Mid cycle bleeding or irregular periods?

[MotherOfSoupDragon]

I'e suffered in the past with mid cycle bleeding which I put down to ovulation or fluctuating hormones (I'm 50). It was only spotting and not painful. I saw my GP who sent me for a scan and took bloods, but couldn't find anything. She then referred me to the local gynae department. When I saw her, she recommended having a look with a camera. I wimped out due to fear of the pain, but also am so scared of catching MRSA in hospital and have also emetaphobia, so can't contemplate a GA due to sickness afterwards, plus I would like to be awake to make sure I know what they're doing to me! (You hear of so many errors these days ...)

Anyway I declined and also at that point the mid cycle bleeding disappeared for a few months. However, last month I had a tiny bit of spotting mid cycle. This month I have a sort of period exactly two weeks after the start of my last period - for the past three days. Not heavy bleeding as is usual for me these days, but enough to warrant a small pad or mini tampon rather than just a panty liner, the mini tampon is full after eight hours (sorry for tmi!).

I don't know if this is mid cycle bleeding or not.

I know I should go back to my GP, but really don't want to go through with the procedure of a camera to check what is wrong. Does anyone know if there is an alternative I can suggest to my GP? Also does anyone know what this could be caused by? I'm struggling to sleep at night now, worrying that this could be cancer - when this happened the first time about two years ago the GP I saw then commented that I had possibly had some cervical erosion. However, half a year after that I had my regular smear and it came back clear. Cervical erosion hasn't been mentioned since, but I'm now so worried that something is seriously wrong.

I suffer a little with depression - no longer seeing a counsellor, as I'm trying to get on with life and not dwell on things, and I don't take ADs due to the side effects feeling worse than the depression (nausea!), but I suffer terribly with health anxiety and worrying in general. My counsellor was a man, he was great, but I didn't feel I could talk to him about female problems that were worrying me and he is the only counsellor there is.

I wish I could be as carefree as I was in my twenties and thirties, this is affecting my relationship with my dh because I struggle to talk to him about these things (as a child at home these things were never talked about) but I don't feel sexy at all and generally have no confidence (I'm a bit overweight and feel old and ugly).

Sorry this is so long and thanks if you've read this far.

You poor thing!
You do sound like you're all tied up in knots.

I suggest you go back to your therapist and try cognative behaviour therapy cbt, to enable you to move on with your life.

Also, I feel you should go back to your GP and have someone come with you to explain how you feel about procedures, if you find yourself unable to speak, or fear being dismissed.

Basically, you are in need of medical help, but are too afraid and anxious to seek it and too worried about side effects to take the medicines prescribed.

You need someone to help you move from this place, and my suggestion would be to see a cbt therapist.

Also to up your vitamin and mineral suppliments - especially vitamin b complex.

Do enlist the help of a friend who can come to appointments with you and be your advocate.

You aren't the only person in the world who is anxious or having mid cycle bleeding, but it's difficult to treat unless they can examine you and make a diagnosis. You need to let go of the anxiety, to enable yourself to return to maximum health. Cbt will help you with this.

You owe it to yourself to be as healthy as you can be, and to live a carefree life filled with happiness.

Talk with your GP and see who they recommend.

Thanks for your reply. However, I obviously have exaggerated a little! I don't have a problem with being examined or taking medication normally, but anti depressants have caused a lot of side effects that I felt made my depression worse - I suffered such tiredness that I could barely function, nausea, nightmares, dizziness, headaches, dry mouth. I tried a few different ones, one I did take for a year, but I would rather learn to cope with my life.

I have been examined on many occasions, but I am worried about the pain involved in a hysteroscopy (I think that's the procedure), as I have had a coil in the past and that was incredibly painful. If that is absolutely necessary, I guess I will go along with it, but I feel maybe a hormone test would be more appropriate, but my gp was adamant that wasn't necessary.

I guess I need to go back to the gp, but just wondered if anyone had experience of mid cycle bleeding and any advice regarding what I could discuss with the gp before having the hysteroscopy.

Sorry, forgot to ask what B12 would be for? I take a multivitamin at present, along with probiotics to help with my IBS.

Hi. I'm in a very similar position. Had a couple of episodes of mid cycle spotting (very small amount) earlier in the year plus pink tinged discharge after sex.

My GP referred me for an ultrasound (I assume that's what you have had when you refer to a scan), which was normal. I am also under the colposcopy clinic for a cervical erosion which is due to be cauterised in a few weeks.

However, I didn't have a period for three months over the early summer, had a normal period at the beginning of August and September, but am now on the third day of bleeding which started only 7 days after the last period finished!

I had a blood test done today which will check my thyroid and hormone levels - GP is convinced it's perimenopause (I've been having some night sweats too, but am only 44), and the erosion causing all the symptoms.

But I am a worrier too and have spent a long time googling and convincing myself I've got uterine and/or cervical cancer.....

I gather that if the hormone test is positive then that means definitely perimenopause, but if it's negative, that essentially means nothing - only that your hormones were normal on the day of testing.

You can buy a home menopause test if your GP won't send you for one. I would have thought that your age would make it quite likely that this is the cause of the spotting/bleeding. Make sure your GP checked your thyroid when you had blood tests done. You could also ask your GP to examine you for an erosion - it can usually be seen as a red area on the cervix- and refer you to the colposcopy clinic if you have one.

For myself, if the hormone test is negative, or if it's positive and things get worse, I shall be pressing for a gynae referral. If I were you, I'd also go back to the gynae and put up with a hysteroscopy for peace of mind - I know how awful it is living with the worry of not knowing. I'm not sure if there are any realistic alternatives to get a definitive diagnosis.

Take care.

Anywinewilldo, it's the worrying that gets me too. I don't mind the symptoms although I'd rather not have any bleeding!

Thanks for replying, it helps a bit to know I'm not alone. I didn't know there are home menopause kits, but it seems they are unreliable, so I may not bother.

I think I'll go to a different gp and start at the beginning, ask them to test for hormones.

Hiya, just thought it might help for you to know, I had a hysteroscopy 2 yrs ago for irregular periods and I was given the option of a light general anaesthetic or having it done without any anaesthesia. As I was going on holiday the next day I had it done with no sedation. Tbh it was so quick, I have had smear tests take longer!

McKenna, how painful was it?