When do you get pre-af cramping?

Ok, so this is only indirectly related to conception.

I never used to get pmt, but recently (probably because I'm older now) it's been kicking in a bit. For the last 6 months I've had a lot more of it.

What worries me is that I get pre-af cramps from about 7 or 8 dpo, or halfway through the tww. This ALWAYS means I am out on the ttc-front.

(I've read stories on the internet of people feeling af-symptoms or cramping etc and getting a bfp, but I've been pregnant seven times now, and cramping is just NOT a preg symptom for me.)

So, if my body is cramping/revving up for af/undergoing chemical changes that make my uterus less amenable to implantation one presumes at this early stage - surely, surely that is a bad thing on the ttc front? Does that make sense?

How early do you get cramping before your period?

I'm the same as you, start cramping about the same period of time. I have never been pregnant though so I'm also curious to see what others say about this... I have also always assumed I'm out as far as TTC for that month.

I get cramping starting around the same time. When I was younger, it started later (around 12dpo), but it got progressively earlier as I got older. I suspect it's related to my endo (because of the progression), but that's a separate issue. When I was pg with DD I had all my normal LP cramping and it continued all the way through to 15wks... For most of the 1st tri I felt like AF was about to start any minute and it drove me batty some days! I also had cramping during the LP with my other 2 pgs.

You say you've been pg 7 times, but have any of those been since you started getting this cramping? Maybe you will have cramping with your next BFP?

I only ever get cramping the day before and first day of my period. I've been pregnant 4 times and only had cramping as a pg symptom with my last pg, so you never know.

Thanks for the responses so far :)

Juniper - no, I haven't managed to get utd since I've had the cramping thing going on. (It's been 9 months or so since my last chem preg, last year I was getting pregnant fairly easily - not that it helped me but that is another story!) It is not even severe or painful, just enough to make me think "ba-bow, out for this month." Actually I've been wondering if it is related to endo for me too. I had (very mild) endo before having my first child, but I didn't get cramps back then, I used to get spotting - for 8 days prior to af. After a lap the spotting diminished and I got utd. These days my spotting is erratic, but I am getting this cramping, and I'm wondering if it could be endo that has returned and is somehow manifesting in a different way.

Or is this just a common thing with pmt? I am suspicious of the cramping going on for so very long though *scowls at stomach*.

That would make endo a prime suspect. Problem is, of course, you have to have a surgery to check it out and remove it... I don't think it's the only possible explanation though. You could always have a chat with your Dr about it if it's worrying you that much.

I just do my best to ignore it, but it makes me super cranky by the end of the week. It's like having AF taunt you for an entire week, saying, "I'm coming!"... :wall:

Yeah I've got a FS appt next week so will discuss it. Yes it's been making me pretty cranky too!!

I haven't had many cramps today though, and am 13dpo so should expect a lot by now. And I haven't had any spotting this month either which is quite unusual by now although feeling a certain 'heaviness'. *Shrug* will probably test tonight or tomorrow.

Ok, scratch what I said then.

Looks like I answered my own question - with a bfp!

I'll be over here eating my hat. It tastes delightful.

Fantastic news - congratulations!! :dance: