Concerned about so-called 'normal' spotting at the end of a cycle?

[JustShaggy]

I had two miscarriages last year at age 38. I've now noticed in my past two cycles that I've started spotting BEFORE my period starts. I am currently on my 4th day of spotting at the end of this cycle (on CD30 and my UCL is 29days). I'm charting on fertilityfriend and today and yesterday's temps have only just dropped below the cover line (coverline is 36.45, last two temps have flat-lined at 36.44). Three HPTs so far - all negative and no pregnancy signs either.

In a previous cycle I had two days of spotting before my cycle started.

This spotting is not normal for me. Usually I have cramps the day before and spotting turning into a light bleed and then a proper period, usually in the span of one day.

I've been told by various medical people that 'spotting is normal' - however, I've just read this here:

"If a woman has had four or five miscarriages in the first six or eight weeks of a pregnancy, this is always due to luteal phase failure. Progesterone is needed to facilitate implantation and to prevent rejection of the developing embryo. You should wait till you ovulate, and then four to six days after possible conception do a blood test for hCG to see if you?re pregnant. If you are, start the progesterone; that way you will increase you chance of having a healthy baby."

I am so anxious to avoid a third miscarriage.

Should I be worried? And if this does apply to me, what is the treatment exactly and is it usually effective?

Ooops - this quote is what freaked me - combined with the above:

"Abnormal spotting lasts for days. It's abnormal to spot days before your menstrual cycle is due. The causes of abnormal spotting vary."

"One common cause of spotting several days before the menstrual cycle is due is low progesterone. It�s the hormone progesterone that helps to maintain the uterine lining for pregnancy and when progesterone level drops, the menstrual cycle occurs. In women who are deficient in progesterone, they will see spotting several days to a week before their cycle is due. This can also cause minor infertility and early miscarriage. "

From here

Bump.

Didn't want your post to go answered as I'm interested too, as we TTC our first and in the past I have had some spotting in the days before AF. I always thought it was normal until someone on here made me freak out a little because of it. But there are so many people on here who spot a couple of days before a period! Ironically, for the past three cycles since I've been really seriously going for it, then I just spot the evening before.

me too, i always spot a day or two before and very interested to hear more about progesterone and luteal phase defects. I have a LP of 10-11 days but with the spotting before its obviously less. I am waiting for results of Day21 bloods so will let you know how I went on re progesterone levels.

Btw I am TTC#1 for 15 months now

AF just arrived today - preceded by five days of spotting! I had a D21 progesterone test and all I was told by my GP was that I had ovulated in that cycle.

Feeling worried and frustrated... surely I should be told if my progesterone levels are within the range of normal or if they are generally low?

Maybe I misunderstood what the test was about?

I think that may be what happened to me; I've just had 2nd mc in 3 months. Ovulated (got a CBFM), started spotting 7 days after ovulation, it appeared to stop for a couple of days, bfp, then mc at 5.4.

No further investigations for me however, as it's 'only' mc 2!

Anyone have more info on the treatment for low progesterone? All input gratefully received!

I have this issue too. Have always spotted for 1-2 days before AF arrived and thought nothing of it. But for the last 6 months or so I have noticed it has got much longer - around 5 days - and sometimes like you describe, anastasia, it starts even earlier and then stops again. That happened this month and like you, I got a BFP, but it stayed for only a day and then a test the next day was negative and AF arrived . I'm also getting much worse PMS than before, but part of that may be stress of TTC (for 9 months now) with no success.

I saw a consultant a month or so ago, who said it was 'normal' and had nothing to do with my fertility .

I'm not sure whether it is related to low progesterone or not. I chart my temps and they remain high for 14-15 days which is the length of my luteal phase (i.e. ovulation to AF). But I am going to start using natural progesterone cream, which some people say helps with the spotting, and am also having accupuncture (only 3 sessions so far).

I'm 37 and did wonder whether this is an age-related thing.

Justshaggy i think the day 21 test possibly just tests whether you've ovulated if compared with day 3 test (i.e. it tells you if your progesterone has risen consistent with ovulation). But from what I have read, spotting could be triggered by falling progesterone, which might well happen after day 21 IYSWIM! Hope that makes sense. I'm not an expert but this is just what I have gleaned from reading.

I have an appointment with another consultant next week so will let you all know if I find out anything useful!