I'm on cd 23, and I think most of you know from my update thread that I am taking a fertility medication. I also think most of you know that I have the wonkiest cycles in the history of the world. I have had 120 day periods, 45 day cycles, 90 day cycles, etc. But never a shortened cycle. Ever. Evvvver. (That I can recall, anyways, lol.)
Now, that said, this is obviously my first round of this medication... but anyways, I'm spotting. Bright red. It started this morning, so much that I barely noticed, but now it's definately noticable when I (sorry tmi) wipe. I had bleeding with Hannah, but it was at around the 2 month mark, so I'm a moron when it comes to stuff like this (and obviously I'm obsessing because that's how I am.)
Is this too much to be implantation bleeding? Is this too late in my cycle for it? Is this just the starting of a very early period?
Hmm Id be tempted to say its early AF just because its bright red. Having said that I hope with everything in me its implantation for you because I want this for you soooo badly.
implantation bleeding - what is it? spotting when the embryo implants in the uterine wall. it usually lasts 24 hours and then will turn brownish and stop. so, if it continues red after more than a day, chances are it is not this just spotting.
when does it occur? it usually occurs 5 to 10 days post ovulation. if the egg is fertilised, it hangs out in the fallopian tube a few days before making its way down to the uterus and implants, explaining the delay.
when do you ovulate in your cycle? to answer this, it is important to understand the phases of a womans cycle...
1. the pre-ovulation stage. in the common example of a 28 day cycle, it is the approx. 14 days prior to ovulation. it starts the first day of your period.
2. ovulation - the day you release the egg. this can be detected with the rise in LH (using OPK's) approx. 36 hours before ovulation actually occurs.
3. luteal phase - the days post ovulation until your next period starts.
interesting to note - most women's cycles are NOT 28 days long - many are much longer and irregular (like yourself). so, when did you ovulate? interestingly, when the length of an overall can vary greatly, the last phase, the LH phase is almost always consistent... it will last 11-14 days, not usually more or less. once you ovulate, your body gives you about 11-14 days to implant the embryo and start making HCG. If this HCG does not occur, the progesterone levels, which are raised in the LH period in order to thicken the uterine lining making it a good implantation environment, will decline and your period will start.
so.... if you have, for example, a 35 day cycle, you probably ovulated around days 20-24 of that cycle.
OK - to your cycle... if you have implantation spotting as you say this is CD 23, that would mean that you ovulated around CD 14-18. If this did occur, you cycle would be approx. a 32 day cycle at the latest - do you ever have 30-ish day cycles? if so, this could very well be implantation bleeding for you.
also, do you ever have spotting mid cycle? sometimes with changing levels of hormones, a little bit of "breakthrough bleeding" (mid-cycle bleeding for no reason) can occur.
what meds are you on - femara? i think that rings a bell - i have some ivf friends that have taken that, i can ask them their opinion...can you explain to me a bit more what taking and what days in the cycle you are taking it at? it is possible that these meds are regulating you to a "typical" 28ish day cycle, and if that is the case, this very well could be IB. do you know what day you ovulated on?
sorry so long - i did a LOT of research during my IVF cycle. i am happy to share if i can be of help
Well, I will tell you my experience with Owen. I started bleeding - bright red blood the day I was supposed to get my period. Thought it was my period (obviously) and put a tampon in. When I went to change it there wasn't a normal amount of blood (sorry, TMI) for a period. But it was still bright red. Went on for a couple of days - never turned brownish, was always bright red. BFP, obviously. Turned out to be a (harmless) pocket of blood right that was coming out, and it was somehow related to being pregnant.
So, I don't think it was implantation bleeding for me but that is my experience with pregnancy bleeding. I haven't been on in a few days so I am excited to read your update thread. I hope this is it for you!!!
OK - to your cycle... if you have implantation spotting as you say this is CD 23, that would mean that you ovulated around CD 14-18. If this did occur, you cycle would be approx. a 32 day cycle at the latest - do you ever have 30-ish day cycles? if so, this could very well be implantation bleeding for you.
also, do you ever have spotting mid cycle? sometimes with changing levels of hormones, a little bit of "breakthrough bleeding" (mid-cycle bleeding for no reason) can occur.
what meds are you on - femara? i think that rings a bell - i have some ivf friends that have taken that, i can ask them their opinion...can you explain to me a bit more what taking and what days in the cycle you are taking it at? it is possible that these meds are regulating you to a "typical" 28ish day cycle, and if that is the case, this very well could be IB. do you know what day you ovulated on?
sorry so long - i did a LOT of research during my IVF cycle. i am happy to share if i can be of help
Thanks for the info, Muffy. There's so much misinformation out there, that it's nice to hear a lot of what I had heard confirmed... I used Femara on this cycle. I did 5 mg from cd 3 to 7. I'm fairly certain that I o'd on sometime during cd 13-14. I have had some 30 day cycles, but they've been insanely rare. My ob had said that he thought that regardless of the outcome that the Femara should regulate me to very close to a 28 day cycle, which would be wonderful in itself. I have had mid-cycle spotting before though, although it seems like it was different. (Now, whether it truly was different, or this is one of those crazy tricks that go on in a TTCer's mind... that's a whole other story, lol.)
Thanks for the info girls. I know that whether or not anyone else had the experience or not, I won't know until I test... but I like to keep hope alive for as long as humanly possible, lmao.
You have already gotten a lot of info here, so I will only add my anecdotal exerience.
With Kate, I spotted at around day 25. That was a huge red flag for me because (unlike now) I NEVER spotted early. Not once in my entire life to that point had my periods started early or had I had spotting early. I don't remember how long it lasted, but it was definitely bright red. I had no other signs but that, but I tested a few days later and got a BFP.
We had unprotected sex on day 12 of that cycle. I don't know exactly when I ovulated, but I know it wasn't that day. And since we had another girl, I am pretty certain I actually o'ed more like day 14-15 of that cycle and there were just some spermies still left in there waiting for the egg to pop out.
I REALLY hope this is it for you. I am keeping everything crossed!!!!
-- Edited by Supafly on Sunday 27th of September 2009 09:43:35 PM
OK - to your cycle... if you have implantation spotting as you say this is CD 23, that would mean that you ovulated around CD 14-18. If this did occur, you cycle would be approx. a 32 day cycle at the latest - do you ever have 30-ish day cycles? if so, this could very well be implantation bleeding for you.
also, do you ever have spotting mid cycle? sometimes with changing levels of hormones, a little bit of "breakthrough bleeding" (mid-cycle bleeding for no reason) can occur.
what meds are you on - femara? i think that rings a bell - i have some ivf friends that have taken that, i can ask them their opinion...can you explain to me a bit more what taking and what days in the cycle you are taking it at? it is possible that these meds are regulating you to a "typical" 28ish day cycle, and if that is the case, this very well could be IB. do you know what day you ovulated on?
sorry so long - i did a LOT of research during my IVF cycle. i am happy to share if i can be of help
Thanks for the info, Muffy. There's so much misinformation out there, that it's nice to hear a lot of what I had heard confirmed... I used Femara on this cycle. I did 5 mg from cd 3 to 7. I'm fairly certain that I o'd on sometime during cd 13-14. I have had some 30 day cycles, but they've been insanely rare. My ob had said that he thought that regardless of the outcome that the Femara should regulate me to very close to a 28 day cycle, which would be wonderful in itself. I have had mid-cycle spotting before though, although it seems like it was different. (Now, whether it truly was different, or this is one of those crazy tricks that go on in a TTCer's mind... that's a whole other story, lol.)
Thanks for the info girls. I know that whether or not anyone else had the experience or not, I won't know until I test... but I like to keep hope alive for as long as humanly possible, lmao.
i don't want to get your hopes up, as from my infertility board experience it super duper sucks for everyone to get your hopes up then the devastation when AF shows...
however... if you weren't taking femara, and as you say you usually have longer periods, i would say that this is probably not something to get worked up about.
but taking femara on those particular cycle days definitely does "force" an ovulation towards a regular cycle time (ie day 14ish), so the timing of your spotting is pretty much ideal if it is to be implantation bleeding. *yippee*
i as well really hope it is "it" for you! please keep up posted on the status/colour of your spotting over the next few days. crossing my fingers it is already turning brown/beige for you!
also, if you are itching to POAS, please don't do it for at least 4 more days - if this is IB, your body is only starting to produce HCG now, at the point of implantation. your HCG level starts off very low, and it doubles every 2ish days - it would be totally useless (unless you like seeing bfn's LOL) to take a test before say thurs/fri. even the most accurate HPTs (most IF/beta boards swear by FRER, the non digital ones, as being the best earliest HPTs) only pick up HCG levels of 50 or more and it will take days for any HCG levels to double up to those detectable levels.
Thanks girlies. Keep those turkeys crossed! I picked up a 3 pack of FRER tests this morning, and you know those burn a hole in my pocket, so I've already used one (bfn, of course) but I'll probably test later in the week if the spotting goes away or changes to lighter. As of now, it's still the same as it was yesterday tmi alert
Spoiler
(very mucusy, and I did have to put on a pad today because it was heavy spotting. I'm having a LOT of cramping so atm,
I think it may just be an early period, but you know me I keep hope alive despite contrary evidence, lol.
Thanks girlies. Keep those turkeys crossed! I picked up a 3 pack of FRER tests this morning, and you know those burn a hole in my pocket, so I've already used one (bfn, of course) but I'll probably test later in the week if the spotting goes away or changes to lighter. As of now, it's still the same as it was yesterday tmi alert
Spoiler
(very mucusy, and I did have to put on a pad today because it was heavy spotting. I'm having a LOT of cramping so atm,
I think it may just be an early period, but you know me I keep hope alive despite contrary evidence, lol.
I don't remember having any periods like you are describing....so I wouldn't give up yet. : ) And fwiw, I had a ton of cramping too...and still do. Make sure you are using first morning urine when you test. Since you are still testing before your period and even though it says you don't have to....its just more accurate. Anyway still keeping my fingers crossed for you!!!
Thanks girlies. Keep those turkeys crossed! I picked up a 3 pack of FRER tests this morning, and you know those burn a hole in my pocket, so I've already used one (bfn, of course) but I'll probably test later in the week if the spotting goes away or changes to lighter. As of now, it's still the same as it was yesterday tmi alert
Spoiler
(very mucusy, and I did have to put on a pad today because it was heavy spotting. I'm having a LOT of cramping so atm,
I think it may just be an early period, but you know me I keep hope alive despite contrary evidence, lol.
I don't remember having any periods like you are describing....so I wouldn't give up yet. : ) And fwiw, I had a ton of cramping too...and still do. Make sure you are using first morning urine when you test. Since you are still testing before your period and even though it says you don't have to....its just more accurate. Anyway still keeping my fingers crossed for you!!!
You know I'm hoping this is it for you!!!!
And ftr, I had TONS of cramping too and did for a while.
