what constitutes "mid cycle spotting"- should I be concerned about spotting on day 21?

[JumpingJellyfish]

Title says it all really- I had always had a dead regular 28-day cycle, but since DD was born my cycle has changed a bit, and has varied from 25-28 days long (DD is now 20 months). I'm also getting spotting around 2 days pre full-flow which I never used to experience, but I understand is fairly normal.

This cycle however I have had 2 days of spotting, starting on CD21. I am convinced AF is about to arrive now (CD24) as have all the usual symptoms. Last cycle was 28 days long. Should I be concerned about spotting so early on, or could this still be "normal"?

FWIW we've been TTC for 8 months, no success yet, whereas was fortunate to fall straightaway with my last 2 pregnancies. I'm 29.

Any advice on whether I should be concerned would be very gratefully received! Thanks x

I would try to ascertain the cause of the spotting because this should be investigated further by your GP. Its often not serious but it should be looked into.

I had a week of spotting and cramping from day 23 to day 28. I normally have a regular 28 day cycle and was convinced it was af. I just found out that I'm pregnant.... Could be implantation bleeding?

Unfortunately definitely not implantation bleeding- AF finally got going properly at 4am this morning, on day 26. As I had spotting from day 21 onwards I have decided this isn't so good, especially as I never used to spot let alone so early, and would like to understand what's going on so made an apt with the GP for next week. All this is just so frustrating when TTC!!

Thanks for the responses

Hi jumpingjellyfish, can you let me know what your gp says? - I've just gone through the same thing. I had spotting and cramping from day 21 to day 26, today, when my af finally made its appearance

I've always had a clockwork 27/28 day cycle since dd was born and really strangely this cramping (tho' not the spotting ) ONLY for the last 2 months when we've really been going for the ttc'ing.

Would really appreciate it. Thanks!!

tt

Tetley- will definitely report back. It's nice actually in a bizarre way to know someone else is going through similar. Like you my cycles were always dead regular, but I only had a couple of "natural" periods after DD was born (which were unusually heavy, but figured that was just due to changes in hormones as was still BFing)- then I went on the minipill, and since I came off it (back in July) my cycle has not been the same- typical as now we are TTC!
My GP apt is on Tuesday- will let you know what she says. She's a lovely doctor so hopefully she'll give me a bit more info. I've foolishly spent too much time googling recently, and found all sorts of things that could explain increased pre-period spotting and some things e.g. endometriosis which can also result in loss of fertility. I'm hoping of course though that it's just stress, lack of vitamins or something equally readily fixable!

Thanks JJF. Good luck with that! Good to have a nice GP too - easier to pick her brain!

I'm trying to rule out various things too. I had an internal scan last month and they said my uterus looked absolutely fine, no sign of anything that shouldn't be there..

I just think it's odd that i never had anything out of the ordinary during my cycle UNTIL we started ttc #2!

However, I am 41...

Just posted this reply on another thread, so sorry being cheeky & copying & pasting tetleytea:

Saw my lovely GP this morn. In spite of only having officially TTC for 8 months she has already done hormone level blood tests, plus a thyroid function test. The results will be back in a week and then I have another apt for a lovely internal examination! Plus she's checking me for anaemia (quite likely as I'm veggie & periods are fairly heavy/clotty- sorry TMI). Makes me realise how lucky I am to have such an amenable GP. I'm only 29 but do need to "complete" my family quite quickly as I have a hip replacement that will need re-doing in a few years, so need my kids to be a bit independent by then. My GP knows all this so perhaps that's why she's letting me have investigations so early.

She did say that stress is unlikely to cause shorter periods- usually it makes cycles longer (under quite a lot of pressure at the mo so I had wondered if that explained it). And any pre-period spotting that occurs more than a day or two before the proper period starts and happens for more than 3 cycles should be investigated, especially when this is new to a woman.

Next apt is next Thurs, so hopefully will know more then.

PS. I haven't been temping, but keeping a close eye on cm. Apparently as my cycle length varies by up to 6 days and also as my sleep is very interrupted by DD waking temping would probably not work for me, so will have to see just what blood tests show.

Hi JJF, your gp sounds great! Really good you're having all these tests done, so you should get some answers. And I'm sure having someone nice like who listens will take away at least some of the stress... It makes such a difference to be able to talk to someone understanding.

Thanks for letting me know....I'm going to see an old friend this week who's a gynae so intend to pick her brain and find out what to do next, bit worried about this spotting...

have a bit more time as not going to try this month as prefer not to have christmas baby.

Thanks and let's keep each other posted. Good luck!

Tetleytea - Hello, can I ask what an internal scan involves as my GP is referring me for one eek!

Hi warmseabreeze,

Rather than scanning over your belly they insert a probe into the vagina. It means they can get a closer look at your ovaries etc. Not much fun, but the first in a long line of having your bits..er...poked and prodded. oh dear, that sounds ruder than i meant it to!

Good luck!