Those with spotting/bleeding problems (ticker warning)

bostonbluejay · March 2012

I just want give those of you with spotting and/or bleeding problems some info that changed my life. I had been spotting throughout my cycle for years. Like, 8, to be exact. It was a hindrance to my sex life, and just quality of life all around. It was anything from brown spotting to bright red bleeding. I saw no fewer than 11 doctors during those 8 years and they did pelvic exams, changed up my birth control brand/dosage, and basically just told me I'd have to live with it.

When I went off birth control, and started charting, I realized that I had some mid cycle spotting and then a lot of LP spotting/bleeding. The worst of my spotting and bleeding was happening during my luteal phase so I was diagnosed with a LP defect and put on progesterone. I still spotted and bled. You can take a look at my past charts if you'd like to compare or see the extent of my spotting.

Cut to me seeing this new RE last year. As I explained the spotting/bleeding, she felt that it sounded like more than a LP defect. She had me come in at around 7dpo when I was having my bleeding episodes and she simply took a q-tip to my cervix and was able to see that just touching my cervix with the q-tip caused it to bleed. All my spotting and bleeding was coming from my cervix. I was diagnosed with a pretty severe case of ectropion cervix. She sent me to have a single application of cryotherapy on my cervix. Why am I telling you all this? This simple procedure changed.my.life. I no longer spot/bleed. Except when I would have my period. It completely gave me back spontaneous sex with my husband, and just improved my quality of life tremendously. It took 8 years and so many doctors to finally figure out what was really causing my spotting/bleeding. I know there were always quite a few posts here about spotting and so I just wanted to let you guys know about my situation.

I know this is long, but if any of you are just completely at the end of your rope dealing with this, maybe ask your doctor to really check your cervix when you're spotting and see if that's the problem. Like I said, I saw so many doctors who never checked for this, never mentioned it as a possible cause, but it seems like it's pretty common in women in their 20's and especially in women who have been on BC before.

Just wanted to put this info out there to possibly help someone!

s.alarie · March 2012

Thanks for this. I have had spotting for years also, and have been told that I have a "friable" cervix. No one has ever suggested treatment of this, and I too have lived with it for a while. I have had so many repeat paps (due to cervical bleeding during the pap) it's ridiculous. Next doc appointment I'm asking for some cryo!!

kpowers982 · March 2012

Awesome! I am absolutely going to bring this up at my next appointment in 3 weeks.

And congrats on the BFP, that's terrific! HH9!

kpowers982 · March 2012

s.alarie:
Thanks for this. I have had spotting for years also, and have been told that I have a "friable" cervix. No one has ever suggested treatment of this, and I too have lived with it for a while. I have had so many repeat paps (due to cervical bleeding during the pap) it's ridiculous. Next doc appointment I'm asking for some cryo!!

Amen to this!

sunflowers4AC · March 2012

I feel like I completely missed your BFP. Congrats!!!! I am also very happy for you that you found a Dr. that was able to fix your problem so that you could have back a very important missing part of your life. Please also make sure that you come back for check-ins so we know how you are doing.

bostonbluejay · March 2012

Thanks ladies! I didn't post a BFP since I haven't been active here on the board for a while. I did post in the check in this week, though!

As for the cryotherapy, not all doctors do it. If you do indeed have an ectropion cervix or "friable" cervix with a lot of eroded blood vessels right at the surface, you may have to try a different OBGYN who does the cryotherapy. Cryotherapy is usually done for abnormal paps, so for an issue like mine, instead of doing one freeze for three minutes and then doing another freeze for three minutes, they just did the one three minute freeze and that was it. It was really uncomfortable, but bearable.

It's kind of a catch 22 with TTC, because cryotherapy CAN diminish your CM and can possibly cause scarring at your cervix forcing you into IUI. That's not super common, but it is something to be aware of. For me, personally, I was SO over the spotting and bleeding that I was willing to take that chance and thankfully my doctor didn't notice any scarring at all when she examined my cervix about 6 weeks after the cryo.

brachatzipora · March 2012

BBJ, totally missed your BFP! Congrats!!!!

mrsjollybrown · March 2012

Wow this is amazing. And Congratulations!

tennisanddance · March 2012

Congrats on the BFP! Please keep checking in on Tuesdays! And thanks for sharing your story.

KittyKatMom · March 2012

Thanks for sharing. I typically have 5-7 days of spotting before AF every cycle and have been wondering if it's due to low progesterone, but my doctor doesn't think so (even though she refuses to test me until I get pregnant).

Question for you - did you used to spot while on BC? I used to have 3-5 days of spotting before "AF" even while on the pill, and this continued even after I went off. And now it seems to start earlier since having my DS.

Another question - does this cervix issue cause any problems when TTC or other health problems or is it mainly just a nuisance? The spotting annoys me, but it's something I can live with if it's not a medical issue.

TIA!

Rvnsgrl81 · March 2012

So happy to see your BFP!!! Miss you!!

bwe1100 · March 2012

BBJ - I missed your BFP! So many congratulations and best wishes!

bostonbluejay · March 2012

KittyKatMom:
Thanks for sharing. I typically have 5-7 days of spotting before AF every cycle and have been wondering if it's due to low progesterone, but my doctor doesn't think so (even though she refuses to test me until I get pregnant).

Question for you - did you used to spot while on BC? I used to have 3-5 days of spotting before "AF" even while on the pill, and this continued even after I went off. And now it seems to start earlier since having my DS.

Another question - does this cervix issue cause any problems when TTC or other health problems or is it mainly just a nuisance? The spotting annoys me, but it's something I can live with if it's not a medical issue.

TIA!

I did used to spot on bc, all throughout my cycle. For me, it got worse and went from mostly brown spotting to actual red bleeding. Almost like a sudden bleed. Like a bloody nose. Because I have to be on blood thinners, I had to get it taken care of, but I think as far as ttc goes, it's a nuisance.

bostonbluejay · March 2012

Rvn and bwe, how are you ladies doing? so good to"see" you both!

OtterPop1 · March 2012

I missed your BFP, too! Yaaaaaay!!! Congratulations and a very happy and healthy nine months to you, BBJ!

::happy dances out of post::

notquiteblushing · March 2012

keeleynb · July 2014

Hello,
I am very reassured by your post. I appreciate it your sharing this. I am 22 years old and have been suffering with this for 3 years. I bleed for 2 weeks before my period every month, sometimes more. For the first two years, no one even suggested that I had a friable cervix. They prescribed birth control pills, removed a polyp and finally suggested an IUD. So I got a new doctor because I was convinced this wasn't the problem.
The new obgyn has been treating the cervix with silver nitrate but for some reason, that causes 3 days of excessive bleeding, then goes away. So they did an ultra sound and found that my uterine lining was thin ( I requested low dose birth control (10 mg of estrogen)). This is strange because just a year ago, it was considered normal, but my obgyn said it looked thick during a hysteroscopy. I am very confused and concerned by this. I do not want to play the 3 month birth control game even 1 more time. I've tried every level of estrogen and every progestin, it's fixed nothing.
Now I'm thinking I must have a LEEP procedure to take off the damaged cells, but there seems to be many options. My doctor has not suggested a cryotherapy. I will have to see if I can find more info on which is better. Thanks for the suggestion and the hope that it could go away.
Thanks!

gscoville · July 2014

Wow, thank you so much for sharing this! I'm in the exact same boat, I spot, sometimes quite heavily, throughout my cycle, basically straight through from a day or two after ovulation to my period, so essentially I might have only five or so days in my cycle where I'm not spotting or bleeding anything. It's happened for years, both when I was on the pill and the two years since that we've been TTC. Doctors have completely dismissed it after not being able to find any reason for it - hormone levels all normal even for my age, no cysts, etc. I have an appointment with my OB in a few weeks so I'll be sure to bring this up as something to look into, like you, I'm SO over all the bleeding.

holliberry28 · July 2014

Congratulations on your BFP! It's wonderful to be sharing such good information

gscoville · July 2014

Greeneyes842 said:

Zombie thread! 8-X

And your point is...? At least it's a very useful one for someone like me dealing with 20+ days of actual bleeding per cycle and doctors who for years have told me it's nothing. I appreciate any thread that might possibly shed some light on such a frustrating scenario, I actually don't give a flying fuck if it's a "zombie thread".

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