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Conception

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Original poster

Spotting up to a week before period

54 replies

FranklinOo86 · 25/08/2020 12:21

Hi all,
After numerous internet searches and tests at the doctors, I have decided to come here for advice or perhaps just reassurance?
I am 34 and have been TTC for 18 months now with no luck, we are having tests under a fertility clinic. However since coming off of the pill femodene over 2 years ago, I have found that my cycle has now changed, every month I have brown spotting and sometimes even bright red bleeding (especially after a number2, sorry tmi) for anything from 4 days to a week before my actual period starts. All my hormone levels have come back as normal and scans have shown no internal issues. Has anyone else had this and found a cure/solution? I'm really worried this will hinder our chances of conceiving naturally or even with IVF, if that is the path we have to go down. Before being on the pill I was so regular, every 28 days for 7 days without fail, and no spotting.
I appreciate any advise anyone has!

OP posts:

PrimeraVez · 25/08/2020 12:26

Hi, I'm not TTC but have recently had the same thing. My OB/GYN (I'm not in the UK) said it was most likely one of two things: polyps or low progesterone.

She did a quick internal scan which didn't show polyps so she prescribed me progesterone to take from day 20 in my cycle. This is my first month since so let's see how it goes.

Original poster

FranklinOo86 · 25/08/2020 12:32

@PrimeraVez

Hi, I'm not TTC but have recently had the same thing. My OB/GYN (I'm not in the UK) said it was most likely one of two things: polyps or low progesterone.

She did a quick internal scan which didn't show polyps so she prescribed me progesterone to take from day 20 in my cycle. This is my first month since so let's see how it goes.

oh I do hope it works for you. I had bloods taken on day 21 of my cycle to check progesterone levels and they came back as normal. Obviously that's great, but I kind of hoped that they'd come back with an issue so I knew what the problem was. I realise that sounds ridiculous, as of course I don't want to have problems, but not knowing what's wrong is frustrating. fingers crossed for you!

OP posts:

BobbingAlong91 · 25/08/2020 19:05

Hi @FranklinOo86!

Sorry to hear you are also going through this. Most months I spot before AF too - sometimes a week before, sometimes a couple of days, and once or twice 10 days before! The spotting is brown, but sometimes I bleed red after sex. Like you, my hormone tests came back normal, as did my smear.

I have had this problem about 3 years ago and it turned out to be cervical erosions/ectropions. It was treated with silver nitrate and I had no more issues until now, so suspect the treatment has just worn off or I have new erosions. Currently waiting on a gynae referral to check. Perhaps something to ask your GP about?

Best of luck on your TTC journey!

selina37 · 25/08/2020 22:38

Same here! Cervical erosion/ectropy. Doesn't affect fertility but annoying and disheartening. I'm the same, can bleed after sex or after a number 2 😐

Original poster

FranklinOo86 · 26/08/2020 08:26

Oh wow those are exactly the same as my symptoms too, its not every time after sex, but sometimes its way worse than others.

Can I ask how you came to be diagnosed? I am due a smear test next month and wonder if it is something that will be picked up during the examination? I do worry about going to the doctors armed with information I sourced myself on the internet, they must absolutely hate it when people google symptoms!!

Its a huge reassurance to read that it doesn't affect fertility, but yes, it is annoying. Its like 2 weeks worth of period in a month. :(

OP posts:

lawandgin · 26/08/2020 10:23

Hi OP. I have similar symptoms and came off of Feomdene at the end of May. I too have an erosion. I have been told it's from being on hormonal contraceptives and to be honest, I've put up with it for years thinking they wouldn't do anything about it. Now I know that many women have them and they are treated and I regret not standing up for myself before! I am currently waiting for my smear results and after that I am planning on asking for a referral to gynae. I bled so much at my smear and sometimes bleed a lot after sex and it can be very painful too.

sarahc336 · 26/08/2020 10:25

It could be more of a cervix problem, so defo get yo ur smear done if your hormone levels have come back normal. Do you ever bleed more after sex? Xx

Original poster

FranklinOo86 · 26/08/2020 11:39

@lawandgin

Hi @lawandgin First of all, its nice to hear of someone else having been on Femodene, you would not believe the research I have done, to try and see if that was what was causing these issues!! No one seems to have heard of it!!

I am sorry you are going through this too, it really is not nice at all, however I am fortunate in as much as it doesn't appear to be painful. the amount of blood after sex though can sometimes be insane, like full on murder scene, its actually embarrassing.

Fingers crossed they refer you and it gets fixed!!

OP posts:

Original poster

FranklinOo86 · 26/08/2020 11:45

@sarahc336 I am pretty on it with smears am up to date, just waiting for my latest letter so I can get booked in. I will ask the nurse to get right in there, and have a bloody good look, she will not be allowed out until she finds the cause!!

Yes, sometimes I will have just a small amount of blood after sex, like not noticeable until you wipe afterwards (soz) other times its like a scene from carrie, but it pretty much stops right away.

OP posts:

unicornpower · 26/08/2020 11:48

Have you started having your tests now? When we first got referred to the clinic i had a Cervical swab and an internal ultrasound so I think they would pick up whats going on for you!

I used to spot for 4-5 days prior to my period but i had a miscarriage in June and it seems to have sorted it out now-i also take pregnacare pre conception vitamins so not sure if they have helped. Yours sounds worse though with the bleeding after sex etc, i hope you get the answers soon x

Original poster

FranklinOo86 · 26/08/2020 12:12

@unicornpower
Yes we have, Ive had an internal scan and a hicosy, as well as bloods taken for all my levels, which have all come back as normal. We have a second consultation mid September, so if he has any findings perhaps I will hear about it then!?

OP posts:

lawandgin · 26/08/2020 13:32

@FranklinOo86 it's horrible isn't it! TMI but the pain only tends to be from certain positions and is worse with deep penetration - which is a shame and pretty frustrating 😂 I think it has improved slightly since coming off Femodene, but it's definitely still there! It makes me laugh because the nurse always asks about pain and bleeding, to which I always answer yes, but them she doesn't seem concerned. My worry is that if I did have potentially nasty bleeding or pain, I would probably just assume it was the erosion, which seems a bit dangerous to me.

unicornpower · 26/08/2020 13:55

@FranklinOo86 I THINK so, I'm pretty sure the nurse said everything looked okay but they have to have it validated by a consultant and due to a cock up at my clinic they never sent a follow up so i had to chase and now its in October! nightmare. I hope you get sorted soon and get some flipping answers

BobbingAlong91 · 26/08/2020 16:00

Sorry, I’m in Canada so it can take me a while to reply 😴 the first time I was diagnosed was a pain in the 🍑 My main symptom was the bleeding after sex so the Dr (I was in the UK at this point) did a smear but the lab threw it away because I was under 25. Anyway, I pretty much kicked and screamed until I was sent for a colposcopy, where it was eventually diagnosed. This time, they are going through a process of elimination to make sure it’s nothing more sinister, which is great but taking time!

Same as you though @FranklinOo86 - sometimes the post-sex bleed is barely anything and other times, it’s a bloodbath and so embarrassing! Tbh, I’ve noticed that more since we stopped using contraception, so wonder if it’s just looks worse/more because it’s a...errr...mixed up with other things.

Oh, if it matters, mine started about a year after coming off cerazette. It took a really long time for my body to go back to normal

LT103 · 26/08/2020 18:10

Not much help but I get the same. I can spot anything from 3-7 days before period. Had d21 progesterone which is all fine so for now, just thinking it’s normal for me

Original poster

FranklinOo86 · 27/08/2020 07:51

@BobbingAlong91 I can't believe they threw out your smear!!!
It is starting to look like it's linked to hormonal contraceptives. I do wish I had never taken the bloomin things to start with now.

Did the treatment hurt when you had the nitrate? x

OP posts:

Original poster

FranklinOo86 · 27/08/2020 07:57

@LT103 Aw its such a nuisance isn't it, I was starting to accept that this must be my new normal since coming off the pill, after all I am now 7 years older, but I have a niggle. A two week period is not normal, and I really don't want to just put up with it if there is a solution. x

OP posts:

selina37 · 27/08/2020 10:46

I definitely think it's hormone related after coming off the pill that's the cause. As soon as I came off the pill, I constantly had 'muddy' discharge. And now I get luteal phase spotting and spotting after sex/BM. Sometimes sex is, as some of you say, a blood bath. So embarrassing and disheartening at the same time.

BobbingAlong91 · 27/08/2020 15:29

@FranklinOo86 it was so frustrating! The nitrate was totally painless though ☺️

I do hope we can all get it sorted out ASAP! Two weeks of blood is not the one... do update with how you get on!

Original poster

FranklinOo86 · 27/08/2020 15:53

@BobbingAlong91 thank you, its good to know it wasn't painful!!

If nothing else its SO reassuring finding people who are going through the same things, its helped me no end the past few days, what a nice little community this is, thank you all. x

OP posts:

Original poster

FranklinOo86 · 27/08/2020 15:56

@selina37

Have you been to the doctors with your symptoms? x

OP posts:

selina37 · 27/08/2020 17:25

I've had numerous nurses and experts look up there 🙈 and they all say erosion/ectropy. I've had hormone tests and they are all fine. Doctors say spotting before a period is normal too.

It can be treated with silver I believe but I haven't opted to do this yet as I'm TTC so don't want that interference at the moment.

I tend to just make sure sex is gentler at that time of the month and I try not to worry if it happens after a BM.

LT103 · 27/08/2020 17:49

I’ve just learned to a vet it’s normal for me. I don’t bleed as such before my period. It’s only really there in toilet paper. The only bit that annoys me as it ruins the fun of testing/waiting to see if I’m pregnant cow I start spotting before I can even test so I know I’m out

LT103 · 27/08/2020 18:02

Sorry. So many typos 🙈🙈

Elsiebear90 · 27/08/2020 18:06

I have this, can be spotting for over a week before my period and about 3/4 days after so I bleed for about half the year. I did have a cervical erosion that was treated as I was bleeding during sex and when going to the toilet, but I still spot now and it’s old brown blood (was red fresh blood when I had my erosion). Should add that I have endometriosis and have been told it’s probably due to that.

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