I went to the doctor and she gave me a blood test i think it was for hormone levels and also kidney and liver function (not sure what they have to do with anything). Anyway, by all accounts it came back 'normal' . I still dont think this spotting for up to 7 days at a time, aside from the fact that it essentially turns into a 2 week period can be right...These days i am not even wishing so much to be pregnant but for the spotting to have subsided! I honestly think if this goes away i stand a better chance.

I have researched the spotting thing around quite a bit of the web and i'm not sure if it helps anyone, but the same thing keeps coming up which is a suggestion of low progesterone levels...this being the main hormone involved post ovulation that helps aid conception. There are various different natural methods of helping this but the main one that keeps coming up is vitamin B6.

I'm going to look into it a bit further, but i think i may give this a try since its a vitamin, it cant do any harm one way or another.

I hope this helps.
Mia

What day in your cycle did you have your blood test done? The progesterone test should be done on CD21 or 7 days before AF is due (depending on the length of your cycle), it seems a lot of doctors don't really know that progesterone should be tested at the right point in your cycle.
I would caution the statement "since its a vitamin, it cant do any harm one way or another." as high doses of vitamins can do damage.
"An overdose of pyridoxine [vitamin b6] can cause a temporary deadening of certain nerves such as the proprioceptory nerves; causing a feeling of disembodiment common with the loss of proprioception. This condition is reversible when supplementation is stopped." Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_B6.
Sorry I am such a worrywart!

Mia - if your bloods came back normal - did the doc offer any advice on what next? Or were you just left to get on with it so to speak?

Ok, i have read and researched and read and researched this and think i have found the answer for me at least. It may apply to some others out there but obviously not in all cases.

Basically it seems that any bleeding pre -period that last for 5-7 days at a time,on a frequent basis is not right!

I did go to my doctor but in fairness i suspect she assumed it was because i had been taking the pill for quite a few years and so she gave me a blood test to ease my mind...i'm not even sure what she tested for to be honest but something just kept telling me that the fact that i spotted for up to 7 days every period was not right. . I called the doctor for results and they said 'normal', again no idea what had been tested for so i did my own research.
It seems that this type of bleeing is common in women who have low progesterone levels. basically in the days following ovulation women are supposed to have a surge in this hormone. It helps to create the lining in the womb that the fertilised egg will eventually make its home in. It is essential that it remain high until the egg is 12 weeks old and can produce this hormone alone.
In women without the correct levels of progesterone, the egg will simply slip by unable to attach and the spotting is condusive to the lining basically coming away before your period comes about.

I hope i'm making sense. So....in my case i have been very lucky know someone who is related to an embryologist, she asked advice on this subject for me and she said given my symptoms it is highly likely that this is the case for me.

I will begin to use progesterone suppositeries following my next ovulation and am hoping that this at least will give me the same shot as anyone else.

I know this will not be the answer for everyone, but if i had not persisted in researching this i honestly dont think it would have been suggested to me, i could have waited for months for things to calm down and be in the same situation. I hope this is of help to someone else.

ok ladies...i am posting this because i am hoping it gives a little hope to all..this month i had spotting at the same time as usual about a week before my period was due... i spotted although lightly for about 4 days and then it just stopped! usually it goes on until my period arrives...but..it didnt come. I tested yesterday and found out i am pregnant!
I am still very worried about the level of progesterone in my body as i have read that low levels when pregnant can lead to miscarriage, so i am going to get into my doctors as soon as i can and have them test me again.

I hope this helps to put some of your minds at ease.
Mia x

Mia - thank you so much. I am so pleased for you and fx'd. Hope all goes well at the doctors... You really have taken the stress away for me as I have been getting really upset when the spotting started thinking I was out.

Congratulations xxx

I'm glad its helped to relax you a little believe me i know how awful it is thinking something is wrong all the time.
Bizarrely i always thought i would know if i were pregnant. I thought i would have obvious symptoms, but i have nothing! no sore boobs...no fatigue..no nausea. ..it will probably hit my like a ton of bricks over the next few weeks but the moral is..try not to think too much about other peoples experiences as it really is true we all have a different make up.

Good luck Mini

Good morning! Thank you for all this information! The progesterone suppositories, were they a prescription or OTC? If prescription, how did you get the doctor to finally prescribe them? I asked mine and she said no.... If OTC... what are they??

Thanks, and CONGRATULATIONS!

Mia Bella - It's a relief to hear of a happy ending, congratulations xx

I've been suffering the same the last 5 months and have started taking B100 to see if this helps in any way. I had also researched this and came to same conclusion of low progesterone, i'm going to doctors on monday cos i was on the pill a long long time and was wondering if my hormones were stopping my chances of getting pregnant.

This has always happened to me...... I go to my Dr. regularly and he has never stated any problems with it. That is how I use to always know I was going to start. I would start spotting several day in advance. This month I haven't had any though yet...... and it is my first month trying to conceive in 6 years so maybe my body is having the opposite effect!! lol, Anyway, on a positive note.... I have a beautiful 8 year old daughter and a handsome 6 year old son...... SO the spotting didn't stop me from conceiving!! Good luck to you all!! Lots of baby dust!!