Spotting before BFP?

[Stepmama4]

Hi ladies,
My first ever post! New to ttc, and I have some concerns about spotting during my luteal phase... Every single cycle, I experience light spotting (pink or light brown) beginning around 7DPO. It will last for 3-4 days, and then suddenly stop. AF will then typically arrive on 14DPO full force.

This was my first month ttc, and I'm experiencing the exact SAME spotting as usual, possibly slightly lighter than usual. Today I am 9DPO. Has anyone here experienced the same spotting (which they have every month) and ended up getting a BFP after the spotting?

Hi @Stepmama4
I’m afraid I can’t give you any hope atm because I haven’t had my BFP yet, but I experience the exact same spotting as you around the same time and the same length.
How old are? How long has the spotting happened for you?
I’ve been reading into it for ages now and have read many posts from women who experience pre AF spotting and go onto get their BFP, either whilst still having spotting that month, or none.
Which gives me hope!

One question I can’t seem to find an answer to is determining my luteal phase. Does this stop once spotting starts, or when AF arrives? If LP stops when spotting starts then that would only mean a 7 day LP which would be concerning... do you know anymore about this?

Hi @cat8986,
I am 34 years old, and have never been pregnant before. I've only been trying for one month. The spotting has been happening for as long as I can remember... the last 10 years at least? I've had regular pap smears and I always come out with no issues. But I've never had hormones tested for fertility before, as I've never tried to conceive until very recently. I have read a lot about possible low progesterone or maybe estrogen dominance, or low dopamine... It all sounds so overwhelming, and I don't know where to start.
Regarding your question about LP, from my understanding- the luteal phase ends when the full flow begins. So if you get your full flow on a Tuesday, then Monday was the last day of your luteal phase.

I have this too. I've had it for the past 6 years and it's so so annoying. I never know when the first day of my cycle is because of it.

We started TTC in January. CD1 was 1st Jan and I tested at 10DPO last Wednesday - negative. I started lighter than usual brown spotting last Thursday so I just thought I was out.

I had felt nausea all week so tested again on Sunday cause I just had a feeling and it was a strong positive. The spotting has stopped now. My period was due yesterday.

I also have a little boy who is 3 and when we conceived him I was experiencing the same spotting as you described

@pinkflamingo86 Congratulations! That is so exciting!!!! :-) Really happy for you.
Thanks for your message. You’ve restored a little bit of hope for me.
Just curious, have you ever gotten answers from your doctor concerning the spotting? I am curious if it could be low progesterone...

I have never had an answer or any concern other than - it's normal for your cycle to change as you get older! I'm 32 so similar age to you. I've had bloods and an internal scan done before I had my first baby to investigate the spotting - all clear. Clear smears too like you. They even did the progesterone 21 day check I think it's called - that was fine.

Sorry if TMI but I haven't used ovulation tests because I've tried to stay chilled about it and we have been very lucky to get pregnant quickly but I found looking at the pictures of different cervical mucus gives me a good idea when I'm ovulating - if you just google cervical mucus fertility and look on images you will see what I mean.

Honestly when I first started experiencing the spotting I was convinced it was the start of early menopause and got myself so wound up but it turns out it was nothing to worry about so I hope you will have the same news as me soon. Xxx

Just to add... for the first year after I had given birth I had totally normal periods with none of this spotting beforehand. Normal 28 day cycles with no weird precursor spotting beforehand.

I thought I was cured... but then it returned!

Thanks so much for your message.
As for ovulation timing, use the OPK Test strips, and therefore always know when my ovulation is happening. I also feel loads of cramps right when it happens... normally cd12 for me. I’m so happy to hear that you didn’t have trouble conceiving, and that your progesterone tests came back normal. I really want to do that test, but I am a US expat working in the Netherlands, and they just don’t do that test unless you’ve been ttc for at least a year. So frustrating! In general I think there should be more emphasis on fertility and women’s health... I mean women should be able to know why they are bleeding, and doctors should be adamant about trying to get to the bottom of the mystery.
Today I am 10DPO, and haven’t done a test this cycle. Trying to hold off until Thursday or Friday.... if I can!

Hi, just wanted to say you've given me some hope here too. I've had spotting from 6-9dpo and I'm trying not to loose hope for a bfp. Thanks!

Hi Ladies, is there any update? I’ve been TTC now for 18 months and had spotting from 7 dpo since last July now. Had every test under the sun and we can’t Find out what it is. Never had a problem conceiving before so it’s bothering me :(

Hey ladies I'm hoping for some help i had pink spotting for 2 days very light on the day my af was due and on the 3rd day it turned brown and then completely clean. now i am a week late no sign of af i did a test when i had brown cm but it was bfn.