Long-time luteal spotter - anyone else?

[Chooklass]

Hi ladies,

Since my early 20s I've always had heavy spotting from ovation to AF. 36 now, TTC for first time and worried this is a problem. Just wondering if any other ladies out there with same problem who can offer mutual support! Doc says not a problem as long as I've a regular cycle (which I do) and only on cycle 3 of TTC so early days. I just don't see how bean will ever stick if I bleed so much. I've read it can be due to low progesterone, so started taking vit B complex and following a low-GI hormone-balancing type diet. Any advice greatly appreciated! Xx

@Betsyboo87 I've not tried temping and was thinking that might be next cycle's experiment for me! Since I spot from 3dpo I aslo think I'll spot if pg as my body wouldn't know at that stage. Only time will tell! No new symptoms this month, but I don't think there's anything left!!

Monthly update for my spotting thread! On TTC cycle 6. Spotted around ovulation as normal but stopped at 2dpo and nothing since! Now 6dpo. First time this had ever happened to me. Unfortunately DP has been away so no BDing since 4/5 days before OV - so not impossible but highly unlikely to get BFP this month. I've written this cycle off but very curious why my spotting should stop for the first time ever! If we'd been BDing at the right time I'd have seriously high hopes right now!

I’ve been meaning to update too! That’s great that you’ve not had so much spotting. 4/5 days before ov is still a possibility. How certain are you of your ov date?

Last cycle I didn’t start spotting until 10dpo instead of my usual 7/8 so if it’s decreasing I’m happy. It was also lighter than usual and I had one spot free day before af. Currently 4dpo so I will what this cycle brings.

Hi Betsy! Glad your spotting decreased a bit too! I used CB digi opk so fairly sure of OV. Got smiley faces last weekend so assuming OV on Monday. I'd been hoping for an earlier OV this month so we had a chance, but sods law it was later than usual! Weirdly, my spotting last month was heaviest ever so things down there are obviously a bit unsettled (though actual periods still regular). Just about to pass the 6 months mark TTC so will go to GP again soon. Hope your spotting continues to behave!

Chooklass, just read the thread. It’s worth another trip to the GP. If you’re progesterone was tested on day 21 but your cycle was longer than usual (ie the average 28 days?), then that sounds like the right time to test. If it was ‘inconclusive’, you might struggle with low progesterone. Good luck!

Hi JoJoSM2, thanks for your reply, I got 'day 21' bloods done twice. First time was inconclusive (bloods taken on day 18, which would normally be 7 days before AF but cycle turned out longer), 2nd time was exactly 7 days before period and results fine. It seems everyone has difficulty persuading GPs to take the idea of low progesterone seriously but it's always mentioned online as a possible cause. As I'm 36 and have now been TTC 6 months my GP will hopefully do more tests soon. X

Chooklass how did your last cycle go? Mine ended in af as usual.... I started spotting around 9dpo for a few days then I had a couple of days of nothing which got my hopes up. Seems to be my new normal though!

Hi Betsy! Same here - cycle 7 for me now and excitement defo worn off! I started spotting just after I posted last month on 7dpo then spotted as normal til AF. Last 2 months I've had quite heavy red spotting as well as usual brown so will go back to gp soon. Just awaiting DPs SA as gp said we need that checked before any more investigations on me. What cycle are you on now? Are you due any more tests or trying anything new this month? I'm trying not to care this month!!

We’ve been ttc since Jan.... I’ve lost count of the cycles but this has been the hardest. The novelty has completely worn off! I don’t think I have anything left to try. I did really well with water last month so will try to continue this month. Yes and trying not to care!

We’re definitely going to go for more investigations in the new year. We live abroad and can self refer so we’ll go to a fertility specialist. I didn’t find the gynae I’ve seen over helpful.

It's hard to keep staying positive! I know 7 months isn't hugely long but everyone else I know has got pregnant within a couple of months, even 2 mates in their 40s. We will get there!

Update. On cycle 8 or 9 now. DHs SA 'poor' so we've been referred to fertility clinic. So it seems my spotting may be least of our worries! Think I'll shift my lurking from TTC boards to infertility boards for now ☹️

Sorry to hear that Chooklass. We’re on cycle 11 and suspect I may be joining you over there soon. Wishing all the best on your ttc journey x

A little update: still TTC, and still spotting but diagnosed with PCOS and possible endometriosis at first fertility appt. so maybe, finally, getting closer to figuring out the problem. Been on low sugar diet for a couple of months which seems to be helping period pains, but not convinced it's helping spotting yet. Despite GPs insistence that spotting so much isn't a problem, my fertility consultant seems to be taking me seriously. Next step is hycosy to see if tubes are blocked. I will try and keep updating now and then as I hate threads where you never know what happened!

You still around @Betsyboo87 ?

Hey @Chooklass! I haven’t been in the boards for ages but randomly decided to check in. Still ttc though...

I’ve had some more testing. My progesterone is on the low side so I’ve been prescribed tablets which I’m on my third cycle of taking. They’ve successfully stopped the spotting but still no bfp. After 18 months of being certain my spotting was the problem I’m now not so sure. I should try to relax and give it time but unfortunately I hear the clock ticking. I have an appointment in a few weeks with my gynae so I’ll update again the.

I’m sorry to hear you haven’t had your bfp yet either. It sounds like you’re moving forward too though which is positive and it’s great that your specialist is taking the spotting seriously. I hope the hycosy goes ok.

With my googling addiction I hate it when I don’t get to know the outcome too!

Hey @Betsyboo87 ! Nice to hear from you - but sorry you haven't had a BFP yet either. Must be frustrating that your spotting has finally stopped but still no BFP - still hopefully getting closer to the problem. I had hysteroscopy last week and have been spotting since. OV today, I think, so who knows what spotting will be like this cycle as I usually don't start til 5dpo-ish.

I read this thread ages ago as a fellow luteal spotter and thought I'd add a post in case it gives anyone else hope/reassurance.

As a teenager I don't think I ever spotted, but when I came off the pill the best part of 24 months ago I started to. After a few cycles it was from 5-6 DPO usually. I was then diagnosed with PCOS. I had tried vit B6, vit D and nothing helped it. Got put on metformin 1500mg at the start of August and was up to that dose before my Aug/Sept cycle. Still spotting...

Mine would usually be brown but get quite heavy at times, so I'd be using light flow tampons and it would tend to get heavier and then red eventually. The occasional day of nothing after a few days spotting then AF shows herself.

This month I had spotting as usual, even had a bit of a gush one morning which was red and a few days later some brown slightly clotty or mucousy spotting (sorry I know this is TMI!) but low and behold, AF wasn't showing up. POAS on the Tuesday night and done a few more yesterday and I have a BFP...fingers crossed obviously, but I had got into my head that if I saw spotting I was out, which definitely wasn't the case for me. Bodies are so peculiar, but I think this thread is great for anyone who is worried about spotting. My consultant wasn't worried either.

Best of luck to everyone worrying about spotting, it was really worrying me

@OrcinusOrca
So you're pregnant and spotting? I'm a spotter too. Up to 5 days before my period. Seen a gazillion specialists and they all say don't worry about it. I'm now pregnant (just 3 weeks since ovulation) been trying for 2 years! and I'm spotting brown as usual. It started around the time my AF should be arriving. I assumed it could just be implantation but now I'm worried it's low progesterone 😒

@HJ82 I'm not spotting now but it only stopped in the last couple of days. Sounds like you're a week ahead of me? If it's not red I wouldn't panic, especially if it's consistently lingered. Apparently fibroids can cause it, I don't think I have any though no one mentioned it during my ultrasound or hycosy. It's stressful isn't it xx

@OrcinusOrca thanks. I always spot before my period. Apart from when I had ivf but I had progesterone sups then. Had a million tests and lap etc etc. Nothing wrong apart from spotting before period. ttc for 2 years now. Drs just fob off the low progesterone argument.

Congratulations @OrcinusOrca and @HJ82 ! It's such a relief to hear stories of spotters getting pregnant. I've recently passed the 1.5 year ttc milestone so need all the tales of hope I can get! 😊

So I had a follow up fertility appt last week and the doc agreed to let me try progesterone pessaries for a couple of cycles. Will update with results at some point! (TTC 20ish months now)

Another update. Still no BFP ...sigh. Getting the progesterone supplements was a long drawn-out saga but I've just finished my first cycle of them. BFN. But - barely any spotting, for the first time ever! So it looks like there is definitely a link between low progesterone and spotting, for me anyway. Trying progesterone for another two cycles then it's on to IVF. About 2 years TTC now.

Another update! So the progesterone didn't help with getting pregnant, but did stop my spotting (which returned on my first cycle after prog course). So there is definitely a link there. We start IVF in a couple of months. Been trying for about 2 years 4 months now.

I haven’t been on this thread for so long but thought I would also update.

I’m still spotting and still no bfp but we did our first ivf cycle in August. We had to freeze all due to a risk of OHSS but we’re now part way through a FET cycle and expecting to transfer on Monday. Currently feeling optimistic for the first time in 2 years but we’ll see what the next few weeks brings.

@Chooklass when do you start your cycle? Fingers crossed for you.

@Betsyboo87 It’s so nice to hear from you! Really sorry you are still going through all this though. We start our first cycle in December hopefully. First IVF appt in a few weeks so will hopefully find out more about timings then. Got everything crossed for your FET cycle - how has it all been? I’m dreading all the hormones and procedures to be honest, not sure whether I’ll have to tell work. Have you needed much time off? Good luck! X