Luteal spotters and successful pregnancy?

[purplecolouroffunk]

Hi everyone!

Looking for pregnancy success stories from our luteal spotters.

I know there are a few great old threads on this topic, but thought I'd start a new one for more recent stories.

I get spotting from around as soon as 5DPO, and have done for 5 years. It continues til AF 'proper' arrives, and usually stops for a couple of days in the middle.

I've had the day 21 progesterone test - it came back low BUT I've since realised I had the test at the wrong time in my cycle. I was counting day one of spotting as CD1 which I now think is not correct.

I have another progesterone test this week which will be one week from suspected ovulation. I get ovary pain and EWCM each month. I also had peak OPK from testing for the first time this month. So I suspect I am ovulating. I don't have high hopes for this next progesterone test though, because I don't see what else could be causing spotting so early after ovulation.

We've only just started TTC but I'm 35 so I'm already anticipating this being a problem - it's making me worried and getting me down. I was pretty much fobbed off by doctors for about 2 years. They said bleeding for sometimes up to 17 days is 'normal but just unlucky'. I had to go and do my own research and push to even have a hormone test done. It's crazy.

I wondered if there are any other luteal spotters here who've had successful pregnancies? I'm struggling to understand how my lining can ever build up enough to maintain a pregnancy if I'm spotting from 5DPO.

Any stories or similar experiences would be very much welcomed! 💜

I've always spotted from around day 11/12 until my period comes on day 14 following ovulation.

I decided to try taking progesterone on a whim (left over from miscarriages) from 3dpo (following a clinical study I'd read) to see if it would make a difference to the spotting and therefore to a successful implantation. It seemed to work as I got pregnant that cycle and actually stayed pregnant. I'm currently 27 weeks and am just weaning off the progesterone now.

Worth a shot :)

@TheBirdintheCave oh that's so interesting! And congratulations!! 😄

So that cycle you took the progesterone it stopped the spotting? Are you UK-based?

I have the same issue as you @purplecolouroffunk I tend to start spotting around 5-7 days after ovulation until my period shows up. I’ve mentioned it to the doctor and they’ve never seemed too fussed.

I did manage to get pregnant last year, but unfortunately miscarried at 14weeks.

@TheBirdintheCave I also have some pessaries left over from my last pregnancy and was thinking of doing what you did on my next cycle just to see if the spotting stops. Did you do one or two pessaries a day?

the joys of having a womb 😂 but in all seriousness, it gets you down bleeding so much every month

@Frankie2607 I'm so sorry to hear about your miscarriage - I'm sending you love.

Bleeding all the time is the worst isn't? I get so miserable when it comes cause I just know I'm in for on and off bleeding for sometimes 2+ weeks. Plus the way it stops can convince you it's implantation bleeding too. I'm going through that right now at 6/7DPO!!

Were you prescribed progesterone to take once you'd become pregnant?

@purplecolouroffunk I had the exact same thing for about 18 months prior to starting to TTC. I fell pregnant on our first month of trying and had a chemical pregnancy that month. Tried again the month after and fell pregnant but had bleeding/spotting, I'd thankfully been referred to a gynaecologist and got prescribed progesterone pessaries a couple of days after my positive test and all bleeding stopped and I gave birth at 40+2, I'm fairly sure I'd have had another early miscarriage if I hadn't taken the pessaries due to the bleeding.

I also had a day 21 progesterone test that came back on the lower end of 'normal' and I found that my GP wouldn't prescribe the progesterone until I'd had the gynae appointment. I did find a private GP online who was willing to prescribe the pessaries (obviously NHS is much cheaper/free when pregnant!) so there are other options available if you're struggling to get any prescribed.

@purplecolouroffunk thank you ♥️

It makes me really miserable. And like you, each time I convince myself it could be implantation. However when I got pregnant, I did have two weeks spotting first. So you can imagine my surprise when my period never showed but a positive test did! So I’ve learnt now you’re never out until AF comes.

Yeh I got it prescribed once pregnant. But I was under the care of a private fertility doctor then. Don’t think I’d have got it on the NHS

This is a really interesting thread, especially about the progesterone.
I'm a spotter but successfully got pregnant with #1 after only 3 months of trying, age 33. I'm TTC #2 now and concerned the spotting, shorter cycles and being 37 is causing an issue.
I got the spotting looked into as I got private medical insurance through my work. Doctors did a colposcopy and a scan but found no reason for the spotting apart from it being hormonal even though bloods were normal. Their advice was to go on the pill to sort it out 😩 so don't give up hope thinking the spotting can stop you getting pregnant. I actually thought I hadn't conceived first time round and only realised when the spotting didn't turn into full AF.

Thank you both so much, it’s really interesting to hear your stories. They sound so similar to mine.

@Frankie2607 crikey that must have been such a shock after two weeks of spotting ❤️

@PennyPenny1 I’m sorry to hear about your CP but that’s lovely news about your little one 🙂

Also interesting to hear that about the NHS. I’m being referred by my NHS GP but I actually have private health insurance through work. I checked today and it covers fertility treatments etc. so I think I’ll go down that route.

@purplecolouroffunk thank you ❤️

Good idea on the private referral - I had a private uterine ultrasound for the bleeding through my work healthcare. Is it a gynae referral? Hopefully you won't need any fertility treatment and the private gynae might prescribe you some pessaries to try 🤞🏼 x

I used to be a spot every cycle, sometimes as early as 7dpo. It took me about 3 cycles to conceive, I’m 32 weeks now and I’m 34. The month I got pregnant I actually started spotting 5dpo, I was devastated thinking it was another failed cycle and can remember sobbing on the bathroom floor when I saw the spotting start! That cycle the spotting actually stopped about 10dpo and ended up just as brown discharge, this prompted me to take the test which was a faint positive. No real advice for you OP but I really understand the frustration and hoping this story brings you a little bit of comfort!

@PennyPenny1 so as far as I know my GP has referred me to a gynae. It’s all been a bit confusing and unhelpful tbh. That’ll be an NHS gynae though.

So I think based on results of my second progesterone test tomorrow, I’ll chat to my GP and find out how I get a private referral. Hoping they can just give me pessaries too!

Do you know if they’d expect you to have had a chemical pregnancy or miscarriage before they’ll prescribe progesterone?

@Daffodilx37 so glad to hear your story too!

This is exactly what the doctor told me! Basically deal with it or go back on the pill. They didn’t even mention to me that it could be hormonal until I went away and did a bunch of research and pushed for a progesterone test. It’s mad!

This is so encouraging though. It’s interesting to hear that most of you had early spotting too. Guess it’s not over til AF enters the room!

@Eddieegg congratulations!! ❤️

This does bring me a lot of comfort - thank you! I’m 6 DPO right now and spotting started 5 DPO but it’s so hard to know if it’s just the usual spotting or not.

It’s so nice to feel like I’m not alone! 🙂

@purplecolouroffunk I had to get a letter from the GP for my private referral and then contact the healthcare company to book the appointment, all quite straightforward but I think I did have to wait about a week for the initial letter.

It's definitely worth asking your GP about the pessaries, mine said she couldn't prescribe them but maybe some will?! I ended up having to take the pessaries until I was 24 weeks in the end and there was a bit of a discrepancy between whether my GP practice would give me a repeat prescription or whether the maternity unit should and was told it was down to funding 🙄. I wouldn't have thought that you'd need to have a miscarriage or CP before they prescribe them if they do think that low progesterone is the issue - I hope they don't anyway!

The only thing I'd really say is to push for the pessaries even if your test results come back as normal as mine did...

@purplecolouroffunk Yep! I can't say if it was the progesterone or whether it was because I was pregnant though. I assumed progesterone as I'd used it in my failed IVF cycle and didn't bleed until I came off it.

Also, yes I'm in the UK :)

@Frankie2607 I took one a day until I got my positive test then explained what I'd done to my IVF clinic (I was between frozen transfer cycles and thought I'd try naturally whilst we were waiting) who were thankfully supportive and recommended I up it to two a day.

@PennyPenny1 good advice - thank you! I’m hoping it’s easy enough to get a private referral too.

So even though your progesterone was low end of normal did you just push for the pessaries explaining you were spotting much earlier than you should, therefore don’t know how you could implant? I’ll definitely give it a go!

Can I ask my fellow spotters how heavy our spotting got before your positive test? I’m 7 DPO now and trying to work out if my spotting is too heavy to be able to expect a BFP this month. It’s not red yet, but a fair amount of pink.

Sending good vibes to everyone this week!

*your spotting, not our collective spotting 😂

@purplecolouroffunk the consultant gynae I saw suggested the pessaries before I brought it up but I was planning to try my hardest to get some haha. I don't see what else it could have been other than a progesterone deficiency - I'd had two uterine ultrasounds, smear test, colposcopy and biopsy and no issues found. I'm breastfeeding at the moment and haven't had a period since I gave birth 9 weeks ago so I'm intrigued whether I still spot when my periods start again.

To answer your other question - the month after my CP I bled quite heavily at about 9DPO to the point where I thought my period had arrived early but then had a very faint test the day after. Wishing you loads of luck and let us know how you get on! 🤞🏼

@PennyPenny1 I'm in the same boat - loads of tests and no issues found either. So I'm certain it must be progesterone. I can't quite decide if I want it to be or not 😂Feel like the road will be easier if it is low, but also having low P isn't ideal. Will hopefully have the result of my second test by the end of the week.

Thank you! That's actually reassuring to hear. I've got some easy@home tests on the way, so will probably wait a couple of days to keep an eye on the spotting, then give it a bash. Will keep you updated!

Following as in a similar position. 35 and have been TTC for a year but start spotting from about 9dpo. Had all the tests and no issues, though dr insisted on taking progesterone on day 21 even though I told him I have a 40 day cycle and don’t ovulate until about day 27. Going to try and get another test done for that as I'm convinced low progesterone is the problem.

My spotting used to be fairly heavy especially after straining on the toilet (sorry if TMI) - a BM used to be the first start of the spotting with fresh blood and it was pink the rest of the time, turning darker and more like a period a couple of days before my proper AF arrived. The month I was pg was the same from what I recall, except as it got closer to AF being due it had got lighter instead of darker and there was less and less of it instead of more. AF would usually arrive with bad cramps but obviously it never did.

I also had quite a bit of spotting throughout my first trimester, unsure if it’s linked though. Scans etc have never picked up any problems associated with the bleeding and it’s been put down to hormonal changes/sensitive cervix.

I also had quite a short luteal phase of about 11 days, again I was expecting this cause issues ttc but in the end it didn’t seem to. Means my days were slightly out from LMP when dating my pregnancy but that’s about it.

Welcome @GreyHoggy! It's so frustrating not having answers isn't it. Definitely push for another progesterone test if you can. I just phoned the dr and told them I'd calculated wrong and they let me have another test.

I had the second test today at what I think is 7 DPO, so I'll be interested to see the results. Like you though I really suspect the progesterone is causing the spotting cause I just don't see what else it could be.