Spotting at time of implantation but not implantation bleeding ...

[Bella2011]

Hi all, the months I am not TTC as my partner is working away I don't get any spotting, (maybe a day or 2 before my period). The months I do the spotting starts around the time implantation should be and lasts all the way up to my period. Could failed implantation cause spotting? Every month I hope it's implantation bleeding but it never is! I'm 34. Been trying for about a year. My Doc doesn't seem bothered about testing me for low progesterone which I here can be a cause of spotting. Thanks for any advice

From what I've read (and I've done a lot of research on the subject!), it sounds like it could be failed implantation. If it's happening every month, it could be a number of things causing it; best idea is to see your GP and see what he/she can offer in the way of tests. Don't let them fob you off, demand tests. That's what they're there for!

Thank-you for your reply. It is happening right now, the brown discharge getting more until it will inevitably turn into my period in a few days! I will make another appointment to see GP, thank-you :)

Have spoken to Doctor, she said she can't do anything until I have been TTC for at least 2 years. I am 35 this year! She also said no fertility specialist would test me for lack of progesterone. That's 2 different Doctors that have both said the same thing. Great!

Bella I have always had the kind of spotting. Even on months when I was on the pill or hadn't had and sexytime. Therefore I dispute that I could be failed implantation.

I have been taking vitamin b6 this month. 50mg every day along with a vitb complex. Although I have still had spotting (and ultimately AF) this month it has been very slight and watery. Nothing like the brown sludge I'd normally get.

As I am an old fart I have had day 3 and 21 tests done already and they were happy with my progesterone levels.

Thanks a lot Pipbin; I take B6 too. This month it has been 9 days of spotting! Turned into period today. Glad to hear you have a similar prob and your progesterone is ok. I would just like to know why it only happens to me the months I TTC and if I miss a month as my partner is away it doesn't happen (maybe a day or 2). What causes this spotting? Strange isn't it.

I hope you get a positive soon Pipbin, thanks again for your reply :)

Glad it's some help Bella
Do feel free to look at my charts here and see how the spotting compares.

Thank-you, that is helpful. My spotting/discharge pattern is a little different in that I don't have much after my period but it starts at the time impantation would be and goes on until my period starts. I always read that it's 'old blood' but it's strange that some people get it and some don't.

I do know that I have a fibroid. The only reason I know is that I had a cervical cancer scare which ended up with me having an ultrasound.
I have wondered if thats anything to do with it.

I too understand that 'brown blood is old blood' but I have no idea what that means in reality.

"I have spoken to Doctor, she said she can't do anything until I have been TTC for at least 2 years. I am 35 this year!"

No, this is just wrong on your GPs part. I would seek the advice of another GP or change GP practice. NICE guidelines on such matters are also well worth looking at.

Hi

Attila that's interesting - what are the guidelines for this? I was thinking of giving it 6 months more of desperations/frustration and sore bits before we went to see the GP, but not sure what the 'minimum' period is for asking for tests etc - does it vary by GP?

I think it varies depending on your local nhs trust? Not sure. Will look into those guidelines, thanks :)

I also had a consultant who tested for exactly that - progesterone on 5, 7, and 9dpo to see how quickly they were falling off. I think you need to see another GP!

My conception booklet from the GP says 1 year for under 35s and 6 months for over 35s, that must be based on some guidelines somewhere! I hope u get some answers soon!

Hi - i'd be interested in hearing how you get along as I have been having EXACTLY the same issue while TTC - and for us it's been over 2 years now! I've had my progesterone tested - and apparently it's fine and the fertility docs don't appear to be concerned. Can I ask if you have any issues with your weight? I'm under weight so have been convinced its linked - and my advice was to "put on weight" which hasn't happened significantly or helped.
I have read that Angus castus supplements (Holland & Barrett do them) are supposed to help so started taking them but stopped as I also heard that you should only take up until ovulation and not after in case you are preggers as its not good for baby. I've started spotting again today - like clockwork on day 22 of cycle, 8 days post ov... But have a new positive attitude - so hey it colours still be implantation right?! (few people get imp bleed tho... So unlikely!!)
GOODLUCK getting to the problem/ solution x

I used to get brown spotting in the run up to my period, it was definitely old blood as I couldn't have been pregnant. When I did pregnant, the implantation bleed was noticeably different, it was like an extremely light, one day period and the blood was red. If you are having this spotting monthly, based on my experience (which is obviously limited) I would say it is just old blood.

I'm slim (size 8) but not underweight.

Fingers crossed Teeny that it is implantation for you!

Thanks Mojito that's encouraging. The month you fell pregnant, apart from the red implantation bleed, did you have any spotting as well like usual or none?

Just read on the nice guidelines:

1.4.2.2 Women with regular menstrual cycles and more than 1 year's infertility can be offered a blood test to measure serum progesterone in the mid-luteal phase of their cycle (day 21 of a 28-day cycle) to confirm ovulation.

Also:

1.4.2.4 The use of basal body temperature charts to confirm ovulation does not reliably predict ovulation and is not recommended.

Also just seen this:

1.2.2.3 People who have not conceived after 1 year of regular unprotected sexual intercourse should be offered further clinical investigation including semen analysis and/or assessment of ovulation.

Thanks guys - hope we all get more luck soon. Is still early for us, but good to know what people (NHS people at least) think is a 'normal' time to try for. (natural pessimist...)

Bella hope you get some answers.

Just a thought - on the months you do spot, could it be that intercourse is setting it off/triggering it? Are the months with no spotting also ones that you're not seeing your partner at all?

I am also in the mysterious spotting gang, and maybe it's coincidence but vit B seems to have helped.

Hiya, Sorry for delay in replying.

In answer to your question, the month I got pregnant, no I didn't have any brown spotting. I just had a very very light red bleed a few days before my period would have been due. It lasted about 8 hours on and off. It wasn't a planned pregnancy (although v welcome) and I just presumed that it was my period arriving early. I thought the reason that it wad early and short was because we had just come back from Gambia (where we conceived) and the travel combined with malaria tablets had maybe knocked my cycle about. But no, I was pregnant and am confident in hindsight this was the implantation bleed.

Hmm Strawberry - thanks for that insight. I reckon for me it is again the unexplained "spotting" I'm sure I'll find out for definite in next few days 😒 But hey - there's always next month.
Goodluck Bella!!

Thanks everyone. I don't think intercourse sets the spotting off as it starts around the time implantation would be which is a few days after ovulation when we are trying.

That's interesting you had no spotting the month you conceived.

I just wonder what causes the spotting.

Hi All, I know this is a very old thread but did anybody get to the bottom of this? I had light pink bleed sometimes before my period and it seems to be getting worse. This time it started 8dpo and still going ...it usually turns into AF as usual.