Cycles suddenly shorter with spotting before period while trying to conceive

[TTCmomma]

SORRY FOR THE TMI attached!

My cycles have been freaking me out the last two months. I have actively been trying to conceive for the past 2-3 years (extra 3 if you count having unprotected sex but not actively trying) my cycles run like clockwork! My cycle length is usually 31-37 days, with it usually being 36 days.
I bleed for 7 days straight without a doubt. Usual light-mid bleeding and typical PMS.

my last 2 cycles have completely did a U Turn on me, my last cycle was 28 days, I bled 5 days before I was due AF, and ended the day I was actually due to come on. (Lasting only 5 days) tested and tested and was negative.

im expecting my period in 7 days but for the last 3 days I have experienced light brown intermittent spotting. I didn’t have any liners or pads so used a tampon while I was out and when I removed it it has next to nothing on it, just a brown smudge.

well it stopped all of last night and today, and just began again about 3/4hours ago.

(I’m wearing black period underwear so can’t tell if it’s on there) but it is when I wipe. I’m so confused because what is going on? Why have my periods been consistent for the past 5 years but now all of a sudden want to change?

I had unprotected sex 6 days in my ovulation period. No OPKs done, no HCGs done, just letting nature take its course. But I can’t help wonder what is going on?
I had slight nausea and cramping the day it stopped ( put it down to travel maybe )

this cycle I only had sex twice in my ovulation period. And if I’m having it 90% on my other cycles and not catching then why would this work if it’s less than half the amount I have on my other cycles? I probably sound nuts I know but I don’t know how to put all of this into words and I’m losing my mind haha!!

it’s still way too early to test (7days until period is due)
but this cycle and my last cycle has done a number on me. Any idea on what this could be / advice?

Could be implantation bleeding. If you don’t end up having a full flow, I’d take a pregnancy test on the first day of your missed period. The spotting could also be to do with hormonal changes.

Have you started taking Pregnacare by any chance?

Will definitely do so! I’m hoping it’s implantation but everything I’ve read seems to point to the fact it’s old blood and the bleeding should be pink or red if it’s implantation 🙈 kind of puts a damper on things but still hopeful

I haven’t, still eating the same foods and drinking the same as usual, no vitamins or anything of the such, no medications etc…not sure what it could be put down to

Well, you never know! One can hope ! Def take a test in a few days.

I’ve done the usual and tested anyway 😒 OPK and HCG. OPK strong positive but neg on the HCG. I know it still early to test but would my positive OPK just mean I’m very late to ovulate and that ovulation is probably just happening round about now?

Ah, not another one using an ovulation test for pregnancy. You really ought to stick to dedicated pregnancy tests, and take them when your period is due or late. I recommend FRER tests (pink dye)

A lot of women do get a positive/high ovulation test just before their period. It can be totally normal in a lot of women. Unless you test regularly though you won’t know if it’s normal for you or not. Honestly I’d stick to just testing for ovulation at the expected time rather than when you don’t expect it.

I see why you say that as I’ve just read a large portion of people use opks for pregnancy, however I ordered these as my issue is with my last 2 irregular cycles and the brown blood and trying to understand what’s happening, I wasn’t sure if it could be pregnancy/ovulation/ or just my cycles becoming irregular. Not definitively for pregnancy (which is why I also ordered pregnancy tests) but now that I’ve done the OPK, I can put it down to very late ovulation which would make sense considering my last cycle was out of the norm for me

This might be some ovulation bleeding. Whilst trying to conceive my second (20 weeks pregnant now) my cycles went a bit funny, I was wondering if it was stress, hormonal shifts or my age but they got a lot longer for a few cycles. I also started having ovulation bleeding, brown like yours, when I was ovulating which confused me even more. The cycle I did conceive I had a positive opk at 14 days then at about 30 days when I was expecting my period I had spotting and a positive opk - turns out I had ovulated much later than I thought and must have had a failed ovulation attempt earlier in the month! Good luck OP I hope you get to the bottom of what is happening for you xx

It may well be nothing and completely normal, but spotting before your period can sometimes indicate low progesterone which can make getting pregnant and staying pregnant a challenge. It might be worth asking your GP for a complete hormone panel including day 21 progesterone. If it is a progesterone issue then very easily sorted, but of course, could well be nothing. Good luck.

I did do some research on this too but I did have blood work done and all came back completely normal however I did have low iron, was prescribed iron tablets and changed my diet to include more iron rich foods, I also did have a slight raised testosterone but doctors ruled out any PCOS after further testing said it could have just been the time of month where it naturally rises

I’m thinking this maybe my issue too! Since I had an odd period last month aswell I could have definitely ovulated later than I thought. I’ve never normally tracked my ovulation with OPKS but thinking about doing so now

This would be my question too.

@TTCmomma I ended up buying lots of the cheap opk tests, pre mom brand, and I took one every day of my cycle to see what was happening. I plotted all the results on an LH chart which comes with the pre mom app and it helped me find my true peak x

Amazing Thankyou I will definitely start tracking my ovulation from now on!

FL or negative?

I’ve had trouble with my last 2 cycles and posted about it a few days ago here…
I used OPKS because I believed maybe I’m ovulating late, however I also did a HPT this morning too and I’m conflicted. The camera doesn’t pick it up so well but in person it’s slightly purple/pink and more apparent but I just don’t know what to think. Took a pic of it fresh and dried to see if it would make a difference, doesn’t really to be honest.

not sure if I’m just seeing things just because I want it to be there or if this is the start of positive results and maybe just very early?

thoughts?

AF originally due on the 10th

How old are you? And your partner? If you have been unprotected sex for 5-6 years and never yet had a positive pregnancy test you should see your doctor.

Our first is 5 years old, so I have been pregnant before, it’s been since trying to have our second that it’s been proven nearly impossible. I’ve had plenty of checks and they seem to think I’m fine and everything looks okay however my partner hasn’t had any checks

@TTCmomma I can see a faint shadow/line. Perhaps it is very early, and you ovulated a bit later than you thought? Good luck, I hope it turns proper positive in a few days :)