged from 11 - 14 days, is that normal to have that variation?

Hi all!

Sorry I haven't posted in a while.

Just wanted to give an update too. This month I had acupuncture on CD23 (3dpo).

I am now on CD29 and am getting very pale pink/brown cm. started yesterday (8dpo) with one wipe of pink tinged cm. my spotting doesn't usually start until 10/11dpo and it usually starts with one wipe of red fresh blood (which I can tell is coming due to stronger cramps) and then goes to brown/ old blood. This time, while I've been getting mild cramps, there wasn't the same indication that it would start.

So all in all, the acupuncture seems to have changed the spotting but made it come earlier hmmm... I'm having another session tomorrow so I shall ask the lady if this is normal

Oh Why that must be disappointing but let's hope that it's just a sign of that the acupuncture is able to affect your cycle and that it will settle.

My spotting started yesterday at 10dpo cycle day 25 :( as usual I had really got my hopes up but am expecting AF to start later today or tomorrow. Trying very hard to be positive - at least I didn't waste any tests this month!!

Really hope to hear some positive stories from fellow spotters!

I had spotting, or a flow of old blood (though occasionally fresh) for up to two weeks before af. I could sort of tell when the real period started, but did think maybe I just have very long periods. I started charting to see what was going on. the pattern was i started bleeding just after ovulation, then real period after about 2 weeks of this.

after a year or so my brilliant gp got my an appt at the gynea clinic of the maternity hospital. I was in and out over a few months having scans and so on. nothing conclusive, they thought there may be a small water filled cyst but nothing serious.

last September I had the old blood spotting as usual. but I could somehow tell it didn't turn into real af and charting confirmed this. we weren't ttc. The day my temp was due to go up i got a bfp! this was a Saturday and I had a follow up appt at the hospital on the Monday. the consultant said that water filled cysts can come and go, nothing to worry about etc. I said ok, and also i just had a bfp! She took me to the scan dept and the little bean was there!

as I was still bleeding usually old blood I had a few early scans, there was an area inside the womb near the baby where the bleed seemed to be coming from. I bled around the time my af was due for the first 3 months.

perfect pregnancy and birth, dd now 7mo and chatting to herself in cot, had better go get her!

good luck everyone!

PS af started again in November, am still bfing, no spotting just normal cycle.

This thread has really interested me as now Metformin has regulated my cycle to 41 days, on day 38, 39, and 40 I get a sort of red spotting.
Not enough to need to wear a liner or anything, just a little noticeable when I wipe, then on day 41 AF starts in full flow.

Any advise as to what is going on, and is my cycle really 41 days, or does the first day of spotting count as the first day of the cycle????!

Thanks M'snetters

pippi that's what I was going to ask as well - does anyone know what the definitive answer is on when to start counting your cycle from? Is it the first day of spotting? It's so light that it somehow just seems "wrong"

I've read lots of places that say count from 1st day of full flow, also if you use the fertility friend site and add in all your details like temps, spotting, periods, cm etc it calculates your day 1 for you (always been on 1st day of actual period days on my charts) and tells you when you ovulate.

pippi and tue the only way to tell when you have spotting before is by charting. I could somehow tell the difference between the spotting and the real AF and the temp change corresponded with this. I was in a real mess before I started charting but after a cycle I knew where I was. Day one of real AF is cycle day 1.

I remember being very worried, apart from the inconvenience (to say the least!) of spotting so much, about the possibility that I may be infertile. I think I started taking agnus castus (not recommended when ttc I think, but I wasn't) to try to sort my cycle out. Accupuncture helped a bit over time. I remember wanting to sort it out as I thought I'd want to ttc in a few years, then I fell pregnant by surprise.

This book is great for explaining it all, and there is a website too.

Thank you very much for this story alhoa I think the trouble is that when people have spotting and arent trying they maybe dont notice as much or spotters get pregnant and don't think to post on threads like these beacuse they have other things to think about! So it is so helpful for you to post this.

I can't remember if I said, after my lap and dye in December (where they found a fibroid) I had zero spotting before my period. It just started. How mysterious our bodies are.