Need Advice -Prometrium / Spotting during Luteal Phase

[LisaRH]

I am new to this thread and wondering if there is anyone else out there with a similar situation.
We have been TTC our 2nd for 14 months. I am charting and using opks. I get a positive opk and a temperature shift each month. My luteal phase lasts between 10 and 14 days, but I have between 2 and 5 days of spotting before my period starts. Also, my temperatures are fairly rocky.
My main gynecologist sent me for thyroid and prolactin tests which were both normal. She said if those were normal the next step would be a lap or clomid. She has been out sick since my appointment and will be out for the next month at least. I saw a nurse practitioner a couple of days ago and she said she wouldn't prescribe clomid if I was ovulating on my own. She gave me a prescription for 100 mg prometrium (oral) to take from ovulation to my next af. If that doesn't work this month, she recommended an HSG and sperm analysis. I don't know which route to take or who to believe. I don't really feel like it is a blockage issue b/c I have a 2.5 yr old and had a chemical pregnancy in May. I feel like it is more likely a hormone problem or possibly a luteal phase defect. I would love any advice or stories from anyone with similar issues.
Here is a link to my charts: https://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/161fa0

 

[jojo-m]

Lisa if your in the UK you'll be hard pushed to find a Doctor who takes LPD seriously, in fact most don't recognise it at all. I've been through the G.P and had blood tests, next I had to have the STI swabs and HSG and husband is having SA on monday. These were all steps she had us do before we meet the consultant- FS (this was fertility nurse)

Its all taken such a long time, we first went in November and have apt end of April to see FS. I was told there they would discuss clomid if your results were ok, that they use it as a first line drug for unexplained infertility as well as people who do not ovulate, I think the general feeling is that it will help produce a better quality egg.

Which day do you ovulate? see I ovulate on cd18 and have a 10 day LP so quality of my egg and lining is likely to be quite crappy.

I too have a 4 year old who I concieved no problem, this time we have been ttc for 17 cycles so I know how you feel. good luck with the prometrium though perhaps this will do the trick for you this month? x

 

[a_missy]

hi lisa i dont know if this will help at all but after 1 yr of ttc i started spotting before my periods, mostly 4-5 days and a couple of times it lasted 9 or 10 days. i saw a gynaecologist about it because it wasnt being dealt with as a fertility issue. he didnt seem at all worried and at the time that really bothered me haha they even found cysts when they did an ultra sound but again he didnt think it was at all related. he said it seemed like my body was releasing hormones too early and false starting a period. anyway it continued for another year and in between i finally saw a FS. she gave me a hycosy which showed a blocked tube and then i was finally prescribed clomid (it was likely i wasnt ovulating every month). she seemed to think if the clomid didnt work then they would do a lap.

i took it for the first time this month and i had very pink spotting on day 14 exactly. i cried because i thought it was the start of an early spotting month AND it was my 35th birthday... ouch HA but it stopped a couple of days later! i was shocked, the first time in a year i had a month where the spotting actually stopped before my period. so it seemed clomid managed to regulate my period and i'm pretty sure i'm pregnant too

so i would suggest you get yourselves referred to a FS.

best of luck!!

 

[LisaRH]

Thank you both. I am in the US - but still not feeling taken seriously. My ovulation has varied from day 12 to day 20. It stayed around day 15 or 16 for a while, but the last two months it was day 19 and 17. I wish it would happen a little earlier. My luteal phase can last between 10 and 14 days. It is strange, but it varies. It seems the longer it is, the more spotting I have. It sounds like both your doctors will have gone with clomid. I feel like that is what I would like to at least try before going through invasive tests. I have read that many doctors treat LPD with clomid and not just progesterone like this doctor gave me. Like you said, it would address the cause of the low progesterone by improving egg quality instead of just masking the symptom with more hormones. JoJo-m - I am sorry you are having to wait such a long time for an appointment. It does seem like the doctors are in no hurry at all doesn't it? A_missy- I think the hycosy is similar or the same as what my doctor called an hsg. Did they unblock your tube when they did the test? Good luck! Having the spotting stop sounds like a very good sign. I hope you get a positive pregnancy test soon!
Lisa

 

[jojo-m]

Just a thought hun but I used to spot for a couple of days at least and after taking vit b6 and agnus castus My luteal phase went from 9 to 11 then dropped back to 10 days. It did stop the spotting completely though after taking them for 2 months. I'm not saying they are for everyone, theres a massive thread on here somewhere about them!

I hope your fs are accessible with a shorter waiting time than we've had. xx

 

[a_missy]

A_missy- I think the hycosy is similar or the same as what my doctor called an hsg. Did they unblock your tube when they did the test? Good luck! Having the spotting stop sounds like a very good sign. I hope you get a positive pregnancy test soon!
Lisa

yeah i think its either a very similar procedure or its exactly the same but no they didnt clear my tubes. although i had an awful lot of cramping and bleeding (clotty) afterwards, in fact it lasted for the entire month until my next period began and that was my first month with clomid so i wonder if the actual procedure might have dislodged the blockage... dont know if thats possible to be honest.

i got my BFP this morning i'm very cautious still though so i'll go and see my dr on monday. its difficult to let yourself believe its finally happened when you've had so much disappointment. i wish you lots of luck getting your BFP!!

 

[jojo-m]

congratulations amissy, I understand you feeling cautious but you've done great to get your bfp in the first place, thats the biggest hurdle!!!! well done and everything crossed for a sticky bean xxx

 

[LisaRH]

Congratulations on your BFP!! That is so exciting! I have heard several times that having that procedure with the dye increases your chances of pregnancy for a few months. My doctor said it flushes out your tubes.
I have tried B6. The first month I had an 11 day luteal phase with almost no spotting, the next month I had 14 days with 2 of spotting, and last month I had 14 days with 5 of pretty heavy spotting. Maybe I should up the dose. I don't know if your body gets used to it or not. I have been a little scared of the vitex. I have heard so many people say it messed up their cycle. But I have been thinking a lot about taking it lately.

 

[jojo-m]

If your going for the clomid hun then theres no point in the AC, I stopped taking it last month so its out my system for the clomid in April. x

 

[LisaRH]

Thanks... I didn't know they didn't mix! I should have thought about that. Now, I just need to get an appointment with the doctor that is willing to try clomid.

 

[jojo-m]

good luck hun let us know how you get on xx

 

[LisaRH]

Update: No change with the prometrium. I started spotting this morning at 10 dpo as usual. This is so frustrating.

 

[RebaRezzelba]

Hi Lisa

I too spot for about 4-5 days before AF shows her ugly head and I have done so for as long as I can remember. I have also been TTC for 25+ months with no success and Im convinced its the spotting thats causing all the problems. Ive been to the Dr and the FS and neither were too interested in the spotting which is annoying cos I just know its not right. And the blood tests never really picked up any problems either.

Anyway ive recently started Acupuncture to see if that can help - i'm only on session 3 at the moment and due my AF in 2 weeks so wont know til then if its helping. Im also taking chinese herbs - so hoping these work.

Im reading a book called The Infertility Cure by Radine Lewis - she mentions the LPD as a major cause of not being able to conceive and this can be caused by a Spleen Qi deficiency or Kidney Yang deficiency - she has suggestions that can help (diet etc). I would recommend going to see a Chinese Herbal practitioner and acupuncturist and see if they can help before going for anything evasive (thats my plan anyway cos I dont like the thought of going under the knife....)

 

[RebaRezzelba]

Oh also I read on here that taking a B Vitamin complex (50g or 100g) has helped a few people with their spotting. I tried it for about 3/4 months and it didnt work for me but it did work for others so might be worth a shot too. I'll find the link to the thread and send it to you - its long but worth a read.

 

[RebaRezzelba]

https://www.babyandbump.com/trying-...gthen-luteal-phase-increase-progesterone.html

 

[LisaRH]

I definitely agree that the spotting must be preventing pregnancy. I have read The Infertility Cure and really liked it. I fell into the kidney yang deficiency category (and 2 others). I would really like to try acupuncture, but I though I would give the prometrium and clomid a try first since it would be so much cheaper. I haven't tried clomid yet, did they prescribe it for you? I think it may be the next step for me. I did also take 100 mg of B6 for about 2 months. It helped the first month, but then got worse. I didn't take it last month so I may give it another try and see what happens. It is so frustrating to know something is not right and not be able to fix it. Let me know how the acupuncture works for you. I have spoken to a local acupuncturist, and have really been going back and forth about trying it. I will definitely try it before anything invasive though. I hope you see some good results this month!

 

[RebaRezzelba]

I definitely agree that the spotting must be preventing pregnancy. I have read The Infertility Cure and really liked it. I fell into the kidney yang deficiency category (and 2 others). I would really like to try acupuncture, but I though I would give the prometrium and clomid a try first since it would be so much cheaper. I haven't tried clomid yet, did they prescribe it for you? I think it may be the next step for me. I did also take 100 mg of B6 for about 2 months. It helped the first month, but then got worse. I didn't take it last month so I may give it another try and see what happens. It is so frustrating to know something is not right and not be able to fix it. Let me know how the acupuncture works for you. I have spoken to a local acupuncturist, and have really been going back and forth about trying it. I will definitely try it before anything invasive though. I hope you see some good results this month!

Hi - I had the same - Kidney Yang, Spleen and Blood Statis deficiency - also a cold uterus - so im taking herbs and trying to avoid certain foods at the moment - i really hope it works. Using a hot water bottle on my belly too and trying to keep feet and hands warm. Im currently eating pineapple too cos suppose to help with implantation...... Im in the 2WW now so its gonna be a long 2 weeks til AF arrives. If she does this month I wont be too disappointed - i just hope the spotting doesnt arrive along with her!

I think your suppose to take B Vit complex which has all the B Vits not just B6 - check out the thread!

No they never even mentioned clomid to me - prob cos I Ov every month without fail. If the acupuncture doesnt work I might go get my tubes checked and then the Lap done - i really really really dont want to so hoping for a BFP within at least 3 months..... please please please!!!

 

[MyHealth02]

Well my good friend has some similar problems. I really do not know everything but some of things that you have listed here I remembered she was mentioning.
I was wondering can all these symptoms be related to enlarged spleen of maybe with mono?

 

[MyHealth02]

Well I have found out that this was all caused by enlarged spleen. So here spleen problems are now getting better as she knows what she is dealing with. I'm just wondering is this can be connected with heavy breathing? How much pressure can enlarged spleen cause in your upper rib cage?