Spotting before period

[BritInNZ]

Hi everyone

Has anyone else experienced spotting quite early before their period?

I never used to have this but for my last 3 cycles (my COVID vaccine was 4 cycles ago) I have been spotting for 4/5 days before my period arrives.

We've been TTC for a year (classes as unexplained infertility) and this is just adding yet another worry as to why it's not working.

I usually have a 29 day cycle and today is day 25 and I've just been to the bathroom and had loads of spotting. Feeling pretty gutted and not sure what to do.

Will book in to see GP once this AF is out the way but just have no idea what it could be.

@Roseandgeranium that’s good to hear it hasn’t overly affected you getting pregnant. Although taken a little longer. I’ve been trying again now 10 months and I can’t get my head around it after it happening in the first month TWICE. It makes no sense apart from it to be the spotting that’s maybe stopping me?! I am nearly 36 too but it was October 2020 I last got pregnant now.

@ExactlyThat I’m worried to have just booster incase it makes it even worst. Now had 6/7 days of spotting and period has just started. So it’s getting way worst.

I’m thinking is it the miscarriage, covid, or the vaccine! I don’t even know!

@Whatinthename20 same! Always such reliable cycles and then this! It’s throwing me so much. My O day is pretty much staying the same at cycle day 17 if I could cycle day 1 as first day of actual flow and not the spotting.

I didn’t mention to my GP or gynae that it could be the vaccine??

Hey! I had spotting before periods and I do think it changed since having my second jab and my booster. After my booster I had non existent period and I was so concerned. But then I ended up getting pregnant that cycle. My luteal phase was around 7/8 days and I too was so concerned but I am now 8w3d pregnant so it can happen. Still early days so taking it day by day but just wanted to share a positive outcome in case it helps xx

@Hoping43 ah it’s so hard isn’t it when it’s happened easily before! I paid around £650 for consultation, partners SA, a scan and AMH blood test for me. I think it’s quite reasonable. I was expecting them to say everything looks fine just keep trying 😩 but no.

@HMFx congratulations. It’s so good to hear the spotting didn’t affect you getting pregnant! There’s hope for us spotters on here then! Glad someone can share a positive outcome.

@Loz2467 thank you. Are you having the laparoscopy etc done privately? X

@Hoping43 well I was really surprised to be honest. After going to a private fertility clinic the last thing I expected was to be refered onto his NHS waiting lists for the procedure! Even though it wasn’t what I was hoping for I was pleasantly surprised I got offered that. I did price it all up private and it was around 6-7k. I’d rather just wait as that’s money towards IVF if we decide that route but I’m just unsure. So hard after it happening so easily twice I just don’t know. I just always thought I’d have 2 children. :(

@Loz2467 it’s a nightmare isn’t it. I thought I would have 3. Took me 1 month with my first and 8 months with my second and now we are on cycle 11. I don’t know what’s going on. I don’t think I’m even going to ovulate this cycle which is the first time. Just a total stressful nightmare. We’ve had initial fertility investigations but nothing has been found to be wrong as such. We have an appointment with a consultant in 8 weeks but trying to go private to speed the process up x

@Hoping43 it’s so tough isn’t it! I know so many people say “Up to a year is normal” and I completely get that but after it happening first time TWICE. I just can’t get my head around it and think that the miscarriage has changed something for me - whether it be my tubes or inflammation in the lining - I really don’t know. I don’t mind if it takes another year - I just wish I’d know if it was ever going to happen or not.

8 weeks isn’t too bad but there is a lot of waiting in this process isn’t there! The soonest for my op would be June and I know it’s a lot for someone to do and there be “nothing wrong” but this spotting appears an issue.

@Loz2467 well it was 12 weeks to wait but we’ve waited 4 already so got another 8 to go but if we can go private within the next four weeks then we will but we are waiting on access to medical records. I did used to have spotting for a few days before my period when I was trying for my second but since having him that disappeared. However, now I wake up sweaty during my period and my periods are light so I have other worries. I think it’s just a constant worry. How old are you?

@Hoping43 ahh did you! I do remember having spotting before my little boy but I’d not long been off contraception so I think it was mix of that but I still got pg. i didn’t really have the spotting on lead up to period though.

This time it’s starting from 7 DPO and a few months ago used to start at 10 DPo. Like I said I can manage with the 10 but not the 7 🥺

It really is a constant worry. Have you had your progesterone checked after ovulating? Hormones are a funny thing arent they! Or even your TSH checked? For thyroid.

I’m nearly 36. How about you?

Yes. Mine used to be from around day 9/10 I think.

I turned 35 at Xmas so started TTC this time around when I had just turned 34 really.

I’ve had day 3 bloods done 3 times last year. The last one came back with FSH at 9.6 which was just within normal range as the cut off is 10.
So google led me to believe I have low ovarian reserve but I went to my appt at the fertility clinic (with a nurse) and she wasn’t concerned about the result and I had the ultrasound done etc and had 13 follicles which they said was normal. Waiting for the results of my AMH test.
I know nothing about any of this so I really have no idea but just panicking really that I’m nearly at the 12 month mark as they say under 40 it’s normal to take 12 months and now I’m on month 11! X

@Loz2467

@Hoping43 that’s exactly how I’m feeling! If you had a good follicle count at 13 I wouldn’t worry. I’ve known people concieve with a 6. I’m confused with my AMH and so was the gynae as it was 8.4 but I had 21 follicles. He said they wouldn’t know what meds to really start on if I did IVF. He said although it’s a wait for the procedure it ties in nicely with trying 12 months. Even if after the surgery they say the only option is IVF I’m not even completely sure I’d go for it! They’re is a lot to weigh up isn’t there.

My spotting and fluid in lining is obviously a problem and that’s why he’s investigating.

@Loz2467 it sounds like you know way more about it than me. Is 13 follicles ok? Sounds quite low compared to your 21? Also, is 8.4 AMH low?

I think I’m going to be one of those people where the ovarian reserve tests FSH, AMH and follicle count don’t really tie up. But I don’t know how important they are for natural conception. We will go for IVF but I would rather it doesn’t come to it x

@Hoping43 such a strange cycle my spotting stopped for 2 days so I got my hopes up - but nope! AF has arrived in full force today. Wish I could get to the bottom of this! I’m just hoping there is something they can do at the procedure and see a reason for it.

I can’t decide on IVF - I’ll have to cross that bridge if it comes to it but like yourself I like to stay hopeful that it will happen naturally but hard to stay hopeful with all this spotting.

Apparently that was low end of average for AMH of my age but I don’t know a great deal about it.

@Loz2467 I don’t know much either but I thought AMH, FSH and AFC were only really relevant for IVF because for natural conception you only ovulate once a month anyway, no matter how many eggs you have left x

@Hoping43 yeah I agree I think like you say it’s so they can decide the meds etc. i wish I was allowed to try a round of letrozole or something but he didn’t suggest anything like that! Just the surgery. Ugh cycle day 1 sucks!

How are you getting on @Hoping43 I’ve just had a meltdown the last 2 days - apart from getting covid again my FSH blood test came back slightly out of range. Last august it was 6.4 and now it’s 11? I just can’t get my head around it. Does it not overly matter if I’m ovulating each month?

@Hoping43 as you mentioned with yourself I don’t feel like all my numbers tie up. Latest FSH 11, 21 follicle count but 8.4 AMH. I know they say don’t get caught up on the numbers and it takes 1 good egg and sperm but it’s hard not too. I’m not sure if IVF clinics really use FSH numbers anymore, do they? Xx

@Loz2467 sorry to hear you’ve had a rubbish few days. Howcome you were having your FSH retested? Did they give you any feedback? I don’t really have much knowledge. All I know is mine was 4, 6.3 and 9.6 last year and I was concerned about the 9.6 but the nurse at the fertility clinic just said it was on the high end of normal but it wasn’t bad in the grand scheme of things as they get people coming into the clinic with FSH at 100.

From my understanding of reading online, it really only impacts IVF in that it determines the level of medication you need and the likelihood of success. However, I’m here 11 months later with no success so I am worried about mine too I have to be honest. I have other things too like I have mild night sweats around my period and my period is only normal for 2 days then it’s really light for another 3 days but I don’t know whether it’s stress that’s causing half of my issues.

I honestly just don’t know anything. I also don’t understand how you can have so many follicles if you’re FSH is high and AMH low. I thought they were meant to be reflective of each other. You’re follicle count sounds really good though and much higher than mine (13). I am waiting for my AMH results now but not sure I want them.

On a positive note for me, I managed to get our appt pulled forward by 3 weeks so we see the consultant end of March now.

Please can you remind me what feedback your consultant gave on your AMH?

Feel free to DM me if you want me keep in touch. Happy to share any info I get at my appt whilst you wait for your procedure in June x

@Hoping43 how do I DM you then I’m not keep taking over the thread? 🙈 sorry I don’t know how to use this properly. X

@Loz2467 click on the three little dots like if you were replying but then click PM x

Sorry everyone - I completely missed all these comments! I haven't solved my spotting... I had spotting for 3 days before AF this month and I already have a shorter luteal phase. I am seeing a nutritionist and she recommend daily iron and magnesium. She said magnesium helps stabilise progesterone in the luteal phase and might help stop the spotting. So we'll see how it all pans out! I will report back 😊

@emsie12345 how are you getting on? The wait for the surgery is far too long! Maybe a year and I’m nearly 36. So I may look into private surgery and go from there. Spotting is still happened. It happened for around 4 days this cycle and a lighter flow too. I checked back on my apps and it’s only been since my covid vaccine and I’ve seen tons of stuff on mumsnet and online about the vaccine causing some distuption.

Loz2467 I've been referred to fertility clinic and have been told to expect an appointment june/July. I've been taking conceive plus ovulation and fertility support and this seems to have helped. No spotting since taking it. I did stop taking them for a bit and spotting came back so started again and nothing since. It might be coincidence but who knows! I would definately recommend them. I am unvaccinated and have never tested positive for covid but pretty sure I had it in the early days before testing was available. I'm thinking if the vaccine can cause issues then having the actual virus might do aswell? Having said that my spotting started well after the time I'm assuming I was infected.