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! 💜

@Eddieegg hehe don't worry, I have exactly the same with BMs too! This is the exact same as me really - pink until a BM, then a bit more red. And it goes on and off. Interesting to hear that was the same during your pregnancy.

I think the only way I really know it's AF is because it becomes consistent and heavier, whereas the spotting always stops and starts.

@purplecolouroffunk I think I will definitely ask for another test at 7 DPO, then if there is an issue they can hopefully help.
Let me know how your test results turn out, fingers crossed you get some answers!

@purplecolouroffunk How’d you get on recently?

And how’s everyone else? ☺️

I’m not a massive MN poster, but this thread gave me so much comfort, so thanks guys. We’ve decided not to track ovulation this month bc, tbh, it drives me insane! I actually feel quite hopeful, but that’ll probably change 😂

Hey @Frankie2607! I'm so glad. This thread has brought me so much comfort too. It's so nice to hear success stories from other spotters and to have the support :)

I'm still waiting to get my progesterone results back. I had the test on Wednesday so I'm hoping to hear back v soon. If I've not heard by tomorrow I might give them a ring as I'm not entirely convinced they'll call me if they come back normal.

Good idea not tracking ovulation. I've heard about so many people that started thinking/worrying about it less and went on to be successful ❤

Okay so I called the doc and there's a note on my file to say 'result satisfactory'. So it looks like I don't have low progesterone?!

I'm going to book a phone appointment with the doc tomorrow to chat it all through but that seems so odd given the length of my spotting. I was 100% expecting it to be low. I guess it might still be on the lower side, which I'll find out tomorrow, but I'm so surprised!

@purplecolouroffunk Glad you got your results back. Will be interesting to see what the doctor says about them. Makes you wonder what else is going on if it’s not progesterone. Let us know how you get on ☺️

I’ve got my “day 21” blood test next week. Very intrigued to see what it says! My doctor did say though the only thing that test proves is if you’ve ovulated or not. That’ll give peace of mind, but might not give me the answer I’m looking for.

Just jumping on this thread to share my experience!

I’ve always tracked my period even before ttc, not ovulation though. I noticed that I would spot for a few days before my period fully arrived but I didn’t think anything of it until we started trying and I found out what a short luteal phase was.

I started taking 100mg of vitamin b6 daily after researching how to increase your luteal phase. The first month I took it I fell pregnant! I was sure the b6 helped me fall pregnant. Sadly the pregnancy ended in a missed miscarriage, I’m convinced due to low progesterone but we’ll never know.

I’m ttc again now and have taken the b6 for a few cycles with no success so perhaps it was just a fluke. Hopefully when I do fall pregnant again, given my history, I’ll be offered progesterone pessaries as I now meet the requirements, which is sad in itself that not everyone is offered it.

Sorry that turned into a bit of a ramble but I just thought it was worth the suggestion in case it helps someone else get a bfp 😊

@Frankie2607 thanks! I guess I’m glad that my progesterone isn’t low, but it’s making me even more confused. I worry it’ll just give the dr even more reason to help less.

I hope your test goes well! So it’s the same progesterone test that I had? Does it look at the amount of progesterone and evaluate that against whether it’s likely you ovulated or not? I hope it helps you with some answers!

Hello @Haylsttc! Thanks for sharing!

I’m really sorry to hear about your miscarriage - I hope you’re doing okay.

That’s interesting about the B6 though. Did you find it helped with your spotting? I actually started taking it a couple of weeks back but haven’t noticed anything different in my spotting this month, but maybe too early.

Have you had a low progesterone result? It’s really sad that not everyone is offered the pessaries. Did you mean you meet the requirements because you’ve had a miscarriage. That seems so unfair 😔

@purplecolouroffunk I get what you mean. Although you never want them to find something, at least if they do it could potentially give you answers.

Yep same test. My doc said it will look at my progesterone levels just to ensure I ovulated. After that she kinda said there’s not really any further testing they can do. Well, not on the nhs at least.

@Haylsttc interesting about the B6. I’m also taking a high strength B vit complex after doing some research. I found that they also said a high strength vit C can help progesterone naturally. First cycle taking it and too early to tell yet, but I’m intrigued! I’ve literally done so much research it’s a joke 😂😭

Can’t shy away from the fact were desperate to get pregnant again. Literally would do anything.

@purplecolouroffunk great your progesterone is ok, but understand sometimes it's easier if something isn't right so you can sort it.

@Haylsttc sorry about your miscarriage. That is also one of my worries if I actually manage to get pregnant. Have you ever had your progesterone measured? I started taking B6 this month so will see if it makes any difference.

@purplecolouroffunk thank you! The b6 has definitely reduced my spotting, I now only spot for one day before AF is in full swing. It didn’t really extend my luteal phase by much though it’s still only 10 days. However I worked out I would have been 9dpo when I got my bfp with my last pregnancy so a 10 day luteal phase must be enough if implantation is early.

@Frankie2607 let me know how you get on with the high strength vitamin c, I have some in my cupboard but haven’t tried it yet! I’ve also been reading about agnus cactus which is meant to be good for increasing progesterone levels naturally, so I might give it a try next cycle instead of the b6 if I get a bfn this current cycle!

@purplecolouroffunk @GreyHoggy I’ve never had my progesterone measured, I need to wait until 12 months of trying again since the missed miscarriage before my doctors will do it. I am tempted to pay for the test privately though!

As for my the progesterone pessaries requirements @purplecolouroffunk if you’ve had a miscarriage in the past and experience spotting in early pregnancy and the pregnancy is detected in the womb the EPU should give you progesterone as per the guidelines.

@Haylsttc that’s really interesting. I’m glad the B6 worked for you. Tbh I think it’s maybe been the same for me this month. I started taking it about 3 weeks ago and I’ve had spotting this month but the amount has been a lot less than usual.

That seems crazy about the progesterone test!! 12 months is such a long time. It’s also really sad that they won’t give progesterone unless you’ve already suffered a miscarriage. It seems to vary so much from region to region too.

Another update today. I spoke to my GP and my progesterone is actually still on the low side. Seems it was another Dr who received my results and marked them as 'satisfactory' without knowing the context to my story.

So it's at 21 nmol/l - which is a bit low. It's within a 'normal' range for the luteal phase and likely shows that I am ovulating (I feel like I know I am cause of the physical signs) but they really look for levels to be 30+.

The Dr is asking me to come in for one more test - if that is still on the low side, she's going to refer me to the fertility clinic. So at least I'm getting somewhere! I'm going to go private since I'm covered by my work's private insurance, and hopefully that will be faster.

She said of course there's always the chance that I fall pregnant before I get referral, although I'm not holding out hope on that one.

Anyway, just thought I'd keep this thread updated in case anyone is looking back on it. I find it so useful so read full stories on here, so will keep it updated :)

Thanks for the update @purplecolouroffunk. Good that you are getting some movement in the right direction though and should be fairly easy to fix if it is just low progesterone. Keep us updated on any treatment they suggest.
I'm away for work so wasn't able to get in at the right time to get my progesterone tested, so will have to wait till next month unfortunately. The dr has said he will refer us to fertility clinic though due to our age and that all our other tests have come back normal.

Glad you got some answers @purplecolouroffunk I’ve got my day 21 blood test tomorrow, so will be intrigued by the results! Still playing the waiting game to see if we’ve caught this cycle 😬 although not feeling very optimistic!

Hey all experienced spotters ... just an important question please.

Does the luteal phase length is defined from ovulation day to 1st spotting day? Or from ovulation day to 1st period day?

I am a regular spotter - no one knows why despite various tests - but I am not sure if my Luteal Phase is short or ok!

@GreyHoggy yeah it's encouraging that hopefully it'll be easy to fix :)

It's odd as there is SO much conflicting info online about what is considered a 'normal' amount of progesterone. Some say if it's anything less than 30 nmol/l then it suggests you don't ovulate. Some say it's less than 15, some say less than 5. So who the heck knows! I'm like 90% certain I do ovulate based on a bunch of other signs.

Sorry to hear you had to miss the test this month. Let us know how you get on next month! And that's great to hear you're getting a referral :)

@Frankie2607 let us know how you get on with your test results!

Ahh the old waiting game! How many dpo are you?

Hey @Ceraveforever!

So the length of the luteal phase is determined by how many days there are between when you ovulate and when your actual period starts, rather than spotting.

I sometimes find it hard to determine what is spotting and what is period, cause mine gradually gets heavier in the run up. I tend to define the first proper period day as when the flow becomes heavier and is consistent.

If I went by my spotting I'd only have a 4 day luteal phase some months 😂

@purplecolouroffunk Will do!

I haven’t tracked this month. Seemed like a good idea at the time but now I’m like, arghhhh where am I in my cycle 😂 The most I am is 7 days I reckon.

ps from what you’ve just said to other OP, your spotting sounds exactly the same as mine. Nice to know I’m not the only one!!

@Frankie2607 it's a good idea! Have you found it less stressful this month? I was considering just going by temping this month and not doing anything else, just letting my body lead the way 😂 AF should be over in a few days so will see how that goes.

It's such a relief to know I'm not the only one too! It's so annoying isn't it. Feel like I spend half my life bleeding!! My lower end of 'normal' progesterone I'm guessing has a lot to do with it. I'm giving more vitamin C a go this month, along with the B6 I started taking a few weeks back.

@purplecolouroffunk Thank you! I am the same… it’s so annoying , bleeding at least two weeks each month.

I take vit C, vit D, B6, CoQ10 every day and no improvement.

Plus that it’s so annoying as for half month I am “unavailable” for DTD …

At least I am not the only one!

Hello my fellow luteal spotters. How is everyone?

This month I started spotting at 2dpo :( I'm at 7dpo now and still going. Mixture of sometimes more pink, sometimes more a light red. Not really anywhere near full-on AF level, but sometimes getting a little on my underwear.

I seem to start spotting on the same cycle day each month, regardless of when ovulation happens. E.g. last month I ov'd on CD14 and spotting started at CD19. This month I ov'd on CD17 and spotting started on CD19. It's really bothering me. Does anyone else have that pattern?

I had my third progesterone test today. If this one comes back lower then I'll be getting a fertility specialist referral.

@purplecolouroffunk Glad they are taking it seriously and offering you another test and then you can get your referral if needed.
I was a bit different as I always started spotting on 9 DPO regardless of when I ovulated.

I actually finally got my BFP last month so currently about 6 weeks. It's still very early so not getting excited yet but at least it shows that even with spotting that getting pregnant is possible.