Luteal phase spotting -what's is all about?

[selina37]

So that really.... I seem to get it every month. Some months a little more than others.

I think I have cervical ectropian so that may be the cause.

There's so much talk of implantation bleeding, and I even know myself I bled before my BFP with last child (but 10 years ago now).

Every month is so regimented it seems. What I'm trying to ask is, is there anyone who gets this usual spotting and still got a BFP?

TIA 🤗

My spotting is caused by my progesterone levels dropping too soon in the LP. Have you had day 21 bloods done?

It was also an indicator that I wasn't ovulating, & a scan confirmed I have PCO. Still have pretty regular periods though.

Oh thanks for your quick reply!

I had blood tests and everything came back normal. I had a scan too and apparently my ovary looked like it had ovulated. It was enlarged apparently.
I've had a referral to a clinic and hoping to get a due test..?

All doctors just day spotting is 'hormonal' 🙄

Are you TTC @HeyHeyWhatever?

Yes, had 6 failed rounds of Clomid with progesterone support. Our first IVF cycle was cancelled last month.

The hospital seemed interested enough in the spotting to prescribe the progesterone. Side effects were absolutely horrendous though.

The thinking was the drop in progesterone levels could potentially prevent implantation. I don't know how much evidence there's is to support that though.

Oh gosh, sounds like you've had a journey, now this covid situation to have put a stop to your IVF... 😔

Did the progesterone help with the spotting? Despite the side effects...

Hey there is a short luteal phase thread on here which might be of interest to you. Also read that Agnus castus is good to prevent spotting but you'd probably need to look into whether it's ok to take it with the other things you've been prescribed
To give you some hope, since coming off the pill last October I had spotting before every period, to the point that it was sometimes 8 days before but never had this in the past before I went on the pill. I was really concerned and was going to get it looked into but got a BFP a week ago. Before the BFP I also had a few days of it so thought AF was on its way but never arrived this time. It's still early days but seems it's still possible to get pregnant with spotting. Sending you the best of luck xx

Hi, I also have luteal phase spotting, only since I started ttc in January after a chemical pregnancy though. Since then it has started at 9dpo and 8dpo, and this month at 6dpo. I cried. This month I've also had mild and then strong cramps with the spotting so no idea what is going on other than I'm 99% sure I'm not pregnant. It is driving me nuts. I will see the dr in two months if I can to run some tests, as I am 38. Until then I am going to try and relax and put away my apps as ttc combined with lockdown is making me obsessive and very unhappy when I realise no bfp is in sight. The plan was always to just see what happened but that became impossible, especially after the chemical.

I have googled this obsessively and found several threads confirming that spotting does not interfere, always, with ttc. The most encouraging one said that the spotting is nothing to do with AF and so not to worry, and that made me feel calmer about it all. However after the cramps I had this month I find it hard to believe that in my case. I have been worried about progesterone but have also heard it is not often prescribed in the uk.

Now AF is due, my cramps have dwindled to very mild. I wish it would just hurry up so I can get on with things x

@Natt99 congratulations! Lovely for you!

That does give me hope. It's just so hard to believe it could happen every month!

Thank you for your comment 🙂 x

@oliveroses it's so frustrating. I have heard from many doctors it's just hormonal and they've not seemed bothered that it could affect fertility.

I also know it's possible as I myself had spotting (quite a bit) when pregnant with last child, but that was 10 years ago, so it somehow makes me find it difficult to believe it could happen now (and now of course I am older).

@oliveroses I think the presence of progesterone in the luteal phase causes cramps (sometimes due to slower digestion) and unfortunately PMS symptoms can be similar to early pregnancy.

@selina37 that should be encouraging that you have had spotting followed by a pregnancy before - it certainly encourages me! And thank you for your note that progesterone can cause cramping. That also is good to know and makes me feel better about my weird new symptoms in the luteal phase. I think I have to be optimistic and just keep going! I feel fine about the outcome in the three other weeks of my cycle, even when AF arrives. It's just that crashing gloom when the spotting arrives, and the second guessing ... good luck to you. X

@oliveroses good point, we're confident in the rest of our cycle. We have to believe. Our bodies know what go to after all.

We'll get there. Xxx

@selina37 I feel your pain with spotting!

I usually spot for 2-3 days before my period (ever since I came off the pill last year), but randomly last month I had 6 days before which was horrible!

This month I started taking Vitamin B6 which is meant to help raise progesterone and stop spotting, but I have just started spotting today so guess it hasn't worked. 8dpo for me and AF not due until next Wednesday!

I've never worried too much about it before, but after 5 months TTC I'm worried it could be stopping implantation.

Always seems to start off really light and then get heavier. Also varies between pink red and brown!

@H8624 I thought about a vitamin b supplement too! Do you know if it's ok to take with a pregnancy vit too? I am taking the pregnacare pill which contains it but not sure if I can double up.

@oliveroses I take 50mg a day along with the 7 seas pre conception as the vitamins only seem to have a tiny amount I imagine it's fine.

@H8624 thank you. Sorry it hasn't worked for you this month - maybe it needs some time to build up x

@oliveroses thanks! Yes I imagine it may take time to build up.

Strangely it's eased off about now (the spotting I had earlier) - id swear my cycles were normal until I started TTC and now they're keeping me in my toes!

5 months trying and nothing tho has me starting to get worried x

Hey @H8624 🙋🏼‍♀️
Is it just a simple B6 supplement?

My spotting seems to come, red/dark brown and seems to disappear before AF, rather than get heavier before AF.

I've been trying 1.5 years or so, but I'm 39. 😞

@selina37 yes I bought it from Holland and Barrett just vitamin B6 50mg. You can also get 100mg doses I think.

My spotting has completely gone now. It's weird it always starts after a bowel movement (sorry I know that sounds weird!) and then just continues until AF.

@H8624 yes! That's when mine starts - after a BM. I thought that was perhaps to do with having a cervical ectropian, ie the pressure making the cervix bleed, in which case, hopefully it's not from the uterus at all 🤔

@selina37 oh really? Thought I was the only one!

No you're not the only one! Only ever happens in luteal phase though...

hi, just checking in. @H8624 did your spotting go and not come back?

I just read this thread, which was interesting

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/conception/3491557-B-Vitamins-for-pre-AF-spotting-and-short-luteal-phase

I'm going to follow your lead, have ordered some b6. If I can feel like by taking vits I'm a little bit back in the driving wheel, that will be a huge help!

@oliveroses nope still spotting sadly. 3rd day of it now and AF is due Monday-Wednesday so assuming I'm out. It's bright red now and getting heavier!

Thanks for the link to that thread interesting to read that people had success, and perhaps it takes more than one month to start working!