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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

Original poster

does spotting a few days before AF mean low progesterone so therefore no chance of a BFP?

31 replies

biggernow · 08/03/2009 19:11

since stopping breastfeeding i have spotted before periods. have been ttc now for 3 months for no 2 and no joy. Have bad pms these days and have had a chemical pregnancy too last month. Having Progesterone test this week due to PMS symptoms and Doc think I could have Estro dominance due to a few mild hot flushes (i'm only 31).... so having day 3 tests too.....

Anyone have any experience??

Thanks

OP posts:
JumpingJellyfish · 08/03/2009 19:47

will watch this thread with interest- I too now have spotting up to 4 days before periods since having DD, which I never had before. Also my cycles are slightly shorter & more variable. Have been TTC for 9 cycles- no joy- yet my other 2 DCs were conceived straightaway. Off to GP on tuesday so should know more then. Hope you get some anwers soon- glad you are getting investigated too.

Original poster
biggernow · 08/03/2009 22:09

keep in touch and let's see what outcome is....my cycles are also more variable. having 7dpo prog test tomorrow but it may be a bit late as there are two poss days I o'd....
will keep watching this thread and come back......

hang in there jjf.

OP posts:
Original poster
biggernow · 08/03/2009 22:09

p.s are you taking your temps daily btw?

OP posts:
Warmseabreeze · 10/03/2009 10:06

Hi Ladies

I am currently being investigated for spotting before my periods. If you have been having it for more than 3 months then this is not normal. My GP has done an internal and everything looks fine (also had smear 3 months ago and all was clear) also just had swabs done to check for infection which were also clear. She is now planning to refer me to the hospital to have a camera investigation, but she is refusing to do blood tests to check hormone levels as I have only been ttc for 8 months - i am frustrated by this as I think it is probably just a hormone imbalance since my mc (July08).

Let me know how u both get on x

worriedma · 10/03/2009 10:16

After having ds my periods went like this too. I could have up to 3 days cramping and spotting before af arrived. I thought that I had a short lp because of this but actually was able to conceive dd relatively quickly. My af's have arrived again and the spotting has disappeared. I know it can be problematic for some in conceiving but for me it was ok. Sorry to hear about the chemical pregnancy - hope you have some luck soon.

JumpingJellyfish · 10/03/2009 11:20

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.

Good luck all- do keep us posted biggernow.

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.

Original poster
biggernow · 10/03/2009 21:49

hey all. thanks for replies.

now have to wait for 7dpo blood test results and then when period arrives, I will have CD3 tests to see what is going on with other hormones. Period due in next few days, and no spotting yet- but still time for it...if it comes it will be 3rd month of it- and I never had it before.......

Warmasabreeze-:isn't having blood counts done easier than having a camera investigation? Also, I have learnt that low progesterone can cause spotting....... What are her reasons for doing camera before blood tests? What is she checking you for? Are you TTC your first? A million questions.........!!

worriedma- thanks for reassurance. how many cycles did it take you to conceive DD?

JJF- great to hear you have nice Doc- that is a help, very pleased for you. Mine not too bad, but also can be annoying (eg...when I went to her about my sons teething once, as it was so bad but wanted to check it wasn't anything else, she told me kids don't have symptoms from teething- do her children have no teeth then?!)
Anyway, let me know how you get on with your results- and when period arrives (just starting to get that feeling so won't be long sadly) I can book in CD3 tests..........

Then it will be a 10 day wait..............

Everyone keep me posted.

Baby dust all round........

OP posts:
Warmseabreeze · 11/03/2009 13:43

Hi Biggernow glad to hear you are getting blood tests! My GP seems to think the blood tests are infertility tests and that is why she won't refer me for these, as I havent been trying for long enough. After talking to her today she is refering me for an internal scan (rather than the camera - though dont know what the difference is) to check my womb and ovaries, I just feel really frustrated as I had an internal scan when I MC'ed and they are not v comfortable, and so I would rather try the blood test first! Oh and this would be DC2.

Let me know how u get on! Good luck xx

HeadFairy · 22/03/2009 18:34

Hi everyone, just curious to know how you all got on with your tests.... I've had some spotting before af, but only over a couple of days, so I guess that's considered normal, though it has got me slightly worried as I didn't used to have it before ds and mcs.

Warmseabreeze · 22/03/2009 19:38

Hi HeadFairy I am still waiting on my appointment for the scan, so no news yet! My spotting is for 3/4 days before AF, this started a month or so after my MC.

I think I saw on another thread that Biggernow might just have got a BFP!! If thats right congrats!!!

anniemac · 22/03/2009 20:06

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HeadFairy · 22/03/2009 21:09

warmseabreeze hope the scan goes well. That's great news about biggernow if it's true.

anniemac I think my spotting falls within the acceptable boundaries, it's never more than two days before af, and it's really minimal. Plus my cycles have been pretty much 28-29 days. I have had two early mcs recently, so I think getting pg isn't a problem, it's keeping it. I might go and see the doc and ask to check my progesterone levels and see if that's a factor in my mcs. They may not be willing to though until I have a third mc.

anniemac · 22/03/2009 21:21

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HeadFairy · 22/03/2009 21:29

Yeah, I'd quite like to preempt things and avoid a third mc. If it really is that simple, seems crazy not to try, progesterone supplements can't harm can they? Isn't the mini pill a progesterone only pill?

anniemac · 22/03/2009 21:48

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HeadFairy · 22/03/2009 22:07

They're not much fun I must admit. I've got pg first or second month of trying twice since September, but lost each one at 6 weeks. There is one gp at our practice who's lovely, I think I'll try and get in to see him, even if it's just for a chat. He may well feel my symptoms don't warrant any further investigations.

anniemac · 23/03/2009 09:56

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Original poster
biggernow · 23/03/2009 19:12

hey guys
sorry i didn't get back to you sooner. yes, it is true, did get a bfp- but early early days. the spotting didn't seem to be progesterone related- my levels were ok. Never got to have my CD3. have had 2 days spotting and had early scan that showed a possible small tear away from sac, which HOPEFULLY explained it. i am VERY nervous and have to wait until weds 1st for another scan (one at 4 weeks 3 days just showed a sac) SO, things may not be ok. My HCG was rising, but don't know now. So scared. Sending you all baby dust and hope things sort out. I shall have to see what happens.

OP posts:
JumpingJellyfish · 23/03/2009 20:39

ooooh biggernow- that's wonderful about your BFP- keeping everything crossed for you, really hope your next scan shows everything growing as it should be. It is so agonising to have to wait so long. Good luck!

My test results came back all clear- which is a relief- but still doesn't explain why I often get spotting 4 day before AF starts properly. So GP has referred me to gynae for a scan to check for fibroids... In the meantime DH & I have decided to carry on TTC, AF is due sometime later this week. Not getting hopes up though.

Do keep us posted biggernow Headfairy it can't do any harm to chat things over with your GP- mine have been so accomodating it has helped enormously (though not yet explained why no BFPs!). I too have read that spotting around 2 days before a period, especially if it is light and usually browny colour is quite normal for many ladies. I am beginning to realise that our cycles really do change a lot over time, esp. after childbirth, so think my changes could be just that. Going to try OPKs next cycle...

Original poster
biggernow · 23/03/2009 20:59

thanks jj.
i highly recommend toni welschers 'taking charge of your fertility'- temp charting can show you SO much- REALLY rate it.
chat again soon................

OP posts:
Original poster
biggernow · 23/03/2009 21:02

anyone watching channel 4 great sperm race?!

OP posts:
shirleyc · 23/03/2009 21:57

yup started a thread myself under conception what a waste of time! I was hoping for a bfp this month now i know all the ins and outs well maybe not! They have made it sound impossible!

lastboxoftampons · 24/03/2009 14:53

Hello all - some familiar faces

Just wanted to chime in here - yes, spotting before a period can be an indicator of progesterone issues, but it's not always the case. I had a short LP (10-11 days) and always spotted at least a day or two before a period and I've gotten pregnant twice. Sadly the first one ended in mc, but I'm currently 22 weeks gone with a little boy So it can be done! And my GP did all the requisite tests and all results were normal. We don't know why I spotted so much, but it doesnt' really matter now!

Good luck to you all! And congrats to bigger now!

Warmseabreeze · 31/03/2009 10:59

Just saw that JumpingJellyfish has got a BFP!!! Congratulations xxx

JumpingJellyfish · 31/03/2009 11:37

Thank you warmseabreeze! I am in a way so surprised- this was the cycle when my bloods were done etc. so we haven't really been trying and I didn't work out my fertile period or anything- and no idea which day resulted in conception! And weirdly my last cycle was 24 days long with spotting from CD21... No spotting at all this time, so once I got to CD28 (today) I just had to test.
I have to admit, in spite of warnings, I did take agnus castus every other day for the first 12 or so days of this cycle- just on a whim - I also took evening primrose oil then too, but stopped after 12 days (along with the usual folic acid). Not sure if it helped but here I am!

Hope that everyone else gets their BFP soon.