If you usually spotted before AF, did you have any spotting when you got your BFP?

riveridgional

DH and I have been TTC for 15 cycles. Each cycle, I usually spot 2-3 days before AF rears her nasty face. Each month it makes this TTC roller-coaster ride even worse. I get depressed that I'm out, then try to convince myself maybe it's late implantation bleeding or perhaps decidual bleeding, then get my hopes up again only to be crushed when AF shows. I still spot even when on Progesterone supplements, so I guess it's just something my body decided to start doing after ending BCP over 3 years ago! I was wondering if those of you who have been blessed with pregnancy and usually spotted prior to your AFs also spotted before your BFPs. I'm hoping to slow my TTC Rollercoaster ride down each month! Thanks for any guidance!

mnj05

I did not spot before either BFP but I know plenty of women who have, it's common. What kind of progesterone are you on? Vaginal suppositories can cause spotting too as they can irritate the cervix.

SharonB222

I spotted two days with my 1st sticky BFP. I did not spot with my 2nd BFP. During my 8 yrs TTC my cycle changed a lot (after ea. pg loss), so I can't say what was usual for me. AF varied from 7-day flow to 1½-day flow, from no spotting and severe cramping to spotting beforehand with light cramping. FX for you.

riveridgional

Sorry for the delay in thanking you both for your insight (I had limited internet access the last several days). This last month didn't work out for me, so I'm taking a month off to refocus before jumping into injectables.

SharonB222

Sorry about the bust cycle. Wishing you a restful-in-its-way month. FX for your TTC cycle to come.

kmartinez209

@SharonB222 did you TTC for 8 years naturally? Or did you have assistence through an RE? Reason I ask is we've tried for 10+ and 2015 was our first year with an RE and IVF, I was on vag. Progesterone with one failed fresh and one BFP from FET but lost with MC and RE contributes it to lack of progesterone considering I started to spot 3 days after BFP, so he's suggesting PIO injections at start of next FET cycle right after lining check... Thank you for answering XoXo

Gregermis

I spotted some BFPs and didn't spot for others.  The one that stuck I did have some spotting, but until I was 5 weeks pregnant.

SharonB222

The 8 yrs TTC was natural. I did TCM (acupuncture, herbs). It definitely improved things but obviously didn't overcome whatever medical issue there was. I visited an RE early in the journey who recommended IVF, but I wasn't ready. I was "unexplained" so sought 2nd opinion, 3rd opinion. Did two Clomid cycles (BFNs). By the time 8 yrs past I was onto my 4th RE and ready for all that leading technology could bring to the table.

Echogirlxo

@SharonB222 I am trying TCM at the moment... I'm curious on how it improved things for you? Did you ovulate on your own? Were your cycles regular? Thank you

SharonB222

@Echogirlxo, I was regular and charting BBT prior to TCM (acupuncture combined with herbs) so it was interesting to see the improvement in my BBT charts. Three things happened:

1. My cycle variance (26-34), became more concise (28-30)
2. My BBTs which had gone up and down normally enough but were choppy, became smoother
3. My LP increased 1 day

Come to find out part of our problem (b/c we don't really know) is that I had a uterine septum; really not too much TCM can do about that. Heck, even 2 clinics and 3 REs missed it (took a 3rd clinic and 4th RE).

My DH did TCM also (just the herbs) and his SA would improve a bit for a month or two and possibly contributed to increased opportunity. (The vitamin regime our RE prescribed him for IVF had more of an impact.)

FX that once your cycle is stable (enough), your child-bearing will be underway!!!

Echogirlxo

@SharonB222 Thanks for your reply! I'm feeling much better about it now. That's very rare (uterine septum), and very hard to catch... In my job (ultrasound) I've seen arcuate, bicornuate, didelphis... but a septated uterus is almost undetectable . Did they do an MRI? My OBGYN says she might want me to have one (which worries me).

SharonB222

@Echogirlxo, it was a 3D u/s that caught it. I had had multiple SHGs, HSGs, hysteroscopies and even a laparotomy, but as you know they only look from one side, and do not have the perspective of inside relative to outside. I did not have an MRI that I recall. Your input is comforting, b/c I wonder if I could have been a better advocate for myself and had it identified earlier and saved myself more years of grief. After pg loss#2, an RE mentioned a slight irregularity at top (fibroid maybe he suggested?) which I didn't pursue beyond typical testing (looks good!). But then I'm no doctor either and I did my best.

Echogirlxo

*TRIGGER WARNING*

I had very light pink spotting last night, and a little bit today.... but it stopped.  I took a test just in case to see if I should drink tomorrow night for Halloween, and BFP @ 11 DPO.  FX that it sticks!!  I truly believe that the Chinese herbs and Acupuncture worked.  I told myself that at the very least, it relaxed me.  It relieves my stress/anxiety, so I can focus on getting pregnant and staying healthy.

riveridgional

Figured I'd go ahead and update my own post in case anyone in the future looks for this and would like to know the same answer. I finally got my BFP and had no spotting beforehand. I did, however, change up/add a few meds post-O. After my second round of injects was a fail, and I continued to have pre-AF spotting, I asked for a sit down with my doc because I felt that my pre-AF spotting wasn't even being considered as a concern. While waiting for the doctor, the nurse told me it could be that my estrogen level was dropping prematurely and causing spotting especially since the only time I didn't spot since stopping BC years prior was when I was put on prometrium 200 mg 2xs and estrace 2xs vaginally (to thicken lining after Clomid thinned it). My doctor apparently hadn't read the notes that I called to report spotting after my inject rounds and when I told him how my spotting was after my first inject round his response was, "that isn't good". He switched up my progesterone from prometrium orally to Crinone 8% suppositories. He stated that estrace had no proven increase in success for injectables rounds, only with Clomid and IVF. I still felt like the nurse's explanation made sense, so I asked if it would hurt if I tried it. He said no, so I asked for the prescription and started estrace 2xs a day vaginally the night before triggering. I started crinone the 3rd morning after triggering. Of course, I don't know what stopped the spotting and if that was preventing me from getting (or knowing I was ever) pregnant, but figured I'd share the concoction that helped with my BFP and no pre-AF spotting.