Spotting ten days before my period

Hi there,

I am 23 years old and for the past 10 months have been dealing with light brown spotting which starts on day 19 or 20 or my cycle and lasts all the way up to my period. I've had two paps which came back normal, two ultrasounds (inner and outer) which came back normal (with the exception of an inflammed fallopian tube) and was recently (over three months ago)put on a light dosage bcp (alesse) in an attempt to stop the spotting. Long story short, it hasn't stopped and atop of that since I've started the pill I've had breakthrough bleeding along with the spotting within those ten days leading up to my period. My doctors next step is to put me on a higher dosage pill to see if that works. I am terrified that it's not going to work and that they will then have to do a scrap which REEEALLY freaks me out. So could someone please shed some light on what this might be and why the bcp's haven't been working?

Thank you,
Chantel

[Forum-M.D.-SP]

The irregular bleeding you are having at present may well just be a common side effect of birth control pills. This side effect is not harmful or dangerous, and the pill is still functioning to contracept you as effectively as if you were not having the spotting. Since you were having some spotting before starting the pill, you and your doctor can discuss whether or not further testing should be done.

[summer06]

Thank you for posting this question. Last month was the first time ever that I spotted a total of 10 days b4 my expected AF. Everyone i told this too just said it was just old blood (which I know that being it was brown). BUT for 10days - it doesn't make sense.

[Gentlefawn]

Has this happened to you again Summer06? Let me know...I've been trying to get more answers and I find it really helpful talking to other people with the same or similar problems. I agree with you-it doesn't seem normal. My mom told me that she use to get it when she was younger off and on but I seem to think that she hasn't had for ten constant months like I've been getting it which makes me think it's not the same thing. Only one month, in August, for some reason or another I didn't get any spotting at all just a regular 28day cycle so I was happy bc I thought it was gone...then it came back.

[summer06]

I am not suppose to get my AF again until next month. It will interesting to see if this happens again. I will def. let you know if it happens again.

[kritter14]

I too have had this spotting every week before my period, but mine has been happening for almost 3 years now.  At first my doc just put me on BC pills and it helped a little.  As time went on it got worse again!  So...she upped my BC to a stronger pill.  This again helped for a short amount of time but soon things just went back to being bad.  My spotting use to be almost throughout the whole month, but now I usually only spot the week before my period.  I have had 2 ultrasounds both coming back normal and have never had an abnormal pap.  My husband and I are now trying to conceive and I am worried this will effect our chances.  But...the more I read the more I am starting to realize this is most likely just a hormone imbalance.  I'm just not sure how to get it balanced correctly again!  After a LOT of research I have found that low progesterone is most likely the cutlprit and that this can be caused by many things.  Including stress, a poor diet, and not enough exercise.  As I said, we are now trying to conceive and I keep hearing that low progesterone can cause women to miscarry...so this scares the **** out of me.  Anyways, I just wanted to let you know you are not alone in this situation.  I'm right there with ya!  For the longest time I felt like I was the only one out there with this problem, but the more I read the more I realize there are a LOT of women who deal with this.  I'll let you know if I ever find an anwer.  Good luck!

[L__]

A related discussion, spotting 10 days before period was started.

[emmitsmom]

A related discussion, bleeding before my period was started.