Spotting pink, brown and red week before period and now period is late, still spotting.

[McWorry]

i am so stressed, been spotting for a week now and still pink, brown and worrying me sick as I have a cervical polyp and I’m scared it’s not benign. Read horror stories on forums and I’m looking for reassurance I guess or anyone else who’s had spotting.

I am 46, nearly 47 next month. Regular periods with a shortened cycle 21 days last few years. No other symptoms of Peri that I know of except low sex drive.

I delayed having a smear years though, (remiss of me) and went finally last year after getting spotting and discharge. The discharge was a bit bloody and lasted a day or so.

I went private and gynae said he could see a cervical polyp. This terrified me.

he did a trans USS and told me everything except the polyp was ok.

Smear taken, cytology (cells, like the old way they did it) and HPV testing.

smear came back clear. No HPV or bad cells.

Referred to have polyp removed. Was on waiting list months and meantime I went few months later (June) for another trans vaginal US as I was worried about the thickness of my womb from first vaginal scan. Gynae said time of month meant it was 10.1mm and that was ok but be prudent to check again just as period finished so I did and it was 7mm, 4 days after period but this time the Gynae (another one) found a small subserosal fibroid. Didn’t really comment more and said it all looked ok.

no polyps seen inside uterus and sent me off with a report as it was private.

nhs waiting list to have polyp removed went in and on waiting and meantime I felt ok, getting on with things until I got a letter 11 months after referral. I was going on holiday and couldn’t cancel so asked for a reschedule. Anyway they didn’t amd discharged me. I was waiting and went to my gp. Who then referred me and I’ve been waiting and this month things have gone downhill for me. It’s been over a year since I had the first scan and smear.

Has your NHS GP re-referred you again? Just so I am clear. If not, do the online form and see them as soon as you can.
Have you gotten a letter with a booking reference so you can pick the hospital? If you are in England that is.

The polyp - likely went away on its own. If the second ultrasound didn't see it, that happens. But the fibroid might have grown - have you had more heavy bleeding? Or feeling really bloated? Just cause those are signs of a fibroid. The spotting does suggest another polyp may be there now. Also if you have any other symptoms etc tell them all of them as well.

Ask the GP for another transvaginal ultrasound - that way by the time you see gynaecology, you can show them the recent ultrasound and then treatment is quicker. Otherwise they normally will make you go for one again, then come back, that thats a few weeks sometimes up to like 8 weeks etc.
The ultrasound may be urgent under 6 weeks, but likely nor as it's not suspected, cancer or similar. So likely, max 12 weeks, but will likely be within 6 for my area. Then, when that comes back, you have a look on the NHS app. If there's something wrong, you go back to your NHS GP - then they can contact the hospital and see if they can expedite your appointment if your condition has severely deteriorated.

I would aim to get it booked when your period is over - so the GP in you are in England should refer you, then they contact you and they either book it for you and you can reschedule - they'll text message you etc or they send you a link and you book yourself.
Schedule it for when your period should end, then add 1 or 2 days to that. So if your period is normally 4 days, maybe do it the day after just in case it comes late, etc. That will help with thickness of uterus measurements, make sure they look at that and also general uterus etc. If something is there, likely steps are referral for a hysteroscopy, and them they'll remove and biposy any polyps or fibroids they find. Then you'll be done and discharged.

Honestly, try not to worry. If it was cancer by now, other things would be going on, other symptoms that would be too severe to not notice. The nocebo effect is real. So maybe you've had pain, but that's the anxiety of thinking you have cancer, etc. But if you do actually think you have other symptoms , definitely mention to GP.

Are you on HRT? Also what do you mean by symptoms going downhill? What symptoms are you having? Are any new? Are they worse than before? If so how - more frequent, more painful etc?

Hi thanks for your message, appreciate the time it must have taken to write all that.

The trans USS didn’t see the polyp because it’s hanging out of my cervix. It wasn’t picked up on cause it’s not inside my womb, if that makes sense.

GP last year said it wasn’t urgent cause everything else was ok and I wasn’t having spotting. I was getting heavier clear discharge though but they didn’t expedite based on that.

so I’ve waited since last May, been several issues with waiting (waited 10 months for Liverpool Women’s) to be offered an app when I was away on holiday and then they discharged me despite me saying I wanted to reschedule. It’s been a debacle and then my GP did a referral for the local hospital but it was the same consultant that was really abrupt to me so I was worried about going to the same one. I saw someone private and she was going to do the polyectomy but said she may struggle to get it off if it’s deep inside cervix. She said if it won’t come off then need hysteroscopy which terrifies me. I am so tight down below that anything like speculums hurt me. Anyway the price was racking up for all that and my GP said to stop spending money and wait for NHS.

here I am now, spotting from last Wednesday. My period is due, yesterday, but nothing except spotting and more pink today. It’s been more as of a period is coming but what if the spotting doesn’t stop? My period usually starts like this but I’m worried sick because it’s been pink and brown for days now.

it doesn’t smell bad, sorry tmi but it doesn’t.

I am worried sick. What if the period doesn’t come.

I read that a polyp can be cancer, it could be inside the polyp itself. The stress that’s causing me is too much.

I’ve no pain @TheLivelyViper no.

never been on HRT. Not had sex with a man, I’m gay and been with my girlfriend years. Not had kids either.

smear (cells and hpv was clear last year) there was a 1.5cm
polyp that the gynae couldn’t say for sure was a polyp but said needs taken out and tested and my GP took a look for me too called it a polyp. Said it was like a worm, long and red.

I am actually surprised gynae managed to get a cell sample from my cervix if there was a polyp there. I suspect he must have brushed around the polyp or something but the report said no cells and no HPV.

can’t help but worry though, that something has been missed :/

I am 46, 47 next month.

Oh right sorry, I didn't see the polyp was on your cervix. Is it still there?

The NHS consultant should be able to try and get it off. However a hysteroscopy is a good option if you need it. You can get local or general anesthetic and if you tell them your issues you should be able to get general. Even with local, they use licodaine and then also numbing blocks, and lots of lube to help get the speculum in easily. But don't get to worried about it yet.

When they take it off either on its own or during a hysteroscopy they will send it to the lab to test it. If it was cancer you'd likely have had other cases by now, visible in the pelvic region or other places and other symptoms as well.

Have you seen your GP about the spotting and clear discharge? More the spotting more recently. It could expedite your appointment. Try and see your GP today, or early next week. If it continues on the weekend try urgent care or A&E. You could go to A&E, and if they have an EDEC (check online), you could ask to be seen there. Its for people who can be sent home from A&E for gynecology issues but still need to be seen quicker than outpatient secindary care. They often give you an appointment for the next day or in 2 days and they do procedures as well, so could remove the polyp and test it. If you go I would say it hurts as well though, mention the pink and brown spotting of basically a week now and then also clear discharge etc.

I would ask GP to book another smear to double check cell charges haven't happened etc and transvaginal ultrasound to check other things in the uterus haven't grown, check on that past fibroid, and also the uterus thickness (try and have it post period).

I would say your GP is right don't spend any more money privately, you should have had to in the first place. I'm sorry you've had such a mess and a run around, it must be so stressful. Perhaps look into any EDECs near you as a way to get quick care. You've been waiting for ages, honeslty it can be a great option.

Hi are you saying that the smear was prob wrong last year? I had two trans USS last one end of July last year.

my smear was fine and no HPV.

I don’t have clear discharge atm. It’s still pink, brown gunk. I’m due on, it’s day 23 of my cycle now and I started this sporting day 15 of my cycle and hasn’t stopped. It was light at first then progressed to this now, pink gunk and bloody.

my period usually comes day 21-24 so I’m waiting.

feel sick to my stomach. I don’t want to go A&E. I’d be sat hours and I’m too stressed to do that.

I don’t know of polyp is still there. How would I know? It’s not been checked since last July so I don’t know.

all I know is I’m a wreck with worry. I very much doubt a polyp that was causing a bit of spotting (which is why I initially went) can then cause this.

it is we day 15 of my cycle, it started off brown and then started to go pink and then darker pink blood when I wiped then back to pink and brown. It’s so stressful 😩

No, no, not saying the smear was wrong just to double check as you haven't been seen for so long and with your issues you qualify to get one this year even though you had one last year.

Tbh, I actually think judt get some general swabs to look for anything. Is the discharge just clear?

Is the blood bright or dark red? Is it mixed in with the pink or sort of separate? From day 15 to now is quite a while espeically if you ovulate early as your cycle in shortish, I would try and book a GP appointment for Monday or get seen in an EDEC, as they can do procedures and better scans immediately etc.

Do you feel the polyp at all? Or any pressure etc? Pain during sex? If you don't go to urgent care (different to A&E, much quicker) then you must get an appointment with your GP next week, preferably an emergency one. Make sure they examine you there, and check on the polyp, because it's important they and you know.

Brown discharge isn't worrying it's just that it's likely oldish blood so it is deoxygenated so brown. Pink can be common when ovulation hits, sometimes its a sign your period is here and blood is mixed in which discharge so it becomes pinkish. It can also be a sign of some issues like an infection, ovarian cysts, or a potential gyne cancer, but you need to have another transvaginal ultrasound as soon as. Particularly since pink discharge is unusual for you. Have you had any fevers, severe cramps, or anything uncommon for you?

Have you searched to see if you do have an EDEC in any of your local hospitals etc? As if you do after inital A&E triage, gyne will come and then they'll arrange to see you in the next few days for an appointment. Or see your GP next week and then get them to book the ultrasound, if you do go to the EDEC they'll likely do it there. Last July is a long time ago, lots could have grown e.g fibroids, cysts, more polyps, the thickness may have increases etc. So you definitely need a new one as soon as and push your GP for that.

I know…. it’s really worrying me.

I don’t have cramps no. The discharge ranges from lots of pink to brown, to a bit of pink.

it started off brown and turned pink. My cycle is usually 21-22 days. I started spotting on day 15 and it hasn’t stopped so this is day 8-9 I think. I’m due on, but my period hasn’t appeared yet. It does start off pink usually - bloody.

the discharge is clear when I’m not spotting but I’ve been spotting for days so it hasn’t been clear.

i feel more scared now with all you’ve said, and I know you mean well. Just so nervous.

Could Perimenopause cause these issues?

have you had anything like this? You know a lot.

Peri menopause can cause this, it's difficult to know because it can be a few things. It could be that the polyp may have gotten bigger or another one are now in your uterus, that is why you need to see your GP or EDEC, you need a doctor to examine you with a speculum and a transvaginal ultrasound booked.

If you are worried then you should go because that will rule out lots of things quickly. Deciding to not see anyone because you are scared will only make it worse, because if it is a polyp, cyst, infection etc then early treatment is essential to the best outcomes. Its likely very quick treatment as well and there's no point in you further being anxious when it would be something small and easy to deal with. Will you be able tonsee your GP next week?

As I have said brown spotting is not anything to be worried about, it's just deoxygenated blood, and happens to many people, I have it from time to time. On the clear discharge again that is normal, discharge can come in a few different ways, some normal some not. Clear is normal particularly during ovulation as is white, unless it's white and creamy which is sometimes a sign of thrush. Pink again can be normal and mixed in with blood, and is more related to the cervix, cervical bleeding, polyps on the cervix etc. It could also be that you are having a very light period, the pink is due to the blood being mixed in and it's all fine. I'd also ask about doing a self-vaginal swab (along with transvaginal ultrasound and an exam) just to double check the discharge etc, but it sounds normal.

My period arrived last night, so prob pinky bloody few days leading to but brown last week and pink which shouldn’t have been there.
I have an appointment booked with my GP, but she’s on holiday so waiting for her return.
I am having the procedure done likely private (if it’s polyectomy). The reason I’m seeing my GMp and waiting for her because she examined me last year. She’ll know if it’s changed.

I wouldn’t go A&E die this. I have friends who are doctors and they say a lot to see GP or even pharmacy can help. I’d never speak to them about my issues though, conflict of interest and not close friends to say stuff to really.

I don’t have thrush btw. Haven’t had that it before I don’t have it now. My discharge was clear and sometimes a lot of it but polyps do that my GP said. Wasn’t pink or brown before though, that started last Wednesday hence me posting here. My period turned up, day 24 when my cycle is usually 21 …. So late.

No that's good, EDEC isn't A&E it's more like out of hours care specific to gyne. It's for when it's not severe enough for A&E is what I meant, but likely wasn't clear enough.

I'd see your GP and see about the polyp being removed, it's likely just the discharge, and it was mixed in with bloods, periods are late it's not a big deal as a one off.

From the 24th I started spotting brown and it was pink and bloody, not enough to wear a tampon but then increased as the days went on. On 29th, dark pink, quite a bit and wasn’t due on for few days. My cycle usually 21 days. This month came day 24.

the spotting was outside the 21 days hence my worry :(