Why does my af go on so long?

[Cattia]

This is my first af since mc in Feb and it's just finishing now after a full week. Before this mc my periods were long, usually about six days or sometimes up to a full week, heavy for the first few days, then slowing right down and Brown blood then some spotting the last day or two. I am really worried that this means I have low progesterone and if I get pg I will have another mc. I have asked my GP and the nurse at the epu about this and they both said my periods sounded normal and that there was no need to take any further action, but they never used to be like this until after I had my second child. I didn't have periods between my two children as I was breastfeeding. The nurse at the epu said they would not check my progesterone if I got pregnant again as the latest thinking is that low progesterone is a sign of a non viable pregnancy and supplementing with progesterone can prolong a mc. Am I worrying unecessarily? Does anyone else have any experience of this?

 

[Cherrysoul]

I think you need to find a new Doctor, that is absolute rubbish about not getting Progesterone tested etc. If your progesterone is found to be low in very early pregnancy ( <7 weeks) they can absaloutely give you supplements (which come in varying forms, cream, pills, suppositories) which will help your body retain the pregnancy until the placenta takes over. Next time you're pregnant , demand a test, explain you had a MC and that your worried due to your history etc, and go from there. It does have to be early pregnancy though and of course there is no guarantee if you are low in Prog that the supplements will work, but there is a good chance Unless of course your MC was caused by the common reason of abnormal cells.

I lost my baby at 5 weeks in Dec, and currently TTC, So as soon as i find out i am pregnant i will be doing the same thing, if it the test comes back normal, well at least i can count it out as being a reason

 

[Cattia]

Thank you, it wasn't my Dr who said that, it was the nurse at the epu, she was just telling me what the NHS policy was on testing progesterone levels, but I don't know whether I would be able to persuade my own Dr to run a test. I have two healhhy children and I have never had a mc before, but my cycles have also never been this long so I don't know of there is a connection? I am seeing my Dr about another issue next week so I will ask his opinion about it.

 

[RaspberryK]

I spot 2 days, 4-7 days flow and spot a day or so after.
I spotted throughout the first trimester with ds and then mc no 2. It might be worth researching, I may have a problem in that department as I used to spot on the pill unless high progesterone.
Xx

 

[Cattia]

Thanks raspberry, I will certainly ask my Dr. I'm sure I read somewhere that brown spotting at the end of a cycle can signal low progesterone. I've started using natural progesterone cream to boost my levels but I'd like to get them tested just to see. On the other hand I never had a problem with my first two pregnancies so maybe it was just one of those things.

 

[RaspberryK]

I've had a quick look and I have a lot of possible related symptoms.
Apparently stress is one of the biggest causes of low progesterone! Also diet can help.
I think I need to see a doctor anyway because I generally just feel unwell. All day every day. Xx

 

[Cattia]

Do you know what diet can help? I eat too much sweet stuff and not enough fruit and veg, but I'm quite ok health and ebergy wise. Maybe I will look into some Chinese herbs to boost my progesterone.

 

[RaspberryK]

Was mentioned on a paleo website. ..
So I'm guessing no processed carbs and sugar etc.
Xx

 

[Cattia]

Dammit, there goes my entire food intake...

 

[RaspberryK]

Lol. Same, although I did no carbing for a while and I felt great and didn't miss bad stuff at all xx

 

[Cherrysoul]

I also have two children and has a mc in Dec, but i can tell you my periods where different after my second son was born, and after this Miscarriage.

After my second son was born they returned to 28 days, but a lot heavier and more clotty, (he is 6 btw) and they where still like the pre MC in terms of cycle length days of bleeding. After my MC and my HcG went to 0 i got my period 2 weeks later, it started a 27 day cycle, a lot lighter then really really heavy for two days, then watery, then normal, then stops. (5 days in total) my second post MC period was the same,totally all over the place in terms of flow and texture.

Now im in my TWW and hoping for a healthy sticky bean.