Bleeding throughout luteal phase

[pinacollama]

Hi everyone, posted this on the conception board yesterday but wondered if this might be a better place for it.

Does anyone have experience of this? I bleed every cycle from around 4/5 dpo, once as early as 3dpo. It’s light spotting, starting almost yellow, to pink and only when I wipe after bearing down (e.g after bowel movement). A couple of days before my period it gets marginally heavier and brown. I have had fertility investigations which have shown all is normal apart from polycystic ovaries. The consultant mentioned a possible hormone imbalance, but said “do you want to fix this or have a baby, we can’t do both”. The doctor I saw for my follow up said that they’re not concerned and don’t see that as a reason I’m not conceiving. They had to discharge us but have said come December, when we’ve been trying for 2 years, to request re-referral via the GP for IVF.

I don’t see how the spotting isn’t a problem and do feel it’s a likely hormone imbalance - isn’t it my lining starting to break down? How could implantation happen if it’s already shedding?

I had a chemical in January, apart from that nothing.

I’d be grateful for any similar stories/advice etc.

@starfishy I think that's my worry too- will it affect fertility and is that why it's not happening. Thank you for sharing your experience.
@GQXX I'm going to ask at my next appointment. Straight after my scan we discuss next steps. So I'll see what she says.

@GQXX Yes I had a laparoscopy to diagnose and possibly remove it. They said at the time though that it was just fine ‘dots’ everywhere so too small to remove. Not sure what it’s like now as it doesn’t show up on any scans but I do have the same pains during my period so must still be there.
If the clomid hadn’t worked I think I would have pushed for another lap before doing ivf or anything else.
Yes when I was pregnant I had spotting from 7dpo up to about 5 days after my period was due (and after a positive test). Sometimes it was bright red blood too. I thought at the time ‘next time I must know not to worry about spotting’ but here i am again!
I don’t think ovulating on cd11 should be an issue, think it is more long cycles that can be a problem. All I remember my consultant saying last time was that when I was having 35-40 day cycles I was unlikely to be ovulating even though I was having periods (like my GP tried to fob me off with).

@paintfairy yes I don't know why some doctors don't think it is hormonal when it happens at the same time every month. All I seem to hear though that if it is spotting and not your period then it shouldn't be an issue 🤞

Hi all, just wanted to add an update. I've had a bfp today. Spotted from 7dpo and 8dpo was red blood, like AF was starting. This is what I have every month so shows again hopefully that bleeding during literal phase doesn't matter.
Keeping fingers crossed for all xx

@starfishy

Hi all, just wanted to add an update. I've had a bfp today. Spotted from 7dpo and 8dpo was red blood, like AF was starting. This is what I have every month so shows again hopefully that bleeding during literal phase doesn't matter. Keeping fingers crossed for all xx

@starfishy big congratulations!! Hope you don’t mind me asking do you still spotting or bleeding once you have got BFP? Or does spotting stop at some point? Thanks and all the best!

@GQXX Thank you! Early days so feeling a bit cautious but just happy to know clomid has worked again for us.
I stopped spotting the 2 days before bfp this time which is what has been happening on my previous cycles. I usually have quite a large bleed 7dpo and when I wasn't tracking I'd sometimes mark it as AF it was so heavy but then it'd go back to spotting, stop for a day or 2 and then AF would actually arrive. Same happened this time except no AF.
My bfp with my dd I spotted 8dpo right up to bfp on 15dpo and this carried on for a few days. (Also had another bfp like this but ended in mmc). This was how my cycles used to be then too, spotting from 8dpo right up to when AF would arrive.
So the cycles I've been pregnant the spotting has been no different to usual just AF didn't start.

[quote starfishy]@GQXX Thank you! Early days so feeling a bit cautious but just happy to know clomid has worked again for us.
I stopped spotting the 2 days before bfp this time which is what has been happening on my previous cycles. I usually have quite a large bleed 7dpo and when I wasn't tracking I'd sometimes mark it as AF it was so heavy but then it'd go back to spotting, stop for a day or 2 and then AF would actually arrive. Same happened this time except no AF.
My bfp with my dd I spotted 8dpo right up to bfp on 15dpo and this carried on for a few days. (Also had another bfp like this but ended in mmc). This was how my cycles used to be then too, spotting from 8dpo right up to when AF would arrive.
So the cycles I've been pregnant the spotting has been no different to usual just AF didn't start.
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@starfishy thanks for your response! All the best with this pregnancy

Update from me - fertility clinic is trialling me on progesterone this month. To see if it changes anything with the spotting! My day 21 test is 45, so normal. But she still thinks it is progesterone related. We shall see!
@starfishy congratulations! That's amazing!

@paintfairy thanks! I had an early scan today and all looking good, measuring 7 weeks

Good news you are being offered progesterone! Keeping fingers crossed for you this cycle xx

@starfishy excellent news!
Time will tell, ok so far, but the next 5 days will be the test!

Hi,
I am having the same issue where I am spitting from 7dpo. Only for the last 3-4 cycles, so feel that something has changed.
I have cramps whilst spotting- did any of you have this, or just the spotting?
Trying to get help with the doctors as been trying for baby 2 for 18 months, but they aren't being particularly helpful.
Thanks

@abloor1 I don't get get cramps. Just spotting. I'm now 13dpo though and still no spotting which is unheard of for me. The progesterone clearly is the issue.

Hi everyone, I am so glad to have found this thread as it was reassuring to read about others experiencing the same symptoms as me (and in some cases, the same unhelpful responses from medical professionals!) I know it's an old thread but hopefully some of you might still see this...

@pinacollama did you get helpful support after your endometriosis diagnosis? Did you have IVF in the end?

@paintfairy How long did you have to TTC before you were referred to the fertility clinic? Did the progesterone treatments help you to conceive in the end?

@abloor1 and @GQXX - Did your issues resolve themselves and/or did you manage to get any diagnosis/treatment?

And interested in any updates from anyone I've missed too! Desperately trying to work out what I should be asking my doctor for.

Thanks in advance!

Hi @sbear86
I’m convinced the laparoscopy to remove the endo helped- we conceived 5 months later in July 2020 and we now have a gorgeous, cheeky little 16 month old. I don’t think I spotted that month but can’t fully remember. I’m breastfeeding still and my period hasn’t returned yet so I don’t know what my cycle will be like when it does.

I would push for gynae referral. I was definitely lucky with the gynaecologist I got I think, as he didn’t need much persuading to refer me for a lap.

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly :) That's great news, so glad it worked out well for you! Yes, I think I probably do need to see a gynaecologist - am moving house soon and transferring to a better doctors' surgery so fingers crossed they will be good about referring me. I'll just keep TTC and keeping my fingers crossed in the meantime!

Hi Everyone, is there any update on this thread? :)

ive been on the waiting list for a lap since January and no luck! A cancellation came up in July but I was on holiday :( I had a second trimester miscarriage in feb 2021 and been TTC since. Since last July I started brown spotting for a whole week before my period. Finally got to the progesterone from this July and it’s stopped the spotting but still no BFP so I don’t know what’s going on? I don’t have any symptoms of endo apart from the spotting. I’m feeling really down. I’m paying to start IVF next year but I feel worried incase I have endo and it doesn’t work.x

Sorry to hear of your TTC troubles. I didn't have to get investigated for endometriosis in the end as I got pregnant within a month of making my post :) I didn't have any luteal phase bleeding that cycle - not sure whether that was a coincidence and not sure whether it was anything to do with the acupuncture I had and the dietary advice I had from the acupuncturist, or whether it was just my time. It's good that you are on the waiting list but sorry you have been waiting so long! Have they given any indication of how long you might be waiting? Is going private an option at all? xx

Hi ladies,
Just noticed this thread and it’s very similar to what I’m going through with spotting throughout the luteal phase. But I’m really confused as I went to see a highly recommended gynaecologist privately yesterday and he said my progesterone levels should be fine as I’m still ovulating and having fairly regular cycles. He said I’m probably just spotting this month cos I’ve maybe not ovulated properly (had a bad egg he referred it as). I started bleeding a few days after ovulation this cycle but usually don’t start spotting until 3 days before my period. Hoping he’s right and I don’t spot as early next month but I’m just so confused. Has anyone else had similar or different advice?

So glad to have found this thread! I’ve been having luteal phase spotting only since starting TTC. Is that the same for everyone else? Prior to TTC I never had any spotting and since TTC, I have it every month! It’s been 4 cycles now. My progesterone levels came back normal as did all my other bloods and they couldn’t find anything in my scans. Anyone have any idea why this bleeding only started when TTC? Surely if it was endo or something like that, the bleeding would have started before TTC! If anyone has any similar experiences I would be so grateful to hear as I am losing my mind! Xx