Luteal phase spotting and IVF success?

[Mirrie]

Hi! I'm new here and have a question about an issue that's worrying me.

We've been TTC for two years. Since I stopped taking the pill about two years ago I've experienced a very small amount of brown spotting every month starting from about 6-7 DPO and continuing through to my period. Before trying IVF we tried a couple of cycles of Pregnyl injections for luteal support with timed intercourse. Pregnyl reduced the spotting but didn't eliminate it completely.

In my first IVF cycle last month I was on Crinone and I got one day of brown spotting about 10dpo, so it had definitely improved, but was still not eliminated completely. I haven't had a laparoscopy (my FS is not big on laps for a number of reasons, and having read a lot of recent scientific papers about the pros and cons of laps myself, I tend to agree with him), consequently I don't know what's causing the spotting. However from what I've read on the subject I know that it could be due to tubal damage, endo, or low progesterone, or possibly some unexplained phenomenom... Mild endometriosis seems the most likely explanation to me.

I am convinced that the spotting is in some way related to our inability to conceive and I am very anxious about it. So I'm wondering, has anyone else experienced luteal phase spotting in regular menstrual cycles and/or IVF cycles, and subsequently gone on to have success with IVF?

Thanks in advance,

M

[thatgirl]

Hi Mirrie,

I had exactly the same problem as you. I would start very slight brown spotting about 7 days before my period would start and we never found an explanation for it. The same thing happened during our fresh IVF cycles and I thought it might have been due to the Crinone in the fresh cycle or the progesterone in the frozen cycle.

During the frozen cycle in which we were successful, I once again had the brown spotting and thought it was all over. But we got our BFP and now we have our lovely daughter.

The brown spotting continued through the pregnancy until I had a big bleed at 10 weeks. Fortunately it wasn't a miscarriage but we never found the source of the problem. The brown spotting continued, sometimes turning red and finally at 14 weeks, the obs found that I had a cervical polyp attached to my cervix.

Once it was removed, all the brown spotting stopped completely. He thought that it might have grown as a result of high oestrogen levels, but they really don't know the cause of cervical polyps.

It is possible the polyp grew during my fresh cycles as a result of high oestrogen levels, but that doesn't explain the brown spotting I had before starting IVF, so not sure it is really the explanation.

Anyway, sorry for the long post. But the message is, yes, I am living proof that you can still get pregnant with this dreadful brown spotting

Best of luck with the IVF. Its a long hard road and I wish you every success.

[Mirrie]

Thanks a lot ThatGirl. It's really encouraging to hear that you got a BFP despite the spotting. Did you have a laparoscopy? I'm beginning to think that I probably should.

[MummaSue]

I think that getting a lap will be of huge benefit in finding out what is going on, especially if you are doing IVF.

I didn't have the spotting you have but had very painful periods and long cycles, a lap showed that I had blocked and damaged tubes and extensive endo.

My Dr removed all of the endo. We went on to do IVF and our first attempt worked.

I honestly think that getting any issues sorted before starting IVF can really help.

Good luck
Sue xxx

[thatgirl]

Hi Mirrie,

I didn't have a laparoscopy. Like your dr, I don't think mine believed in doing them. Her reasoning was that they might find I had blocked tubes or similar problems which would necessitate IVF, so it was better to just go ahead with IVF regardless.

After our first failed cycle, I had an ultrasound to check my tubes at my request and one was found to be blocked. It didn't change our plan, just meant I had some idea of what was making it difficult to conceive.

Good luck.

[nikki04]

Hi I had the same thing happen to me. I went to the doc and he said I had thyroid disease/ overactive graves disease and this spotting was an indication od why I couldn't fall pregnant. I fell after a regime of clexane and progesterone support during ivf which prevented tmy lining coming away prematurely. Hope this helps