Bleeding between ovulation and period - is there anyone else out there?

[IconicKitty]

I'm in my early 30s and have dealt with this issue since my late teens.

I get ovulation pain around day 14 of cycle. And then, 9/10 from day 15 I have brown spotting/bleeding. It's not enough to wear a tampon but enough to wear a pad to stop my underwear getting ruined. My breasts hurt during this time, and I can eat for England. And then my period starts and it's 4-5 days of heavy clotting.

I have been to the GP more times than I can count. I was on the mini pill in my early 20s which helped, but it gave me sore boobs, headaches, weight gain. I don't want to take a hormonal pill for the rest of my life. Doctor has suggested the coil but I don't like the thought of that and the ongoing maintenance either.

I've been to a gynaecologist about 7 years ago (who found nothing), and had two trans vaginal scans. The second scan found 2 years ago found I had a fibroid and they say that must be the reason. I'm up to date with smears and had the last 2 months ago and all fine. Blood tests showed all fine, except low iron (probably from bleeding). I asked about endometriosis but gyno said probably not, and even if it was, there's no cure so I would be putting myself through surgery just for a diagnosis. They didn't want to persist.

I lost a lot of weight via very disordered eating a couple of years ago and that stopped it, before stopping my periods altogether (but that's not healthy).

It's ruining my life - I'm bleeding more than I'm not. I've read online that low progesterone/higher oestrogen after ovulation can cause this but doctor dismissed me. He said I should consider the coil.

Is there anyone out there who has experience of this, and what do you do?

Hi OP

I just turned forty a week ago and have been experiencing this on and off for just over a year.
Sometimes it is started by sex after ovulation/within a week of my period and then I spot until my period starts.

I've had scans and smears and a colposcopy but nothing untoward was found so it's probably low progesterone and the gynae offered me the mini pill. I don't want to take synthetic hormones so am using bioidentical progesterone cream which is helping a tiny bit but it takes up to a year to build up and have a full effect.

Because I am forty I am willing to just go along with the spotting as I'm reassured that it's nothing sinister and is a dip in hormones due to my age and I may well be on my way towards perimenopause as my mum was menopausal by fifty.

My mum also had mid cycle spotting from her early/mid thirties onwards and was prescribed progesterone pessaries as her levels were more or less zero and the spotting was becoming more frequent.

Do you want to have an IUD? Apparently they can stop you bleeding entirely.
Or would you rather press your doctor to investigate your hormone levels?

It does sound as if you may be oestrogen dominant due to the sore breasts and clotting you describe. I am similar but as I say, due to my age its not really unexpected to be experiencing some fluctuations. As you are younger it may warrant a treatment plan, especially if you ever hope to conceive in the coming years.

Hope you can find some support from your GP.

Similar situation. Mine started when I was 30. Fed up! So I know how you feel. Progesterone pill made it ten times worse. Coil been recommended but I’m honestly not sure x

Hello, I'm experiencing similar since turning 40 (I'm nearly 41 now). I get my period which is HEAVY for a day or two, clots etc. Then stops a day, then comes back with spotting and then ends.
A week later (ovulation time) I get awful cramps like period pains and brown/light pink spotting for a day or 2.
It us v frustrating.