Weird spotting / std?

[Bereast23]

I’ve been with my dp 8 years. He was my first and I’ve never used contraception in my life (as we started trying for baby fairly quick) and after having kids I’m very aware of my body and track ovulation.

about 5 months ago I got the copper iud fitted as I didn’t want the risk and I also have pcos (my cycles can range from 40days to over 3 months long).

im currently 8 weeks into my cycle and for over 5 weeks now I have been spotting every day. I’ve never had this before and I know the copper coil can cause irregular bleeding etc. my periods have gotten alot heavier but that is expected.

it Started as spotting but now it’s become enough to need a panty liner, but not enough for a pad or to call a period. If I wipe it is red/pink but on the panty liner it’s often just a brown/dark brown. No sign of it stopping at all so I have just had swabs done at the gp to test for everything.

on top of that I have started getting some stinging feeling around the inside of my vulva and the last 2 times I had sex the skin of the vagina hole was very sore.

im really worried it could be an std, has anyone else had experience of this? I found out my dp had cheated on me over a year ago (that’s another story) and he hadn’t used protection with her. I’m most certainly sure he wouldn’t have an std as he’s very clean. Even so - I wouldn’t have caught it after a year would I?

another question - I had 3 std tests done over the past year (to be cautious) which were all negative. Let’s say dp has been 100% faithful since he cheated/he never had std and since my last std test came back clear - would it be possible I have only just caught the std/symptoms?

does this sound like an std?

The bleeding part sounds like the coil to me / exactly what I experienced.

Not sure about your other symptoms.

Alternatives to an std could be thrush or bv?

I spotted with a copper coil, it got so bad I had to have it removed after 5 months. I'd had one for 10 years previously with no issues. I have PCOS too.

My spotting was caused by cervical erosion and the threads rubbing on the cells making them bleed.

Not sure about the stinging being coil related, I've had this too and think it's more hormonal. A good daily lube helped me.

Any man who cheats on his partner without using protection is unspeakable. He deliberately risked your health because he couldn't be bothered using a condom. Stds don't depend on how clean or how many showers a person takes. You sound very young or naive. Cheaters almost invariably continue to cheat and I'm surprised you seem to have forgiven him so easily.

I'd get checked over again. It is likely just thrush or some minor thing. I used to get thrush all the time and it definitely makes things sore and you can just develop it yourself rather than catching it from somebody. You ask about catching stds later and herpes can lie dormant for a long time though and I think you can only be tested for it during an attack. You mention 3 std tests but don't mention whether he has been checked.

Sounds like the coil causing the spotting. Very common.

Sounds like thrush causing the pain. Thats how it feels for me. You can get a test for thrush in the supermarket if you dont want to treat it blindly

I think it sounds like it’s linked to the coil to be honest. Has your DH been tested? It doesn’t matter someone is in whether they catch an STI or not, it just depends if the woman he’s cheating with has one. Maybe not, but can’t just assume and not get tested

Thanks for the replies.

although I agree it sounds similar to thrush, I’ve had that before and was very swollen down there, white clumpy discharge and a lot of pain. This time I don’t have any of that discharge (rather just the spotting), I’m not swollen and I’m not in pain (unless I touch down there then it starts stinging).

the gp said it takes 3/4 days to get the swab results back but I’m so impatient I want to call already!

if it is the cool causing this spotting I’m not sure what I will do. I love the convenience of not having to worry for 5 years. I also don’t want to take anything with hormones in :/

Have you had a smear test? Could be hpv, or if clear it could be a cervical erosion. Go for a smear if due to rule it out, then you are left with it being the coil.
The stinging down below could just be from friction of sex causing soreness if not enough lubricant at the time.
All you can do is wait for the results.

go for a full sexual health screen (you can get it at the GP) and a smear test.

did 2 swabs at the gp including 1 to test for stds so just waiting a few days for results.

I havent had my first smear test yet as I was too scared and now when I try to book in they say they won’t do it if I’m bleeding or spotting… so I just can’t get it done

Just a little update - all my vaginal swabs came back normal.

the stinging has practically gone (unless I get aroused in which the wetness seems to make it start again tmi sorry!).

the bleeding is still there though and hasn’t stopped at all. Still a pink/red colour mixed with my discharge.

what do you all think I should do next? Is there anything else I should be checking for? I can’t continue spotting everyday and I can’t get smear test done while spotting

That's a relief the swabs were clear from stds. Maybe check/rule out thrush or BV

In relation to the bleeding/spotting due to the coil. I think there are only 2 options:

1. persevere in the hope it improves (mine suddenly stopped after a few months but i may have been lucky as I've now not had a single spot of blood in over a year).
2. get the coil removed.

Not meaning to be flippant re the coil but from a practical pov not sure what other option there could be? I know how horrible it can be!

Glad that your swab came back as normal.

Could be stress or age. Some women go through periods of really light spotting during ovulation....but I assume that doesn't happen on the coil? Find out because it could be relevant. I also assume you've taken a pregnancy test? I would.

I also wanted to say that I think your husband is an absolute dickhead for cheating and not using contraception. How on earth could you trust him after that, and not be using any barrier like a condom???

I had 2 swabs done. 1 was checking stds and the other was a general one so I’m sure that would’ve checked for thrush/bv right?

tbh the symptoms have completely gone today now! No stinging etc. so just the spitting now.

I tjink I’ll speak to the gp again just in terms of not being able to get the smear test done due to the spotting. If it does continue I think I’ll have to remove it but I just don’t want any hormonal bc

The spotting will be from the coil and completely normal. Sometimes it settles and for some it doesnt. Everyones different.

Thanks! I think you’re right.

today was the first day in 6 weeks that I didn’t spot at all! (Yet)

booked in for my first smear test next week so hopefully that goes well. also hoping they can check the threads at the same time as I have no clue how to check them! Sounds simple but I can’t feel anything and can’t find my cervix