worried - brown spotting before period

[EverythingsPink]

I've been having brown spotting before my periods for a while now and have not had a positive ovulation test since i started using them 3 months ago, despite other signs of Ovulating.

Dr has said to go back if I have two more cycles like I'm usually having. (so one more to go) but i've read that the brown spotting could be due to hormone imbalance.

Anyone else experienced this? And what would cause it? Any suggestions how to improve our chances of comcpetion without having to wait for next dr app?

I also have this - I probably have a hormone balance, as i have others symptoms, like acne and facial hair growth (sounds lovely doesn't it?). Can't offer advice about conception but it sounds like your doctor isn't being dismissive (like mine were) which is a good sign.
Hope someone more knowledgeable comes along soon.

I had this too and I was concerned that I had a hormone imbalance. My blood tests came back normal, apart from progesterone levels which were almost non existent and showed that I wasn't ovulating. However I did eventually conceive and I am now 6 months pregnant. Never got to the bottom of what was causing it, I also had really irregular periods.

Spotting before your period can be due to many, many reasons such as endometriosis, cysts, erosions etc but if you suspect you're not ovulating either it's possible that you have low progesterone levels. They will be able to find out if this is the case and remedy it.

It is possile to spot before your periods and it mean absolutely nothing. I always spot for a couple of days before a period and am definitely fertile/normal as far as I'm aware!

Ovulation testy whatsits are not a reliable indicator on their own.

It's brill that they're taking you seriously.

I never knew that brown spotting could mean a hormone imbalance - I also have a slight brown discharge for a couple of days prior to my period starting properly - didn't realise this was abnormal . I also have facial hair growth (also ) - can this all be treated?

I am TTC, but had these symptoms before having DD, so it didn't seem to cause any problems. My mum also has the facial hair growth so I just assumed it was genetic. Do you think it would be worth getting it checked out though?

There's a thread on a similar topic here: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/conception/886586-short-luteal-phase-due-to-BF

I've had brown spotting before my period (usually 3-4 days) and I've been told it's most likely due to cervical erosion. I've also had tests for PCOS (excessive facial and body hair / acne... lucky me) but they came back clear.

Thanks for your replies. I have been worrying about this for so long it is definately not doing me any good. I don't have any other symptoms of low progesterone so will just have to wait and see.

I have a similar problem. I'm ttc following an early miscarriage a year ago. My periods are relatively regular but in the last two months they have gone a bit strange. I bleed for 1-2 days then stop for 1-2 days then start again and have about a week of bleeding. I'm struggling to tell when I ovulate as I don't know when to count day one.

Lorelai - it's worth getting your hormones checked if you're worried.

I have facial hair too (and acne, and REALLY oily skin, and let's not even talk about the below-the-neck hair ). All of these things point to PCOS - in fact, the only box I didn't tick was irregular periods. My GP was happy to send me for tests to rule out PCOS anyway. Fortunately, my ovaries are fine, but I do have slightly high testosterone. That explains a lot! The GP didn't seem to think this was worth investigating or treating though.