Spotting

I meant oct 5 - 12.

Hi Alice.  It sounds like peri to me.  I’ve been in peri for about 5 years now and that’s how it started for me.  I had a period like clockwork—every 24 days and it lasted 5-7 with moderate bleeding. Then I had a period that was shorter and lighter than usual. Then my periods came closer together. Then further apart. Then all the other symptoms of peri started to show up in full force,  including the occasional incredibly long period that would take forever to begin (spotting for days) then heavy flooding for days and days. Seriously, I thought I was going to bleed to death.  Hot flashes, trouble sleeping, aches and pains, anxiety, depression, brain fog, etc. This fun trip all started around my 42nd birthday.   I’ll be 47 at the end of the year and I deal with different peri symptoms nearly every other day.   I’ve been to my doctor and had so many tests. She has told me peri is extremely unpredictable and it can be very different for each woman.  She said as your hormone levels fluctuate you can experience everything on the spectrum.  I’m using various supplements, light exercise, clean eating and may consider BHRT, if I cannot get through the symptoms on my own.  I know—probably a lot more info than what you wanted to hear.  I just wanted you to know spotting during peri is normal. 

If you are greatly concerned, check it out with your GP or gynecologist.  They can run a panel on your hormones and do some other testing. The hormone testing can be somewhat unpredictable though, as they can literally change day to day and even hour to hour.

I wish you all the best.  I find this forum to be extremely helpful.  Please let me know how you’re doing.  Take care and hugs—Sarah.    

I’ve been spotting for 4 months.  Like you I used to be like clockwork, then suddenly last week a very heavy period.

I’m sure you will be fine, most people are.  If it continues, go to the Dr, just to eliminate anything horrid.  That is not meant to scare you by the way.  Thousands of women spot yet they are fine.  I hope that helps x

I just wanted o update, I went to my doctor.  Turns out my spotting is not hormonal, I have fibroids and a possible polyp. She thinks it’s a polyp but she called it an abnormal mass. She did a biopsy and we will proceed once she knows for certain what it is. She thought it might also be an abnormal pregnancy, one that did not develop. Because I also have thickened lining on one side.  But I was reading up on this and polyps can cause thickened lining in one spot. So we will see.

Hi, Alice,

I'm glad you went and had it checked and you have more information about the cause of your spotting.  I have fibroids, too--which causes heavy bleeding during my periods.  My sister in law has the same issue (she's 52).  She has fibroids, has heavy bleeding when she does have a period and had spotted frequently.  She is close to reaching full menopause and her fibroids have began shrinking (she has said her spotting symptoms have started to get better).  My sister has a small cervical polyp and she lightly spots between her periods--she's 42 and has had this issue for a few years now, (she has this checked regularly and while it is frustrating to her, she has been assured by her doctor it is not unusual).  I understand these are both very common issues.  Please keep me posted as you get more information.  I'm sure everything will turn out just fine.  Big hugs--Sarah

Update.  Biopsy showed it was abnormally thick lining.  Which went on to shed itself - which meant heavy bleeding and cramps for me for 5 days.  She did another ultrasound though and uterus is cleared out.  So, no polyps, but I do have 2 fibroids.  She said they are really small though.  The heavy bleeding stopped about two days ago.  But now, again, I'm having that same spotting! It's driving me nuts.  I know I had everything checked and the dr said not to worry, but I'm just annoyed with the spotting.  I'm hoping it's just my cycle out of whack and it will normalize soon.  She did say I'm probably perimenopausal though....which is what I suspected.

I also had STD test - negative.  And a pregnancy blood test - negative.  I was worried about the pregnancy one because I've had ectopic before and the abnormal spotting reminded of that time.  But I guess it's not that.

So I will just have to be annoyed with the spotting.