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Yellow Discharge and Light Vaginal Bleeding
Hi,
I had an copper IUD removed about 1 1/2 years ago because I was having problems with my cycle becoming infrequent. I have been having infrequent periods since (and even tried the pill to help, but it didn't). My cycle has been pretty frequent for almost 6 months now (40-45 days). My last period was August 31, 2009. My next period is due sometime between October 9-14. The problem is this:
5 days ago, I noticed some spotting. At first it was light pink, then turned brown and back to light pink. This happened for 3 days, but the bleeding was off and on. Then yesterday, I noticed it got heavy, so I assumed the whole time it was my period. That heavy bleeding only lasted about an hour. It then went to the light pink and then stopped yesterday afternoon. I have not had any bleeding since. Now I have a yellow discharge, but there is no burning, odor or itching, so I don't believe this is an infection. I have no signs of cramping from PMS although normally at this time in my cycle there would be.
The very first day, I had some slight cramping, but then it went away.
There is a possibility I am pregnant since I am married and I am active. We had sex around the time I ovulated (I felt a pain that I have almost every month, but I know this is not always accurate) it was approx 12 hours before I felt this pain.
What are the possible diagonsis?
Is it possible this could be early signs of pregnancy for me?
Please note, I have never had any of these symptoms before.
I had an copper IUD removed about 1 1/2 years ago because I was having problems with my cycle becoming infrequent. I have been having infrequent periods since (and even tried the pill to help, but it didn't). My cycle has been pretty frequent for almost 6 months now (40-45 days). My last period was August 31, 2009. My next period is due sometime between October 9-14. The problem is this:
5 days ago, I noticed some spotting. At first it was light pink, then turned brown and back to light pink. This happened for 3 days, but the bleeding was off and on. Then yesterday, I noticed it got heavy, so I assumed the whole time it was my period. That heavy bleeding only lasted about an hour. It then went to the light pink and then stopped yesterday afternoon. I have not had any bleeding since. Now I have a yellow discharge, but there is no burning, odor or itching, so I don't believe this is an infection. I have no signs of cramping from PMS although normally at this time in my cycle there would be.
The very first day, I had some slight cramping, but then it went away.
There is a possibility I am pregnant since I am married and I am active. We had sex around the time I ovulated (I felt a pain that I have almost every month, but I know this is not always accurate) it was approx 12 hours before I felt this pain.
What are the possible diagonsis?
Is it possible this could be early signs of pregnancy for me?
Please note, I have never had any of these symptoms before.
I had an IUD implanted in about 1994 & still have it. I went to my GYN to replace it she said she would remove it but won't replace it as it's against her religion as a Christian. I figured that since I'm not having sex I'd leave it alone. I've just ignored it because I last had sex in 1999 in my 30s. (10+years ago.) I'm concerned now bcuz I finaly started dating again & I am planning to have sex for Xmas 2009. My boyfriend says he is well endowed & I'm concerned that he may dislodge the IUD or push it father up. I can no longer feel the string bcuz I had the doctor cut it as it was irritating. I know I wasted 10years but I'd like to use it now. Do they still make it? I plan to use condoms but I don't want more children & just my luck, I like the backup. I don' t want to ingest any contraceptives, shots etc & my doctor refused to sever my tubes after my last child in the 1990. I don't want pills, chemicals etc in my system & I regularly have an 8day period every 28 days. Please answer ASAP..I am running out of time to make a decision. Thanks
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi!
The first thing I ALWAYS recommend is a pregnancy test. That is the most common reason for abnormalities with the cycle. If the test is positive, go in to your OB doctor!
If it is negative, and if you were my patient, I would probably go next to ultrasound. A saline ultrasound will give the most information.
Your long history of irregular periods makes me somewhat concerned about a build up in your uterine lining such as hyperplasia or a polyp. Either of these conditions can cause unpredictable bleeding, and both need to be diagnosed and treated as they are potentially pre-cancerous. (The VAST majority are benign.)
Depending upon the results of the ultrasound, I would either treat surgically with a d&c/hysteroscopy if a polyp is found, or with an endometrial biopsy if it looks like there could be hyperplasia.
I doubt that there is any relationship to the copper IUD this long afterwards. It sounds like you have a form of PCOS. It is important to regulate your cycles somehow. As long as they are less than 90 days, there is no urgent need to treat. But if you have fewer than 4 periods per year, or if they are more than 90 days apart, I would give you progesterone to induce a period and keep the lining thinned out.
Another option for regulating your cycle would be medications such as Femara or Clomid that induce ovulation. These medications are usually only used when someone is actively trying to conceive.
Other labs that I would consider would be FSH, TSH, Prolactin. Also, a pap and cultures to rule out infection.
When the story is complicated, it sometimes takes quite a few tests to sort it out. The FIRST one to do is the pregnancy test though!
I hope this helps!
Dr B
The first thing I ALWAYS recommend is a pregnancy test. That is the most common reason for abnormalities with the cycle. If the test is positive, go in to your OB doctor!
If it is negative, and if you were my patient, I would probably go next to ultrasound. A saline ultrasound will give the most information.
Your long history of irregular periods makes me somewhat concerned about a build up in your uterine lining such as hyperplasia or a polyp. Either of these conditions can cause unpredictable bleeding, and both need to be diagnosed and treated as they are potentially pre-cancerous. (The VAST majority are benign.)
Depending upon the results of the ultrasound, I would either treat surgically with a d&c/hysteroscopy if a polyp is found, or with an endometrial biopsy if it looks like there could be hyperplasia.
I doubt that there is any relationship to the copper IUD this long afterwards. It sounds like you have a form of PCOS. It is important to regulate your cycles somehow. As long as they are less than 90 days, there is no urgent need to treat. But if you have fewer than 4 periods per year, or if they are more than 90 days apart, I would give you progesterone to induce a period and keep the lining thinned out.
Another option for regulating your cycle would be medications such as Femara or Clomid that induce ovulation. These medications are usually only used when someone is actively trying to conceive.
Other labs that I would consider would be FSH, TSH, Prolactin. Also, a pap and cultures to rule out infection.
When the story is complicated, it sometimes takes quite a few tests to sort it out. The FIRST one to do is the pregnancy test though!
I hope this helps!
Dr B
I just wanted to add a few more pieces of information.
1. I don't know if I have an allergy to copper, but the whole issue with irregular periods started when I had the IUD after I had my daughter. I had always been like clock work before that (ever since I started my period at age 11, so 11 years).
2. The bleeding started again after I posted this, but stopped shortly after. Again it was the light bleeding, nothing like my period. I did have some slight cramping, but the cramping stopped after about 30 minutes.
3. I have no symptoms of pregnancy, but it would be to early, I am sure.
4. I have been craving some weird things such as cake batter (uncooked), but that could be something as simple as missing nutrients or part of PMS.
5. The discharge itself is going from yellow (almost mistaking it for urine as it is the same color) to a clear yellowish. Still no signs of an infection such as itching, pain, burning or odor.
6. My husband and I are not trying to conceive at this time, but we are not using any form of protection.
7. I keep reading some of these posts and see you say it could be a weird period, besides this, what could be the other reasons? Could I have been allergic to copper and be having effects from that?
8. I am overweight, but I weigh less than when I was a teenager. I am 26 years old.
9. I have been tested numerous times for disorders such as thyroid issues. Everything is always perfect. I have a clean pap and have never had any types of cancers although I was prone to yeast infections as a very young child.
10. I know this is not normal at all for me and I am just trying to rule out any possible diseases or disorders so I have an idea of what I could be dealing with.
Thank you for your time.
1. I don't know if I have an allergy to copper, but the whole issue with irregular periods started when I had the IUD after I had my daughter. I had always been like clock work before that (ever since I started my period at age 11, so 11 years).
2. The bleeding started again after I posted this, but stopped shortly after. Again it was the light bleeding, nothing like my period. I did have some slight cramping, but the cramping stopped after about 30 minutes.
3. I have no symptoms of pregnancy, but it would be to early, I am sure.
4. I have been craving some weird things such as cake batter (uncooked), but that could be something as simple as missing nutrients or part of PMS.
5. The discharge itself is going from yellow (almost mistaking it for urine as it is the same color) to a clear yellowish. Still no signs of an infection such as itching, pain, burning or odor.
6. My husband and I are not trying to conceive at this time, but we are not using any form of protection.
7. I keep reading some of these posts and see you say it could be a weird period, besides this, what could be the other reasons? Could I have been allergic to copper and be having effects from that?
8. I am overweight, but I weigh less than when I was a teenager. I am 26 years old.
9. I have been tested numerous times for disorders such as thyroid issues. Everything is always perfect. I have a clean pap and have never had any types of cancers although I was prone to yeast infections as a very young child.
10. I know this is not normal at all for me and I am just trying to rule out any possible diseases or disorders so I have an idea of what I could be dealing with.
Thank you for your time.
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