Well this month my chart looked to be in good shape, but of course I thought the sa,me thing about the past 2 cycles also. This morning I woke up and took my temp like normal, and I dropped under my coverline, how depressing. I only had 10 days in my luteal phase. The last 2 cycles I had spotted for 3-4 days before it dropped and AF came, so this came as a shock to me. Last cycle I had a 12-13 day LP, the 12th day dropped, 13th ON the coverline, and 14 being my period, spotting since the 10th. And the chart before, I had 13 days, then a drop on 14, and period on 15, with spotting since the 11th. Could I be having too short of a luteal phase for anything to stick? Or are these just "not my months" and keep on trying? Is there anything I can do to try to help it out? I have seen about vitiman supplements and creams but does anyone have any experience with it? Any luck? BTW I have been off of BCP since February and my cycles are just now getting into the normal range, at first I was having 60, 45 day cycles. These last 3 since i have been charting have been, 43, 39, and this months30.
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I am very similar to you. LP is supposed to be pretty constant, but mine changes every month too and is usually between 10 and 12 days. I also spot for at least 3 days before hand.
Basically, spotting is never good. The RE I went to equated it to "pulling the rug" out from under the baby before it can implant. So even though our LPs are long enough (10 is usually the minimum), spotting means it's not quality uterine lining since our bodies are trying to start our period.
It seems to be a progesterone issue most commonly. Spotting can also come from fibroids and other issues, but if it's always right before AF and not mid-cycle, it's probably progesterone.
I suggest you see a doctor earlier than later. I waited a really long time and I wish I hadn't since nothing has changed with my body and my spotting. My Dr. is having me try Clomid next month to strengthen my ovulation and hopefully cause my body to naturally make more progesterone.
(Hope you were looking for a novel!! Hope this helped.)
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Thank you for your response! I think I might wait and see what next month has to offer me and then go from there. Maybe my body is STILL trying to regulate from the BCP. I know my doctor will be leary to start me on something right away, I was just there for my annual last month and told him I was NTNT and he didn't seem concerned at all seeing as I am still pretty young. But hopefully it will sort itself out soon or I will definately have to see about other options....Good Luck to you though! I hope it works for you, and that will give me some hope too!
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Thanks...I hope it works out naturally too!
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Now I feel really bad. I am lucky to get a 6 day luteal phase. I would be overjoyed with 10...what is the bare minimum you have to have? (i know I read this in TCOYF but I can't remember right now)
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I have the same issue as Mrs. Green Grass. I typically spot 8-9dpo and then it turns into period. I went to the Ob/Gyn after 6 months off ttc and recognizing this problem. I wasn't charting before then but I was using OPKs. The doctor put me on progesterone right away the next 2 months, and the spotting didn't return but I didn't get pregnant either. This month, we decided to hold off on the prometrium because my temps went so high on their own. This was my first month taking my temperature and not taking prometrium. Well, my temps remain high I started spotting yesterday (8dpo) and it's picking up more today. I called the doctor, told her and she said she didn't think it was worth getting my progesterone because my temps are still high, but take the prometrium.
I'm not sure if this is even helpful to you, but wanted to share my situation with you. I would keep track of these instances and I would certainly bring them up with a doctor if they continue. -
@nokademic - I think the minimum is 9? Hopefully we can all get ours to a nice 12 someday...
@Tidybee - I'm curious to see what Clomid does because we're going straight to that instead of Progesterone. I will let everyone know!
I'm 6dpo today...hoping not to see any spotting for a long while : /
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@Mrs Green Grass: I'm curious too! I'm thinking I will go to that next time. I'm thinking that i may only have a slight deficiency, but the clomid will make it stronger. Here's hoping at least. by the way - it's Lotam
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hopefully we will all get our own individual problems figured out and all be able to conceive easily! i know how upsetting it has been and i don't even know that i have an actual problem right now. i am just glad that i am charting and realizing these issues now and not years down the road. i plan on picking up some vitamin b this weekend at the store and seeing what it does this next cycle. and if nothing there, try the progesterone creams. and hopefully with those if i am not pregnant by february, which would be our 1 year but NTNT, we will try a little harder and then talk to the doctor on my next annual if it doesn't happen. i feel so calm saying this yet i know that i will not be able to wait that long! hopefully i won't have to!
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Yikes! Now I'm even more concerned! The last two cycles I have started spotting a few days before my period, which I've never really done before. I do take a prenatal vitamin, but should I be taking a B-Complex in addition to this?
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@Tidybee: Good to know! That's the second time I've talked to someone I already "know." Then I feel like an idiot for explaining the same thing over and over : )
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@MrsApricot: I bought B Complex but never actually took it. I don't think there's any harm in taking it and it could help. B6 is the major component that helps I believe. My RE did not mention it.
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@Mrs Green Grass: What does the B6 do?
Sigh, 5 days DPO and spotting. That's normal for me...
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Oooooh interesting. I've been doing some reading, and apparently having a copper IUD can affect the length of your luteal phase (I have that currently).
One example of such: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7439408
"The average number of days from the 1st day of menstrual bleeding to the LH peak (the proliferative phase) was longer in the IUD users. The number of days from the LH peak to the onset of menstrual bleeding (the luteal phase) was shorter in the IUD users. Because of the compensating nature of these statistically significant differences, the total cycle length appeared to be unchanged."So it could be caused by my IUD, not my cycle (I was assuming that since my cycle length didn't change, this was just how my cycle is..I never charted 'pre' IUD.) So that's possible. I figured since the copper IUD doesn't contain hormones it wouldn't affect anything in my cycle.
SO I guess I really won't know what's up with my body until I eventually have the IUD taken out..but that won't be for while...
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@Mrs Green Grass: My cousin has a super short LP and her doctor prescribed Clomid to help her O earlier and hopefully lengthen the LP, so that could be another reason why your doctor is recommending it. Unfortunately she's one of the few people that actually responds adversely to Clomid, so she and her husband are pursuing adoption instead.
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@nodakademic: Good! I never researched short LP with BC...glad there is an explanation.
@lisarice - I am really nervous to see how I respond!
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@Muffin: I think your best bet is to get hormone levels drawn soon. Over the counter progesterone cream is different from what a dr would prescribe and high levels of B6 can cause nerve damage (you should be working with a dr when taking more than the recommended amount of B6). If you are spotting before your period you should see your doctor. This isn't something you should self medicate or wait to talk to your dr at your annual about. Trust me- I have spotted for years and only recently went to my dr about it. My progesterone levels are horrible, I was diagnosed hypothyroid. Low Progesterone and hypothyroid both are linked with infertility. Now I am trying to get my levels in order. I am kicking myself in the a$$ for not mentioning the spotting to my doctor before.
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@nodakademic: Sorry I didn't reply before. I don't remember what it does...and I didn't end up taking it. I'm weird about supplements.
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well its a good thing that i am charting and realizing these issues now! i will have to make an appointment. i might go to a different dr though, mine didn't seem to want to take any time with me regarding ttc seeing as i am young.
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@Muffin: Wow, definitely go see a different doctor then. I am using a Naturopathic Doctor and I get wonderful personal attention. 45 minute appointments- explains all of my test results, etc. love! If your insurance covers ND you might think about going to see one for the basic TTC stuff.
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Found this post (1 1/2 years later!) and it's getting me worried... My LP has been 11-12 days since going off BC in December. The last two cycles have had spotting pre-AF. =/
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Since its bumped, I'll update. Clomid gave me perfect 14 day lp's (3 times) we also did IUI those cycles and still no BFP (until IVF). I know we had some male-factor issues (morphology) so not sure how much affect my lp had.
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@LindsayInNY: my LP was around the twelve day mark and although it took ten cycles we got a BFP without any assistance or intervention. Having said that I have no idea if either DH or I had any other issues going on.
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@Kemma: I wonder if I'm just google diagnosing myself too much... My cycle length is about the same as it was pre-BC (granted that was 12 years ago). Everything else seems "normal" - OPKs, BBT, etc. The spotting just started last cycle and now this one. It starts as a dark discharge/spotting and gets a little heavier until it's red AF. I never had that pre-BC. I don't know if this is related BC problems or what?
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