Can B complex mess up your cycle or cause spotting?

Infantino22 · October 2015

Hello all...

Wondering if anyone else has had a weird cycle when starting to take B complex vitamins. I just added the B complex to my vitamin intake on CD1, and now I'm bleeding (spotting, perhaps?) on CD18. I typically have short cycles, around 25-26 days, but I've been tracking for 18 months and never had a cycle fewer than 24 days. I've never (in the 18 years I have had a period) spotted, with a rare exception on the day before AF.

I understand that you're regular until you're not, and all of that, but 18 days is more than a fluctuation in my mind if this is AF. If it's spotting, could the B complex cause that?

Don't worry, and don't flame me, I don't think it's implantation bleeding. I'm crampy and it's bright red, so I don't have any false hopes.

I'm just so frustrated...

Sporty1216 · October 2015

I don't have any experience, but I just wanted to say I'm sorry. That is super frustrating. And, don't worry! We have a wonderfully non-flamey group here. My guess is most of us would hope it was IB for you. I'm sorry you don't think it is. Hope you can get some answers soon. Hang in there.

jilligan14 · October 2015

I actually DID have implantation bleeding the first time I was pregnant so it can happen (and I'd NEVER had pre-AF spotting before that one time). So don't give up hope! Also, sometimes the body does weird things when you start a new supplement or are trying to get back in balance. I had an 18-day cycle after I started seeing my acupuncturist and changing my diet. She said it was a "reset" cycle. So if you are getting AF this early, it might just be your body getting into balance. I think B vitamins are a good thing!

Infantino22 · October 2015

Thanks, guys. @jilligan14 perhaps I should continue with the B complex, then? I was ready to throw it out the window.

Maybe it's doing what I had hoped - lengthening my LP - and this is a reset cycle, like your acupuncturist said. @Sporty1216 I'm so paranoid after lurking on the TTGP board... didn't want anyone to think I'm hinting around at a pregnancy symptom!!

Still what I'd consider random spotting, so maybe my body is just getting used to the new vitamin.

lickastick · October 2015

@infantino22 As far as I know from my studies (acupuncture, eastern nutrition, western nutrition, anatomy and pathopysiology) I can't think of a way that the b-complex could shorten your cycle on it's own. However it can influence hormones in an indirect way so it wouldn't be out of the question. See what happens over the next hours to days and you never know it could be that rare bird

I have experimented on myself with lots and lots of supplements and herbs and it hasn't always gone well. What I have learned is that I have to keep checking in with my intuition, if I get a side effect but I feel like I should keep taking something then I do, but I am always checking in with myself. Above all if something within me says stop, I have to stay true to that and stop taking it! FX for you!

carrieandr · October 2015

Those TTGP flamers drive me nuts. As for your question, I take B vitamins and haven't had that problem. I say keep taking it and see what happens.

lickastick · October 2015

@carrieandroy Me TOO...just sayin

Infantino22 · October 2015

Full blown AF now... So, regrouping and starting a new cycle early. Bright side, I guess?! Ugh. Just hoping this was a crazy fluke and I have a normal (hopefully longer than normal) cycle this time.

I've been using OPKs (slacked this cycle though) but I think I'm going to start temping. I held off because of the anxiety that I thought I might have about tracking, waking up at the right time, etc, but I need better visibility into what the crap is going on in my body.

1inthehopper · October 2015

Me too!!! Sometimes I want to post something about the fact that maybe they should just be nice just because I know they will freak out!!

1inthehopper · October 2015

No experience with this @Infantino22 but sorry it's stressful!

Infantino22 · October 2015

I did post once, tried to give another perspective when things were getting heated. I shrunk away soon after. :-/

The GIFs totally make my day, though. Some actually make me LOL. And I have to admit, the amount of crazy that finds its way to that board is intense, so I can appreciate the frustration level to a certain degree.

Edited because words are hard

jilligan14 · October 2015

I'm no doctor but I don't think the B vitamins are a bad thing. Hopefully things will settle down a bit for this next cycle. Sorry about AF showing up..

Mamafesto · October 2015

Ugh, @Infantino22, that's so frustrating! I completely feel your pain. I've been taking all of these supplements and doing acupuncture to extend my luteal phase and it's only getting shorter. 25 day cycle, o'ed on day 15 and started spotting on day 22. I even have my acupuncturist stumped. She's having me consult with the other practitioner in her office to try and figure out what's going on with me. Anyway, I hope these short cycles are just an aberration for us and things start to turn around soon. I agree, though, that if you have to have a wonky cycle, better that it be extra short as opposed to extra long!

lickastick · October 2015

Mamafesto Infantino22 I feel for you guys! That is tough! Sorry about AF @infantino22. As much as I love acupuncture and believe it, I am an acupuncturist after all, I strongly believe in branching out to specialists when it is called for. I started seeing an Endobioginist which is a very new type of endocrine medicine that looks at the body from the most wholistic way possible within the western medicine paradigm.

They do very complicated blood lab analysis to have a much more in depth picture of the hormones. Then they have the option of giving herbs that are paired perfectly with your blood chemistry and endocrine system. The endocrine system is what controls menstruation and pregnancy and there is also very little that a OB or RE has to offer women to help bring the system into balance. Acupuncture can greatly influence the endocrine system, but it is not always successful for every woman. Endobiogeny is the absolute cutting edge of integrative medicine right now, so it won't be covered by insurance and it can be kinda $$$.

However, the first cycle I started getting treated I got pregnant, and while that pregnancy ended in a loss I continued tx after that and my cycles were regulated to a clockwork 27 days, where before I would have a 24-27 day cycle and it would be all over the place. I feel so much better with the treatment and while I still get acupuncture, I really appreciate knowing so much about my hormones. I think it can be such a great alternative to do before moving onto IUI/IVF to at least get an idea if the hormones can support a pregnancy naturally.

Here is a link to info: https://www.endobiogeny.com/

If you guys want any info on specific doctors I think you will have to pm me, I don't think I am allowed to post links to services? They have doctors all over the US so you might be able to find one near you, or it can be done via skype as well too (at least I know mine does skype)

Just something to consider it can be so frustrating to be the hostage of our hormones!

Mamafesto · October 2015

@createillumination - thanks for the info. Endobiogency sounds promising and definitely the kind of integrative medicine model that appeals to me. That said, my partner and I have decided that we're just going to stay the course with what we're currently doing and if it happens, it happens. If not, we are totally blessed to have our DS and can live with one and done. In my struggles with TTC over the years, it's definitely been the case that the more I focus on TTC and the more interventions I pursue, the more obsessive I get which I think is really counterproductive. I've managed to get two BFPs over the years with just supplements and acupuncture so I'm trying to stay positive and just accept that this is a journey and it will happen when the time is right.

lickastick · October 2015

That sounds like a great plan. Mostly i geek out on this stuff as professional development!

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