Spotting Before Period Since TTC

[sweetie888]

@sweetie

Good to know that you had the same experience with FR. So frustrating! Adding unnecessary stress to an already stressful situation... Two week periods with spotting all other days?? Your gyno just wanted to put you on the Pill? Did she/he say what was going on?

Lauren26 - Glad to hear that the FR experience is actually pretty common! The horrible 2 week periods + spotting was in High School for a little over a year. They said it was just hormones and puberty and that it would take a while for the body to regulate itself. I was so short though back then, if I went on BC at that age, I would have been about 2" shorter. They said the BC would stop me from growing any taller. Glad I didn't take the BC back then!

 

[beloved]

@sweetie- I get the Answer opks at Walmart. I'm totally with you on preferring to POAS. Handles all the way! LOL

Keep your head up....February is a new month

 

[sweetie888]

@sweetie- I get the Answer opks at Walmart. I'm totally with you on preferring to POAS. Handles all the way! LOL

Keep your head up....February is a new month

Thanks Beloved! Yup - staying positive for a Valentine's Day baby!

 

[lauren26]

@sweetie - I am the exact same height as my husband--I didn't know BC could stunt your growth; kind of wishing I had taken it longer! Just kidding...Yes I forget how crazy hormones are when we were younger! And I'm always amazed at the range of what's 'normal' with this stuff.

@beloved - the book is by Toni Weschler. I bet you can get an e-version or Kindle. I know there is software that goes along with it, though you have to purchase it. I got the book used on Amazon and made copies of the tear-out chart at the end. This is the first month I've charted and I'm starting to feel like either 1. some of the changes I'm supposed to have aren't happening (not getting a ton of 'egg white' CF), or that 2. the indicators of ovulation are very subtle...The biggest fear is that I'm not ovulating. I assume they can figure that out when I go to the OB with the US, though I'm not 100% that's the test.

I don't know what the treatments are for luteal phase defect. I am not fully through that chapter, but I believe that going on some kind of hormone balancing drug or supplement would help. Vitex can be purchased anywhere--I live in Boulder, CO, so there's a pretty big selection of 'natural' supplements at every grocery store. I've purchased it at King Soopers, Whole Foods, and Vitamin Cottage. It's cheap, around $6-$7 for a bottle. When I first started taking I did 2/day (at the same time every day) for about 6 weeks, then 1/day. I like that it's gentle but effective.

I'm glad to know that you're resting easier with the house! I did a full deep clean on ours today and am feeling super calm. I love a clean space...

Will let you know how the charting and OB appt. goes. This is the one time I'm actually hoping she'll say that there's nothing to worry about! Trying to stay patient.

 

[dreaminghopin]

Hi everyone,

I also spot between 7 to 9 days before AF. We have been TTC since August 2011. I did get a BFP in December but miscarried a week later I am of the opinion that a fertilised egg would have little chance of implanting if the lining is shedding too quickly. My doc didn't seem to concerned. He checked my day 21 bloods and seemed happy enough for me to come back in a year if no luck, but when I started to question him about implantation etc he immediately referred me to a gynacologist and my appointent is this Thursday so will report back.

There is a discussion thread on here called 'spotting week before AF every month - anyone else?' Some lucky ladies have managed to have healthy babas on this thread but there never seems to be much of a reason for the spotting.

x

 

[beloved]

@lauren- I tried downloading the Toni Weschler book on my Kindle, but it wasn't available in the Kindle store. So I'll have to head out to B&N and find it this weekend. I've been researching luteal phase defect and am kinda freaking out. Definitely sounds like all my symptoms fit, except for my progesterone level at 14. I'm thinking maybe I'll push to get my levels tested again this cycle, since I'm still not sold on my OB's mentality that "14 is close enough." If that one point difference turns out to matter, it could be the determining factor in a diagnosis of LPD. If I spot again this month, I'm going to start taking progesterone supplements on my own.

Totally know what you mean about wondering if the indicators for ovulation are sometimes too subtle to notice. My temps match up pretty well to what all the books and sites say is normal....but I've never noticed any EWCM to the degree that everyone makes it sound like you should expect. Glad I'm not the only one wondering if it's just me.....

 

[beloved]

@dreaminghopin - Let us know what your OB says! Are you going to specifically ask about the spotting before AF and what that means for implantation??

 

[lauren26]

@dreamin

Hmmm I'm wondering if your miscarriage had to do with the spotting/early shedding. We timed this month, did the temping and charting, so I know we BD at the correct time of month--if I get the spotting again this month I am going to check out possible luteal phase defect--did your gyn say anything about that? What was her diagnosis with your spotting? Also wondering what your doc checked your day 21 blood for--progesterone?

I told @beloved about this, but I am on Vitex (gentle herbal supplement--OTC) for regulating hormones. It is supposed to help with luteal phase defect and overall hormonal and reproductive health. I used to be on it for skin health, in college, and a side effect was super regular periods with milder PMS symptoms. Wondering if that would help you, too.

I haven't read any successful baby stories after spotting--are those in the other thread you mentioned? Would like to stop thinking that the spotting will forever prevent me from getting pregnant.

@beloved - I also recently heard that Clomid can dry your CF--did your doc say this or have you experienced it? I ask because mine is usually not super egg-whitey, so I took someone's advice and took mucinex this month around ovulation to help increase the CF fluidity/quantity. It helped with that--we'll see if it did the BFT trick this month!

 

[lauren26]

@beloved

I, too, feel a little anxious about LPD. I had a roommate (the one who recently got instantly pregnant without trying) who, when I lived with her, used a hand-cream progesterone--sounds weird, but I think it was an easy OTC way to take it. She got it at Whole Foods. Or maybe it was a wild yam supplement that increases progesterone levels? Anyway, I don't know what other sources to get it from. Let me know how you find the book and try to relax as much as you can I know, I'm preaching to the choir and it's a lot easier said than done! Let me know how it goes with your doc--I see my OB tomorrow.

 

[dreaminghopin]

@dreaminghopin - Let us know what your OB says! Are you going to specifically ask about the spotting before AF and what that means for implantation??

Absolutely it's the reason I have been referred so will let u know what they say.

 

[beloved]

@lauren- Yes, I definitely noticed that Clomid had an affect on CF. Frustrating that something that helps you in one area sabotages you in another! I've heard about taking Mucinex to loosen and increase CF. Glad you tried it and had good results....I was kind of hesitant about it, but I'll definitely be trying it next month. I have to laugh though....I mean seriously who sat around and thought "I'm pretty dry down there. AHA!! What about Mucinex!!"

 

[NoodleSnack]

Do you guys take prenatal? I started taking about 3 months ago, and notice my cycle is longer and I spot 2-3 days before AF, whereas before my first day was the heaviest. We have only started actively trying this month, so the first "abnormal" cycle couldn't have been due to a mc or anything to do with any defects.

 

[Firsttimer919]

Hi ladies may I join!?!
Here my story
Last month I too spotted cramps and back pains that I never get while on AF so much i wanted to cry!!!
I spotted 2 days...And then the witch came!!
I kept thinking ...did I do something wrong ...did i over worked my body... Stress?? Auhh
I kept thinking and reading...
I think....what happens is our bodies getting ready to get prego if egg, sperm implanting isn't happening it start again... Month to month can be different! Hopefully this month is some of ours!!!
TTC 1y4m first month on clomid cd8

 

[sweetie888]

Do you guys take prenatal? I started taking about 3 months ago, and notice my cycle is longer and I spot 2-3 days before AF, whereas before my first day was the heaviest. We have only started actively trying this month, so the first "abnormal" cycle couldn't have been due to a mc or anything to do with any defects.

I've been taking prenatals since last summer. I got of BC last July. Never get spotting before AF.

 

[beloved]

@NoodleSnack - I've been taking prenatal supplements (plus about 6 others) for almost a year. It's had no affect on my cycle length, and I still spot anywhere from 7-10 days before AF. How is your stress level?

@Firsttimer919 - What about you....how is your stress level??

 

[lauren26]

@NoodleSnack & Firsttimer -

I have taken prenatal vitamins, prenatal DHA, and some others for many months now. I do not think it has any effect on my cycle length. Last month my chiro had me on a supplement to support reproductive organs--he said that when the body is stressed it will sometimes pull resources from the reproductive organs. That was my shortest spotting month--5 days. I am 2-3dpo and just got a bit of spotting (I'm only at day 18 of my cycle), so I am considering going back on that supplement.

Taking prenatal should support your cycle, if anything. I hear you, though. I had no irregular periods until my husband and I started trying last year. I am sure that my irregularity is due at least in some part to stress. When you're stressed your body can delay ovulation, which then makes your cycle longer, which then tricks you into thinking your're pregnant (you can also miss ovulation this way), so it's a vicious cycle.

@beloved - LOL--I guess someone had to come up with the Mucinex idea!! Did you find the book? Will update after the OB--wish me luck, they always seem impatient with me.

 

[beloved]

@Lauren - Sending you lots of luck! (And don't let their impatience get to you... it's easy for someone to come across as clueless and unsympathetic when it's not their body that's betraying them!!)

 

[Firsttimer919]

I have no stress beside thinking about getting preggo! I driving myself crazy just thinking about what if I can't off clomid... What will I do ... Augh so I just been trying new things to keep my mind off of getting preggo

 

[lauren26]

Ladies! Update on Vitex--don't take it!! Turns out that while it may help with progesterone levels, it repressing FSH, which is the hormone (I believe) that stimulates ovulation. I am sorry for the misinformation I passed along!

My OB still wasn't concerned about spotting...she did say that it wasn't 'ideal', but didn't think it could prevent me from getting pregnant. I asked her about LPD and she said that it was a controversial topic and not all doctors believe it's an actual condition. She said that the ways to test the corpus luteum involved a uterine biopsy--which sounds ultra painful. That's something I'm going to pass on. I am going to schedule a pelvic ultrasound to see if I have a polyp or something that may be bleeding...The strange thing is that I always get spotting after ovulation. I guess it's because it's before AF?? Anyway, I didn't exactly get answers from her, but I did feel better after. Anyone else get any info on the spotting? My OB did skirt the issue when I asked whether she'd seen women with spotting go on to get pregnant etc. She said that some women who spot are conceiving and miscarrying each month, but that they would get a BFP first, so that's not what's happening to me. It's all mysterious...

Hoping this is the month for some of us!

 

[lauren26]

@Firsttimer - I feel you on the preggo stress. Stress can delay ovulation, which could make it harder, but seriously--who isn't stressed about getting pregnant? At least you're otherwise stress-free! That's awesome.