QuoteReplyTopic: Help, weirdo cycle and BBT Posted: 31 October 2009 at 7:25pm
OK, can anyone help shed any light on this one.
I’ve been charting since mid March. Got preg in May, found out in July, miscarried in August. Didn’t chart through July til MC, but have done for the rest of it.
My cycle seems off at the best of times. This is why I started charting in the first place, so that I had some ‘evidence’ to take along to GP appointments.
Cycle is generally 27 or 28 days.
Ovulation seems to be day15 or 16, if it happens at all. This is when the temp shift happens. What has been happening, that I can see, and definitely since I miscarried, is spotting from 1-2DPO. It starts off usually whenever I go do numbertwos, and not straightaway, so I figured this was to do with bearing down and perhaps a softened cervix? I never have any problems with constipation and am not overly straining.
Bleeding gets a bit heavier, tails off, back on, slightly heavier. Brown blood and red blood too.
Since the MC I have not had period cramping like I usually would (I know, don’t look a gifthorse in the mouth!) and periods have been very light.
Last month this spotting went on for 2 weeks (so its really hard to pinpoint when my period actually starts) and this month (ov on Monday) seems to be going in much the same direction. Too early to be implantation bleeding.
The spotting also continued through the pregnancy – for the 1st 5 weeks, until I saw the GP who put me on progesterone to induce a period. At the initial scan my partner seemed to think the sonographer had made positive comments about position of embryo and thickness of uterine lining. (I can’t remember – was gobsmacked at little baba inside!!)
It stopped then, then recommenced at 9 weeks; I presume this is when the baby had died.
The spotting continued for 4-5 weeks without starting the miscarriage (I had misoprostol).
On the BBT chart, as soon as the temp shift happens, it drops fairly quickly below coverline after 48 hours or so, sometime a full degree. Then rises above again. Then drops and rises. This has been going on since I started charting in March, as has the spotting, although with the pregnancy in the middle of this, its hard to establish any definite overall pattern
I’m concerned as if there is something weird going on, I want to get it sorted. Being pregnant made me realise how much I want to start a family.
I have read a little into luteal phase defect, and the temperatures may support some evidence of a struggle for progesterone vs oestrogen dominance. Not sure.
If prog is low, would explain the shedding for the entire luteal period. Am not sure how long the actual luteal period is these days though, maybe borderline, maybe 2 days? Surely if this was a problem though, this would have been evident on my dating scan, when all was good and normal.
I have been to 2 doctors on this. First told me I was not ovulating (I was pregnant but neither of us knew that) so I obviously was! Plus he was FAR too handy with the prescription pad as opposed to actually finding out what was going on.
Second was openly not knowledgeable in BBT and fertility issues.
I’m a little jumpy about having to go pay for a consultation where I’m wasting my time and energy. So when I DO go, I’m thinking to ask for HcG beta’s, to make sure that’s all back to normal, then 21day prog blood test. I had scan after miso and no ovarian cysts seen, nor anything abnormal (I had wondered about polyps) so don’t think endometriosis is likely either
Would be grateful for all and any of your input and knowledge on this, I’m trying to figure out as much as possible from all resources, but first hand experiences or similarities are also very helpful, thanking you!
Hi Spanky
I can't offer any advice but I can assist to recommend a good doctor as I work in the medical industry and can ask one of the doctor's at work to recommend someone good for you. What region are you in?
Me 34 Him 35 DD almost 2 years old and... Baby #2 on it's way!
Hi Spanky...gosh how frustrating for you...I'm no expert but if you are not already doing so would suggest you take Vitamin B6 (min 50mg daily - I actually have been taking 100mg) as this can help to lengthen your luteal phase. Another option would be to take Vitex...others recommend this highly...perhaps google it as I don't know a huge amount about it, but it is a hormone regulator.
The spotting does seem to indicate an imbalance progesterone vs estrogen. Day 21 bloods would be a good idea (but you should actually go 7DPO..the whole CD21 idea is based on a 28 day cycle so any shorter and you would miss the peak progesterone going on CD21). If you are going for those you may as well do the CD2 or 3 bloods as well checking FSH levels and LH etc as well.
Apart from that, hopefully Bobsta can put you in touch with a GP who will know what they are doing! Oh and we have a charting thread on here ...everyone's really cool, so come and join us if you like...you will get heaps of support and lots of advice from people far more knowledgeable than me lol.
Hey bobsta, am in Wellington region, newtown way. There is a new GP started at the surgery I am registered at, so will give her the benefit of the doubt (ie as long as she doesn't tell me I'm :"not ovulating", because I'm actually pregnant and nobody has thought of that one, or, 'am I sure it is my vagina I am bleeding out of', well if I can't tell the difference how the hell did I get utd in the 1st place??!!
Yeah, I just want a doctor that will hear me and know what to do and look for!
Nathansmummy, I take a multivitamin daily and have long term which also contains 50mg B6. From what I understood of the Vitex and B6 aren't they more effective if your luteal period is borderline ie 10-11 days.
Well I woke up this morning thinking I had been too hot and sweaty in the night and (TMI) found my pyjama bottoms soaked with thin blood down to the knee. (I usually bleed less lying down/overnight and have NEVER done that to jamas before!). Clots followed etc, it seems like a 'normal' period, but again, no cramps or discomfort. And my temps are the most constant in the last week
I'm 7DPO.
I will add my BBT chart to the thread later, as I can't figure out how to share right now
I don't have any advice, but wanted to say you're not alone! I've been charting as NFP (contraception) since our daughter was born 8 months ago. I've had 5 cycles since then, and according to my temp, I've not ovulated in any one of them! I have all the symptoms of OV (EWCM, cramp, sometimes spotting which never happened before, libido rise etc), but temp has either not gone up at all, or has gone up and down loke a yoyo until AF starts again. My cycle has shortened since having bubs, was 32-34 days, now 28-31 days, but OV symptoms are still similar at about 18d.
I just wish our bodies and temps would do what they are "meant" to do!!! I'll sign up to FF and put a chart on to see what others think too. Sorry to TJ a bit!
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum