"Spotting" for up to a week before period

[PoleFairy]

I'm so frustrated and getting more and more down. I came off the pill in August and am in my 7th cycle ttc. I feel pretty lucky that my cycles went straight back to 26/27 days (apart from the one where I had my booster and covid during the first cycle week, that cycle was 28). Have done ovulation tests on 2 cycles now. On one I got a clear peak on cycle day 13, this cycle was cycle day 11 so I'm hopefully ovulating between CD 12 and CD14 depending on the cycle.

However, on 4 of my cycles I've had very watery CM which is tinged with a light brown/pinky colour (to be really specific it's a taupe colour haha) from anywhere between 7 and 5 days before my period. The first few days it's only really when I wipe. It's a thick gel like CM consistency with a slight taupe tinge to it and I have light cramping. After 3 or 4 days of this it might get slightly more brown (but still not start of period brown, a pale brown) and maybe I'll end up with a few spots on my pants. I dont need a liner or anything. Last day will be heavier spotting and I may put down a liner. Then period will then show up.

This to me clearly indicates low progesterone. I think I ovulate as I have regular cycles (is 26 - 28 days considered regular?), get my peak at the right time and have ovulation symptoms but my progesterone is not remaining elevated. I spoke to my GP and she said the only way to stop spotting like that is to go on the pill?!?! As im ttc she doesnt recomend that (obviously). She said the spotting wouldnt stop me getting pregnant.

I saw a consultant this week as I had a small cervical polyp removed and I mentioned this bleeding in there. She said not to worry, it was a hormone problem and nothing sinister, to keep ttc and hopefully it would happen for me. I said I was concerned low progesterone would stop me conceiving. She was vague and said to just keep trying and they dont treat low progesterone on the NHS anyway.

So now I'm like wtf?! Will I just never have a child then as they wont treat it!? I've been seed cycling this month and I do take various supplements but I'm still getting this watery spotting. Has anyone conceived whilst getting this? It's also so annoying as I end up spotting or having a period for 2 weeks!

Sorry to hear what you are going through, it’s so frustrating and I can 100% relate.

I’ve been spotting/bleeding between periods for a few years now and it really started to worry me last summer as I knew we wanted to start TTC. I spoke with the drs and had a smear and an internal scan and all was clear. I actually conceived naturally in August but sadly miscarried at 11 weeks. Like you, I am now concerned about low progesterone as the spotting sometimes starts only a few days after I have ovulated! Have you had any blood tests? Ive just requested some this week.

I have had the same thing since I came off the pill a year and a half ago (never had it previously). Mine is sometimes heavier than I would say was spotting, then often stops entirely making me hopeful thinking I’ve had an implantation bleed, then my period starts - lasting nearly two weeks in all. I’m also getting pretty worried about it.
Sorry I don’t have any answers either, I’m going to the doctor the week after next so will let you know if anything is suggested.

With the 2 doctors I've spoken to theyve just said "yes its hormonal, no it won't stop you getting pregnant and we dont treat low progesterone on the nhs" so I'm just a bit confused! I've only been ttc 7 cycles so cant get any nhs tests but have seen superdrug do an at home progesterone test for £40 so I'm going to buy that to do next month as it is only alternating cycles and it's due to happen next month. Its weird because it's just really creamy CM with a slight brown tinge and only where when I wipe most of the time.

I had spotting before my period and my doctor prescribed me progesterone which stopped it. I then fell pregnant (unplanned) a month or two later and continued taking progesterone until the end of my first trimester.

I’m not in the UK so not sure how it works but can you pay a private GP to prescribe it? Or buy it over the counter somehow?

Yes you have to buy it privately here through a private GP. There are natural ways to boost it (vitamin B12 supplements etc.)

I have the same, agree it’s very frustrating and I find it a bit worrying. I have spotting up to 5 days before AF and like others have said it also sometimes stops and starts making me hopeful it’s implantation 🙄 on cycle 8 here, recently had a scan that was all normal (referred by GP) and I paid for an at home day 21 progesterone couple of days ago. I used medichecks, don’t have the results yet…

Hi there

I have spotting between ovulation and my period and have had three chemicals in the last year. I saw a private consultant who asked my GP to prescribe me progesterone, and she has, so I now have it on NHS prescription. That might be worth looking into? I've only just started taking it yesterday for this cycle, so don't know if it will work but fingers crossed.

When I spoke to my GP about it she said only a consultant would be able to prescribe it, and that she didn't know anything about dosages etc.

So sorry, know your frustration about this very well.

Ah ok, now did you find your private consultant?

My local private hospital has a number of fertility specialists, I just got in touch with one from their website who specialises in recurrent miscarriage. She did a free 15 min initial chat to see if she could help or not, then a full, paid for consultation.

I think the issue with low progesterone is not that it stops you conceiving but that your womb lining doesn't build up enough/breaks down too early.

@cossmoss I just remembered I have Bupa private healthcare through work but I've never had to use it to I'll see if I'm covered for this. I have a feeling it wont cover anything fertility related.

It's odd because it only happens alternating cycles for me and it's never proper blood or spotting, just brown tinted cervical mucus so I wonder if it even is low progesterone. I have no other symptoms of it but then it's odd. I'll check my bupa cover and then if not I'll do the private progesterone test and if it is low seek private treatment

Hi everyone. I am also in the same boat. With spotting normally 5-7 days before my period. This month it started the day after ovulation. It is very worrying.

@PoleFairy have you tried the private test yet. Would you say its worth doing as I may also look into this.

@goingcrazyttc did you get any further with this? I’ve had exactly the same this month with spotting starting day after ovulation had some spotting the week before my periods for a few months before this too, really tempted to go for some private tests but appreciate any advice anyone has. X

Did anyone get this resolved?

@PoleFairy How did you get on? Since last July I’ve been TTC and getting the brown tinge discharge from 7 dpo. Or even 5 dpo some months. I ended up going private as I’m 36 and I know the NHS don’t offer progesterone. I’ve had 3 months now TTC with progesterone suppository and it’s stopped the brown spotting however I haven’t got pregnant again. I’ve concieved quite easily twice but lost our second at 17 weeks.

I’d be so grateful for an update off anyone on the thread. Xx

Hi @Loz2467 have namr changed bupa GP also told me it was nothing to worry about and should affect me getting pregnant and suspected it was polyps or a cervical ectropian as i had a polyp removed in January. I fell pregnant in may and am almost 23 weeks so took 11 cycles so stil better than the average of 12. I did have bleeding at 6 weeks and when they scanned me they said the pregnancy hormones were making my cervical ectropian more sensitive and bleeding so im more convinced now that the very light spotting was a cervical ectropian bleeding as a result of hormones in my cycle.

Not sure if you'll see this OP but I have the same thing and also been told it's hormonal. I conceived my son fine and am currently pregnant again. The lack of spotting is how I knew each time that I was pregnant.

@Greeneyegirl thanks so much for replying. I’m besides myself after not conceiving after our miscarriage and having this and also worrying about it starting on the month of the covid vaccine.

congrats on your pregnancy!! :) that’s interesting. I’ve had a smear and a hysterscopy and no cervical ectropian flagged however the progesterone pessaries I’ve taken the last 3 months have stopped the spotting so I wonder if mine is low progesterone hence it stopping xx

@Jericha thank you so much and congrats on your second pregnancy. I’ve only had it since last July since my covid vaccine and I’ve got pregnant relatively easily twice now - lost our second and been TTC since our miscarriage. It just seems strange that I can’t get pregnant again xx

I know it's an old post but on the off chance it helps anyone, I was spotting from about day 21 of my cycle. Went to the GP, ended up getting a private ultra sound and hysterectomy to check for polyps. Was advised it was my progesterone hormone levels dropping too soo , and the only thing I could do was take the pill if I didn't want the spotting.
After lots of googling and doing my own research I found the one thing that helps massively is having organic milk. On a cycle when I only have organic milk I might get 2 days of spotting, if I have normal milk I get at least 7 days.