BFP but short luteal phase and bleeding

[NorthernLass213]

Hi all,

I’ve been TTC since September and have always had short luteal phases after birth control. This month I did soy isoflavones and baby aspirin in addition to vit c/d/prenatal as normal. At 5 dpo started having cramps (painful) and heavy dark spotting. The cramps continued and I thought I was out for this month. Spotting continued and some blood - enough to wear a tampon. I’m now 9dpo (but spotting since 5dpo) and BFP. I feel like this won’t take but is there anything I can do to stop my period coming early? Should I tell my GP? Usually I have a 7 say luteal phase.

I should also say I have had more intense symptoms this month with breast tenderness, acid reflux and fatigue, but I thought that was just more intense pre period symptoms from the isoflavones

@NorthernLass213 why do you think it won't last? I think you had implantation bleeding at 9doo, which is textbook timing, and now have a BFP! That's exciting!

I don't know if it helped or it was coincidence but I took a low dose of B6 the month before and the month I got BFP with this one, as I had 10 day luteal phase, after reading a few threads on here. It's a cheap as chips and I wasn't asking anything else other than folic acid. I don't know how it would interact with the other things you're taking but if no contraindications it could be worth a try?

@Bundaberg84 I just feel as I’m still spotting my period will start! Everything I’ve read on implantation bleeding says it’s light and lasts a day or two. This is heavy heavy spotting/blood and it’s going on 4/5 days! I’ll stay positive though :).

@8dpwoah I have been taking b6 too - forgot to mention. Tried just 50mg daily for a few months and no change in length, but glad it worked for you and congrats on the BFP!

Got a positive on clear blue today but now spotting has turned to light red bleeding. I wonder if I can request anything like progesterone from the GP? Or is this normal?

Don’t assume it won’t stick! It might well. I’ve always had spotting for several days before my period and in my current pregnancy (23 weeks now) I spotted quite a bit from 4dpo to around 13dpo. It cleared up around the time I’d normally have started full flow bleeding. Also, in my first pregnancy (son, now 2.5 yrs and very healthy and gorgeous) I spotted for the entire first trimester, every day, sometimes bright red bleeding. So, you know, sometimes these things mean what we worry they mean, and sometimes they don’t mean anything at all.
On progesterone: Your GP can’t prescribe it (or so mine told me), only a consultant can, and they often won’t do it unless you’ve previously had 2 or more miscarriages because they say there’s no evidence of a benefit except in those cases. If you go private they’ll be more likely to do it for you on the logic of ‘can’t hurt, might help’. But I bet by the time they’ve got round to seeing you and prescribing you’ll have stopped spotting. Really good luck and congrats on your bfp.

@RoseAndGeranium that’s so reassuring! Thank you for taking the time to respond! I really appreciate it :) I’ll cross my fingers it’s just average spotting!

I actually have my day 3 bloods scheduled for Tuesday for a fertility referral (classic timing isn’t it!) so I might just go ahead with those and see how everything plays out! Still have heavy brown spotting today.

No problem! I read SO MANY threads on mumsnet when I was ttc and freaking out about the spotting.
Such classic timing. I found out I was pregnant with my first two days before I was due to go and see the GP to find out about some fertility test re-runs after some sub-optimal results first time round!
It's entirely up to you, but if your period hasn't turned up in full by Tuesday, and especially if the spotting is drying up and/or test lines are getting stronger, you might want to let your GP know that you're pregnant so they can cancel the 3 day bloods if appropriate. Trouble is, the things they tend to test for at that time in your cycle are unlikely to help you with figuring out what's going on with your pregnancy (e.g. it won't include progesterone levels, they test for those mid luteal phase), and being pregnant whilst having those tests would probably mess up the results they'd actually want to look at for fertility purposes (e.g. follicle stimulating hormone levels).

Well, I think everyone was right! Spotting very minimal and line progression getting darker 9,10,11 DPO!

Hurray! So pleased for you!

That’s great news!

Just for future reference, I had a short luteal phase which wasn’t an issue because I wasn’t TTC but it did mean my cycles were short and I always spotted prior to my actual period arriving, which was really annoying.

I’m not in the Uk but my OB prescribed a progesterone supplement for me to start taking mid cycle and it really helped lengthen my luteal phase. It also ‘helped’ me fall (and stay) pregnant when I wasn’t TTC 😀

@PrimeraVez I have heard that progesterone supplements help! Apparently the UK is notorious for not thinking are needed. My boobs are already incredibly painful and it’s only 12dpo so that could be a good sign.

It’s so strange because here they seem to dish it out like sweets! I swear half my friends take it and I was prescribed it straightaway with my last baby after I mentioned to my OB that I had had 2 early losses.

Sore boobs are a great sign!

My GP won't prescribe progesterone but said I could ask a private fertility clinic to prescribe it. I'm now under an nhs fertility clinic for investigations so plan to ask them if I ever get a BFP.

Fingers crossed all good for you this time

Yeah, from what I’ve seen it’s only the NHS that’s unwilling to prescribe it, and that’s because NICE guidance is that there’s no benefit for most women. I’d had two miscarriages in a row and was very worried about the possibility of another so I spoke to a private consultant and got a prescription right away. I didn’t take any in the end (for a bunch of reasons) and the pregnancy has been ok so far anyway, but it goes to show that private clinics in the U.K. are perfectly willing to give out progesterone.

@bitheby @RoseAndGeranium how did you find your private fertility clinics? Was it quick to get an appointment

My GP recommended a local clinic. I called the clinic that day and the absolutely lovely consultant replied I think the following day, even though it was the weekend, with an email that included a prescription request to send on to my GP. I didn't even need to speak to him directly and he said there was no need for any tests. They might have been taking a slightly more relaxed approach because of lockdown, and it's possible that my medical history was also sufficient evidence of a possible issue with progesterone deficiency, but the point is that it was very quick and everyone was very kind and helpful.

My story is a little different as I was already a patient of one private clinic and then was referred to NHS clinic by GP for general tests as I've been trying over a year.

I would just ring round a few and ask for a consultation. I paid £100 for a consultant appointment just to review where I was up to after a gap in treatment. They had a bit of a wait but it was just after they'd reopened after being closed for Covid so waits should have calmed down a bit. I'm sure if you explain the circumstances they'd fit you in ASAP.

@NorthernLass213 I know this is an old post, but can I ask how this turned out? Hoping it went well xx

@Hopeandfaith1990 all was well! Delivered a baby boy Jan 2022. Funny enough I fell pregnant June/july 2023 and had the same if not worse implantation bleeding! Another healthy (albeit a 36 weeker) baby boy delivered end of Feb 2024!

Thank you so much! I'm currently experiencing something similar so its good to hear your story, I appreciate you updating the thread.x