Abnormal Spotting

[ksev]

I have a regular 28 day cycle and exactly 6 days before my period is due to arrive I start spotting. This has been going on for about 8 months now. It's very light and usually brownish. We've been trying to conceive for about 5 months unsuccessfully. I spoke with my gyn and she sent me for an ultrasound on 2/21 which showed that I was ovulating in the next day or so, but no other abnormalities. The spotting is back again today (3/1). My gyn has told me not to worry, but I can't help wondering if the spotting is a symptom of something else which is effecting our conceiving a baby.

[USF-M.D.-DK]

ksev,
spotting on a routine basis before your period normally is do can be caused by a polyp in the uterus (diagnosed by a HSG), by an infection of the uterine lining (diagnosed by endometrial biopsy), or by a hormone imbalance, e.g. abnormal thyroid or practin level. david

[sarge1]

I was having spotting as well; my doctor took a blood test to test my progesterone levels, and found them low. I believe that can cause spotting?  It can also affect fertility, from what I understand.  Maybe ask for a progesterone test?  It's taken on day 21 of your cycle.
Best wishes

[ksev]

Thanks everyone!  Now I know what to ask about when I go back to the doctor.

[sallie05]

I would ask about the above mentioned tests as well and maybe look into seeing if you have a short luteal phase. I have always heard that you should be able to go at least 10 days past ovulation without any spotting or it may be a possible LP defect. I also had this problem for approximately 9-10 months following cessation of my BCP b/f TTC I'm not sure what happened but after almost a year of this spotting for like a week b/f AF everything went back to normal and I conceived about five months later. I had a beautiful DD in sept. and am not anxious to start trying for #2. Needless to say though I am having the same problem again with spotting :)