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Conception

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Original poster

Has anyone got a BFP after luteal spotting?

32 replies

Oophelia · 13/07/2023 17:16

Getting so disheartened by this!! Every cycle I test for a positive OPK, dtd loads get ovulation symptoms then literally 7 days later I start spotting. It’s just happened again today and I’m sitting here crying. I’m waiting for a doctors appointment as we’ve been ttc for almost a year now but I’m preparing that they won’t take it seriously. I’m not sure what is causing it but it almost always starts at this same time of my cycle, it will probably stop in a few days and then I’ll get AF.

Are there any stories of getting a bfp after spotting like this?

OP posts:
whothefkisalice · 13/07/2023 17:26

@Oophelia

Sorry you're going through this, it truly is shit.

No helpful advice unfortunately but I'm the same. It often starts around 8-10dpo for me but can last up to 5-7 days before my period. Sometimes the spotting is mild and others it's a bit worse. This cycle I only had 3 days of spotting.

Every doctor and surgeon I've mentioned this to have never been remotely concerned either. I'm on month 9 of ttc my first. ☹️

Original poster
Oophelia · 13/07/2023 17:37

At least I’m not the only person going through this but I find it so frustrating. My periods tend to come around 10 - 12 days after I’ve ovulated so besides not being able to conceive, I feel like I’m constantly on my period.

OP posts:
whothefkisalice · 13/07/2023 18:17

@Oophelia

I completely understand, it drives me insane and really gets me down. I just can't understand that it isn't concerning to the doctors when it seems so abnormal to me.

Have you had any tests done? X

Original poster
Oophelia · 13/07/2023 18:20

@whothefkisalice we’ve moved house quite recently so I’m just getting registered at a new doctors and then will be making another appointment, hoping this gp is more understanding. They were reluctant to help when I stupidly said I only came off the pill last august, but I KNOW something isn’t right!

OP posts:
whothefkisalice · 13/07/2023 18:24

@Oophelia

Funnily enough I worked out recently that my spotting first began when I came off the pill for good (around 3 years ago) and I've just had it ever since then. It also coincided with a really stressful event so Id always put it down to stress.

I can't believe how reluctant doctors are when it comes to gynae problems.

Twiglet2353 · 13/07/2023 18:45

Long term luteal spotter here - ever since I came off the pill 6 years ago (anyone noting a theme here....!!)
Anyway, came to say tried all the supplements when TTC our first. Had Clomid for 6 months to "strengthen" ovulation as had low progesterone levels. Neither helped. Ended up with IVF (luckily successful first time).
Since then continued to have luteal phase spotting from roughly 7dpo. Started the process of pre-IVF bloods etc and then found myself surprisingly pregnant. Still had spotting that cycle. Also had bloods done that cycle which showed low progesterone and suspected no ovulation! Was put on progesterone as a precaution through my first trimester, which ultimately stopped the spotting.

Good luck, TTC is effing shit and pleased to be the other side of it x

Noname112 · 13/07/2023 18:59

I had this after coming off the pill would happen around 5-7 days before period and last until my period started. It took me around 20 months to fall pregnant the first time but I did without any intervention. I suddenly realised that month I hadn’t spotted and had my bfp. Pregnant with number 2 now and had no spotting since periods returned and fell pregnant first time. Good luck!

Original poster
Oophelia · 13/07/2023 19:02

It’s interesting to hear that we’ve all been on the pill. I was on it 16 and only got my first period at 15 so to be honest I’ve no idea what my period is supposed to be like! But I do think it delays us getting help as for most of the past year I’ve just thought oh it will settle down.

OP posts:
ChipAndDip · 13/07/2023 20:41

I’m exactly the same OP, I get spotting at 7-8dpo without exception. It’s so frustrating! I’m currently on my first cycle of letrozole (ovulation induction) so will see if that changes anything.

I did get pregnant just over a year ago and still had spotting as normal. In fact I thought I had my period so didn’t test until 17dpo at which point I learned what a dye stealer was! Unfortunately it ended in a MMC, but I needed medication to shift it so my lining certainly had no problem clinging onto the sac despite the spotting.

I’ll let you know if the letrozole makes any difference. I’m around 1DPO so will find out soon enough x

ChipAndDip · 13/07/2023 20:44

Oh I forgot to mention that I was on the pill for about 15 years, but haven’t taken it for the past 5 years. TTC around 18 months.

CurlyWurly1991 · 13/07/2023 21:40

Yes I had luteal phase spotting throughout the first weeks of pregnancy with my first child. Started 7dpo and didn’t stop for weeks. All ok with baby. No cause identified. Now I’m wondering if it had been because I had come off the pill a few months prior.

allgoodthings84 · 14/07/2023 04:04

I spotted every cycled for 4 days before AF started (from 9dpo had a 12 day LP with AF arriving on 13dpo) On cycle 5 ttc #2 I spotted as usual but got a bfp on 14dpo when AF didn’t come properly as usual but it ended in a loss (chemical) at just before 6 weeks. Then cycle 6 I spotted on 9dpo but only for 2 days. Again, AF didn’t arrive so tested on 14dpo and got a bfp but again had a chemical at just before 6 weeks. Then cycle 7 I got no spotting so tested 14dpo and am now nearly 34 weeks pregnant.

So, for me the spotting didn’t stop me getting pregnant but I didn’t spot at all the cycle the pregnancy was viable.

I did have progesterone “day 21” tests twice and both times was over 50 so my spotting wasn’t a progesterone issue. I have no idea why I spot and it’s definitely not the pill as I hadn’t been on the pill for 8 years. My GP wasn’t concerned but would have referred me if I had another loss but luckily I didn’t

good luck 💕

isocrazy · 14/07/2023 04:51

Yes, this was pretty identical to me too. I had spotting exactly 7 days after ovulation every month, tried to get pregnant unsuccessfully for a year, after testing I was found to have PCOS and endometriosis (both without obvious symptoms) I tried progesterone, and letrozole for a few cycles which didn't work. I ended up having a laparoscopy and hysteroscopy as a last resort and fell pregnant a month later :) I now have a 9 week old little boy. My specialist was very thorough and I think the surgery although extreme was well worth it

Slavica · 14/07/2023 07:15

For years, I've had 25-26 day cycles and 2-3 days of spotting before my period. In fact, I always found it strange when friends said they were "caught out" by their period because mine always started with 2-3 days of spotting, no way would there be a gush as a first sign of period arriving.
Once I started preparing to ttc (taking my basal temp, cervical mucus), I realized that my luteal phase was 10-12 days long and was worried about it but thought I would give it a try before addressing it.

The cycle I got pregnant - second cycle of trying - I spotted as normal from 9-10 dpo. Got my + at 12 days dpo, spotted on a couple of occasions during my first trimester but had an uneventful pregnancy.

I only tried to get pregnant once, but I have continued to have the same cycle patterns until recently. I'm now 48 and definitely perimenopausal. Still spotting a day or so before period proper.

ChipAndDip · 21/07/2023 11:45

Just thought I’d update to say that letrozole did NOT lengthen LF, in fact I started spotting even earlier at 5/6dpo! But progesterone levels are all good and ovulation was confirmed, so the spotting is down to something else. I’m now on the waiting list for a lap to see if they can figure it out.

Hope you get some answers from your drs OP 🤞

ChipAndDip · 21/07/2023 11:46

Sorry that meant to say LP!

snapcracklepop10 · 21/07/2023 13:11

Same here, I've always spotted for 4/5 days before af and we've been ttc for over 3 years and never once had a hint of a pregnancy. No chemicals or anything! I've had a hycosy and they confirmed ovulation and no problems found. Been racking my brains for years wondering how I could fix whatever isn't working in there. Devastating stuff x

curliegirlie · 21/07/2023 13:53

@snapcracklepop10 has your partner also been tested?

snapcracklepop10 · 21/07/2023 14:06

curliegirlie · 21/07/2023 13:53

@snapcracklepop10 has your partner also been tested?

Yep! No issues there. We're due to have ivf this year 🫶🏻

CurlyWurly1991 · 21/07/2023 14:29

Mines a bit different now in that it is after ovulation but after lots of investigations etc it was put down to ‘hormones’. I have cervical ectropion too which apparently is just a normal variant. This often causes the cervix to bleed a bit in response to changing hormones etc. I found this interesting for any of the scientifically minded mumsnetters https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560709/#:~:text=Cervical%20ectropion%20is%20a%20benign%20condition%20that%20is%20regarded%20as,cells%20to%20the%20vaginal%20milieu.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560709/#:~:text=Cervical%20ectropion%20is%20a%20benign%20condition%20that%20is%20regarded%20as,cells%20to%20the%20vaginal%20milieu.

Original poster
Oophelia · 22/07/2023 09:56

Thanks all this is interesting if not what I wanted to hear re being able to conceive! I have had an ectroption before, it was diagnosed after I bled a lot during a smear test, but this was several years ago and I was under the impression that they resolved themselves? AF came as usual this month but I’m having a phone appointment with the dr later this week so that’s getting the ball rolling.

OP posts:
CurlyWurly1991 · 22/07/2023 15:33

@Oophelia the GP said similar to me re ectropion but the article above has a lot more detail… I wonder if this describes what is going on for me. Intermenstrual bleeding must always be checked out though.
Im 6dpo and have had very light spotting every day since ovulation. Last month no spotting at all. There seems to be no rhyme or reason that I can tell!

Original poster
Oophelia · 29/09/2023 22:19

Hello everyone I wanted to come back and update the thread. I had started the ball rolling with my gp, shortly after the last post I ovulated again and then started spotting this time only 5dpo! I was absolutely gutted again.

Strangely the spotting stopped after a couple of days and didn’t restart. By the day before AF was due I still had no bleeding so I tested and got a BFP! I had a tiny bit of spotting around 5 weeks pregnant but I’m now almost 12 weeks and have just seen a wriggly baby on a scan! Wanted to give a positive update to bring some hope to everyone that was in the same frustrating situation.

OP posts:
CurlyWurly1991 · 30/09/2023 08:00

@Oophelia thank you for the update and a massive congratulations to you!!

HPrior · 22/05/2024 22:22

Bumping this thread as I have the same issue. Can I ask what pill people were taking? I ask because I believe this problem was caused by taking desogestrel (mini pill). I have never had any problems with my cycle, was on combined pill for 8 years, came off it and period came back straight away and I fell pregnant first month of trying. After giving birth my period returned 6 weeks later and I had a normal cycle for 5 months. I started taking desogestrel because the mini pill is recommended when breastfeeding. I took for 8 months and ever since stopping it I have had spotting for 3-7 days before my period and cannot get pregnant. It's been 6 months now and no change. I'm getting really worried I've messed up my body and my chance of having another baby.