Spotting 2-3 days before AF

Has anyone experienced consistent brown spotting for a few days prior to AF rearing her head and managed to fall pregnant?

I have been experiencing this for a few cycles since coming off the pill and am currently having a 21 day test to test my progesterone levels but am curious to know how common this spotting is and what others' experiences have been.

Yes I used to get that all the time. I did have a lot of trouble getting pregnant when I was younger but doctors could never work out why - no tests ever showed any kind of abnormality, including the test you mentioned.

Last year when in a new relationship (and still getting spotting before each AF) I managed to fall pregnant 3 times and the last one stuck resulting in the birth of my now 4 month old son. The only cycles I didn't get the spotting was when I was pregnant.

Thanks Satya. You've given me some hope!!! I'm spotting at the moment so I'm pretty sure my tww is over and AF is on her way. Grrrr

Yep that's a normal cycle for me. Since losing weight (25kg over the last year), it's reduced a little from getting it about 2.5 days prior to AF to about a day or .05 day before but I always get brown spotting before I get the full flow of AF. I got pregnant with my DD on first lucky attempt.

I brought it up with my doctor some time ago and she said it was normal. Some people get it, some people don't.

Thanks zigzag. This is my 5th cycle trying and I know I'm spot on with the BDing ritual as I've been charting and using opks. Getting a bit discouraged but will keep on trying. Congrats on the weight loss. Fantastic achievement!!!

I have started to get spotting a couple of days before AF. Mine is not brown though, it is bright red streaks in clear mucus...Sorry for the graphics.

I had this for at least 5 days before AF after I had DD1. When DD was 4months I fell pregnant and lost the baby. After that the spotting started. I had low progesteron and was put on progestion cream. After around 6 months the spotting stopped. I got pregnant and lost that baby at 7wks. I had a dandc and fell pregnant with DD2.

I have had 7 cycles since DD was born and the last 2 the spotting has started around 2 to 3 days before AF. I have been on herbs to regulate cycles for 2 months and some of my horrible symptoms are staying away so far. I am going to monitor my cycles for another month and if the spotting continues I will be going to my doc for a progesterone test.

I also started taking Vitex andvitamin B and this helped alot too.
HTH

Thanks Bek. It's good to know I'm not alone in this.

I should be getting the results of my progesterone test tomorrow. My luteal phases have been on the short side so my GP was a little concerned. Interestingly, I started taking Vit B6 to lengthen my LP and the spotting started since I did this. Before taking B6 I'd get to 9DPO then AF would hit. Now I'm finding that the spotting is starting around 9/10DPO and AF hits around 12/13DPO so I'm wondering if the b6 is really just making it harder for AF to do her job and thats where the spotting's coming from!? I guess I'll know more once the progesterone results are in tomorrow.

Let us know how you go with the tests.

Interestingly I was not taking anything when I fell with DD2. We conceived her 2 wks after the dandc, so my hormones may have been higher to support that pregnancy. Who knows!!
I am still trying to establish how long my LP is. It seems to be all over the shop, but I have had less than ideal temping conditions over the last few months.

I can understand - having two young ones would make it difficult to get a proper night's sleep before temping.

I might use next cycle (am pretty sure AF is going to hit as the spotting's here atm) as an experimental cycle and lay off the B6 and see what happens.

Hi Jaxi, I actually had brown spotting for 10 days before my BFP, so you could be pg? I also thought there was no way but there you go... Fingers crossed AF doesn't come! :pray:

AF came :crying:. I'll call my GP later to get the results of my progesterone test. I've decided to go off the B6 this cycle to see if I still get the spotting. I'm also off to a FS if I don't get a BFP this cycle so I'll be curious to see what they say about the spotting and short LP. Not sure whether to count the first day of spotting as the first day of AF. It was continous but barely worth a panty liner iykwim whereas today a full pad/tampon is definitely required.

Kristin, did you get the 10 days of spotting only on the cycle you conceived or did you experience it previously?

oh Jaxi - so sorry AF is here....xxx

jaxi - so sorry to hear that AF has arrived :hug: i know you cancelled your AC appt but maybe it's worth making another one? the one i saw explained how they view the body & how they try to help with fertility. if they're a TCM prac they can also prescribe herbs to help nourish your blood etc to help make as happy a home in there as possible (can't think of a better way to put it lol). hope that makes sense - i know the herbs i had gave my energy such a boost & also helped to really de-stress me & i think that was a big factor.

hope the results give you some answers today :)

Thanks pregpan and sloane. I'm doing ok. Getting used to the BFNs I guess!

Sloane, I may just have to re-book the accupuncture appointment. At this stage I'll take any help I can get. Will keep you updated.

i totally agree - it's worth a shot! i found the whole process really relaxing (and really helpful in one of my most stressful weeks at work ever!) and the approach all made complete sense. i have everything crossed for you!!

yeah i also recommend TCM and acupuncture. not that I am UTD but it i def helping understand and manage cycles etc.

Jaxi sorry hun :hug:

Yep I always had a day or two of brown spotting before AF, but not 10 days that was unusual. I also had a bright red bleed just before my BFP which I assume was implantation. I thought it was AF coming because I was bloated, cranky, crampy etc...

The roller coaster of TTC is so tough I remember. You can only get back on the horse and cross your fingers for next month! :D

Hi Jaxi,

I am so sorry to hear Af arrived. I wish you all the very best for next month.


**Prayingforabub**

Thanks ladies. Where would I be without this forum?

Hugs Jaxi. Let us know how you get on at the doctors too.

Thanks Bec. Will do. Actually just tried calling for the results and she wants DH to go for a sperm count, then she'll get me to come in with my chart for the mth and compare that to the 21 day progesterone test and check out DH's sperm count all at the one time so we can eliminate/deal with whatever we need to so it might still be a week or so before I'll know what's what!

Update - DH's semen specimen was dropped off at the labs this morning and I have an appointment to go over all results on Monday evening so I should know more then. Have also stopped taking the B6 so it will be interesting to see whether the spotting continues this cycle.

Hi gorgeous. Best of luck with your bt and SA results. :crossfingers: they help get to the bottom of your spotting and get you your much deserved BFP!!!

Hi Jaxi

I have the same symptoms as you, although my spotting starts about 5 days before AF. I came off the pill about 5 months ago, no TTC first bub, and it's happened every cycle... While on the pill I used to have a breakthrough bleed in the middle of my cycle - the gyno did a scan then and didn't find anything.

Is there some sort of link between this spotting and having trouble to conceive? Sorry but I'm new to this and although I thought my premenstrual spotting was a bit strange, I didn't think to much of it.

Thanks! :)

Hi... I too get spotting pre AF which lasts 5-7 days. I am currently ttc through IVF.

While FS have categorised us as "unexplained infertility", I feel that our trouble is to do with my short LP. How can an embryo possibly implant when your body is beginning to shed endo lining before the little one has a chance to properly implant?? Progesterone supplements have been tried but no luck yet...

Best wishes to everyone else ttc.

Hi Roseline, I think Kaydee said it all. My GP pretty much had this same concern. If my spotting is starting around 9DPO then I have a short luteal phase which makes it difficult for the embryo to implant. I am getting the results of my 21 day progesterone test this evening and DH is also getting the results of his sperm count so we should know where we stand later today. Perhaps you should be looking at a 21 day progesterone blood test? I don't think a scan would pick up a progesterone problem. I could be wrong though!? Wishing you the best of luck on your ttc journey. Keep me updated!

Kaydee, also wishing you the best of luck for this mth. I noticed you're in Sydney. Which FC are you going to? I have a strong feeling my ttc journey is going to take me to the FC very soon and am getting anxious about the cost and the path ahead!

Hi Jaxi, I'm with Dr Smith at Westmead Fertility Clinic. Can't speak highly enough about the nurses there. Costs are good compared to other clinics.

Best of luck for tonight. Hope the test results give you and DH some direction.

Thanks Kaydee :)

Hi gorgeous. Just wanted to let you know that we are thinking of you tonight when you get your results!! Sending you heaps of good luck vibes.

All the best Jaxi

Thanks so much ladies. Just got home from appointment. Progesterone test showed that my levels are quite normal but the GP was still concerned about my short luteal phase. Unfortunately DH's sperm count was low so she's given us a referral to go see a FS. She said to just go chat with him, see what his plan would be, the costs involved etc and then we can make a decision whether to start with him right away or give it more time. DH and I have agreed we'll go chat with him asap and see what lies ahead before making any decisions...

Jaxi - At least you know something now and you can go start some where. Keep us posted hon

Thanks BekZ. Well I've made my appointment for Tue 25th Nov. Still a while to go. Am hoping we can work some magic before I go!!! Am also so nervous about approaching my work to get time off for all my potential appointments with the FC because I don't want them to know I'm ttc. The FC is only open Mon-Fri between 9 and 5 which means I could be taking a lot of time off work to attend appointments and my bosses get so narky about taking time off. Is it even normal for a fertility clinic to only be open Mon-Fri. What if my ovaries are on a different time schedule?!?

Great news that you now have a starting point gorgeous. Bummer that you have to go to a FS cause I know you wanted to do it yourself but like you said anything you need to do to get your very much deserved baby. Keep us up to date gorgeous.

Hi Jaxi

Great to hear you have some news and can now start working towards a solution! But who knows, the little magic may happen by itself!

I looked at my charts and my spotting also starts at 9 DPO so sounds like I'm in the same boat as you. I had never heard about low progesterone levels so will do some more research. In the mean time we're taking it slow. Previous months we were BDing every 2 days around O, but now I will give it a rest and BD once a few days prior to O. Seemed to have worked for a lot of other bellybelly ladies! ;) If I have no success I will make an appointment with my GP in the new year.

Good luck to you & hubby on your TTC journey :)

Thanks very much Roseline. Can I ask how long you've been ttc?

I've been doing a bit of research on sperm count and found an interesting article that explained low sperm count can occur from abstinence of 1 week or more. Since DH and I started ttc we've pretty much only be BDing around O time (terrible I know...ttc has taken all the fun out of BDing) so we've now resolved to put the fun back into BDing and keep it up (excuse the pun) more often in the hope of encouraging the soldiers to go forth and do their thing!

It's been about 5 months since coming off the pill. It's funny, I alway thought I would fall preggers straight away but apparently not so. When I was younger I was petrified of getting pregnant so I always used condoms as well... and now that I use nothing, nothing happens! :wall:

Anyway, only time will tell when it will happen for us! Fingers crossed!!:crossfingers:

I was exactly the same Roseline. It's funny, I spent my whole life (well the sexually active part of it) deathly afraid of falling pregnant and did everything to protect myself against it thinking that without protection it would happen right away. 6mths after using no protection and seeing no sign of a BFP I am wondering why I used to worry so much!

Hi Jaxi,

Just wanted to give you an update on my situation - I can't believe it but I got my BFP mid last week!!! :D

I had spotting anywhere from 5 to 2 days before AF. However this month no spotting at all and a positive hpt.

I think in my case my body was still adjusting to coming off the pill. I noticed that as the months passed my AF became a lot heavier (prior to the pill I also had heavy periods). So I think it just took a couple of months before everything functioned normal again...

Anyway, hope everything is going well for you and you get a positive result soon!! :)

Roseline