Ovulation bleed? vs implantation? vs something I should be worried about?

[jennifer86]

Hi

We're on cycle 21 of TTC and I've lurked on these boards for most of this time but not posted anything recently. Just starting to go through fertility investigations with GP, but I've stopped temping as I found it too stressful and frustrating. My cycle is usually regular 28 days, and I'm currently on day 20 of the cycle (dreaded 2 week wait!!). This month I had a bleed on day 16, it was fresh red blood and quite a lot, like the start of a period, but only lasted about 4hrs. I never bleed particularly heavily on a period, though, so by quite heavy I mean this was probably about 10-20mls in total. No associated pain or anything.

This has happened twice before during our 21 months of TTC, but is usually later in the cycle maybe around day 22, and each time I have put it down to implantation (and it has been followed about a week later by a few days of nausea and/or vomiting and/or weird mucus changes) but unfortunately never by a BFP.

Has anyone ever experienced ovulation bleeding? I assumed it would happen every cycle if this is what caused it, and that it might be brownish but this was bright red fresh blood. What about implantation bleeding? How do people's experiences of each of those vary? And at what point do I need to see the GP and ask for (more!) investigations (due to bleeding between my periods, rather than for fertility investigations as such)? Just wanted to canvas some opinions on this as I think my GP already thinks I'm obsessed with TTC!!

Thanks for your help.

Hiya. I've had ovulation bleeding once, which was thick mucus stained with brown blood, so didn't resemble a period. I hope what you had was implantation bleeding. Good luck.

Thanks for your reply. I do really hope it was implantation but I'm very aware it was quite early in my cycle for that - But maybe I ovulated early [clutching at straws smiley].
Anyone else have any experience of either of ovulation bleeding or implantation bleeding?

I've had ovulation bleeding about 6 times in the last 3 years just a bit f red blood when I wiped.

Most people don't get red blood - it's usually pinkish or brown discharge. BUT some people on here have written about having red blood. If I were you, I'd wait until AF due. If AF doesn't arrive and you test positive, I wouldn't worry about this little bleed. If AF doesn't arrive and you test negative or if she does arrive, I'd suggest going to the GP re weird bleeding. Good luck - fingers crossed you're on your way to a BFP.

raz think you are right it was prob more pinkish!

I normally get it, u usually in my case mixes with ewcm and once it has been quite bright. I get it around cd 12-16

Thanks for all your responses. I guess I just have to wait a couple of weeks and I'll know either way... Can't stand the 2ww, though!

Why has the GP not referred you as a couple to a gynae cons at a subfertility unit?.

Bleeding between periods should always be checked out further by a gynae to establish the actual cause. That needs to be flagged up even though it has happened only twice.

It may be also that there are male factor problems which have prevented conception to date. GP should be referring you now rather than faffing about with tests which more often than not need repeating in hospital.

In this area you have to have had certain tests (LH/FSH, day 21 progesterone, semen analysis etc) before you can be referred so that they have all the information ready for your fertility clinic appointment and they can actually put a treatment plan in place rather than having to start with getting your blood tests. I know things are done differently in different areas, though, and I know that the budget for fertility services here is much less than in other areas of the country, so that may have something to do with it.

I will make an appt to discuss the bleeding, though, as whether it has anything to do with TTC or not it is starting to worry me a bit.

Thanks for your concern.