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Constant Brown Spotting

By April 23, 2009 - 5:06pm
 
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I have had brown spotting for about 5 years now, but I have a normal period every month. For about a week after my period I have no spotting, but after that I have constant brown spotting until my next period. I have told my doctor about this and he doesn't really even acknowledge it. I was going to the health clinic when I first started experiencing this and they would keep changing my birth control pills to see if it helped and it didn't. I have gone off the pill for years and that didn't help either. Also just thought that I would mention that I get a lot of headaches, I am tired a lot and I have a lowe sex drive in case it could be connected.

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My mid cylce spotting started about three years ago. It starts at ovulation time every month (I typically spot 3 out of 4 months) but then instead of only lasting a day or two sometimes it continues for five or six (I have a 26 day cycle). It does get less and less each day and it isn't much to begin with. I have had normal paps, a normal pelvic exam, and a normal ultrasound. I did go on BC for a month to see if it would stop and it did. The BC made me feel depressed so I stopped taking it. Does this sound hormonal? What would cause the spotting to last past ovulation?

December 11, 2009 - 9:26pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I have the same exact problem as both of you, and I thought I was the only one! This has been going on for 7 years now and the doctors did everything from pap smears to water ultra sounds, a cervix biopsy, a regular ultrasound and blood tests and absolutely nothing came back irregular. I am also worried that this might affect my chances of being able to have children.

December 1, 2009 - 11:00am
(reply to Anonymous)

Wow---this has been going on for 7 years?! It is good news that there has not been anything significant in the test results (ruled out the worst-case conditions it sounds like), but no less frustrating that you want to know what is going on.

Did you see the previous post regarding "thyroid hormone and insulin levels could contribute" ? You mentioned that you had blood tests, and I'm wondering if these have also been checked? Have you had a second opinion from another doctor?

December 1, 2009 - 12:38pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Alison Beaver)

I have had my thyroid tested and nothing abnormal. I am going in for another procedure next week where they go inside my uterus with a camera and look to see if there are any signs of something wrong. Maybe I will find an answer!

July 9, 2010 - 5:00pm
HERWriter

I found this link that might be helpful regarding causes of midcycle bleeding. I thought it was interesting that thyroid hormone and insulin levels could contribute. Perhaps if you print out the article and ask your doctor about whether any of these issues might apply to you it would help.
http://www.gynaeonline.com/ovulation_bleeding.htm

Good luck

September 5, 2009 - 4:44pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I have the same brown spotting since 2004 now. I have only 5-7 days in my cycle when i don't have it. My cycle is 28 days, and that week off spotting usually happens on day 10-11. I went to a number of specialists, acupuncturists, natural paths no body could give me an answer. I don't take birth control pills. I got checked, everything looked fine. I refused to go through laparoscopy to take a deeper look. I'm scared of having another intrusion. I had a laparoscopy in 2003, when I had no spotting and after that I started to have a constant spotting. Recently I've started experiencing a sharp pain, coming from a spot where my uterus is. I'm really upset with the whole thing and I'm scared that that could affect my chances of ever getting pregnant.
I hear raspberry leaf tea helps, I took it and it did reduce my spotting by a week but my cycles became irregular so I stopped it.
Any advise would be greatly appreciated!
~J~

September 5, 2009 - 9:28am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I have also had this same problem for years now. The spotting is constant, only stopping for about 1 week after my period then starting back up until my next period. My doctor just keeps switching my birth control. He just recently switched me to the patch and said it's usually very effective in women who have this problem. It is very frustrating. My boyfriend is very supportive about it but is also getting a little fed up with it because it affects our sex life. I'm just hopeing the patch will work for me.

April 26, 2009 - 3:02pm

Hi, Brandy:

I'm sorry you're experiencing the spotting, and the ambivalence of your doctor. Have you considered seeing another doctor about this?

I also used to experience brown spotting, but it was not serious. An occasional douche seemed to clear things up, so I chalked it up to residual blood. Hopefully, your situation is similar.

As far as the lethargy you describe, have you ever been diagnosed with an iron deficiency? Are any of your periods particularly heavy, and do you feel this listless during or after those times?

You may be interested in the following information in our empowHer Encyclopedia: Menstrual Problems - General. There's also a link to an article about menstrual migraines.

April 23, 2009 - 7:35pm
(reply to alysiak)

Hmmm...Well sometimes my period is pretty heavy, but that is only for the first few days, so I really think that my period is normal. Yeah my doctor isn't any help, I have gotten to the point that I think it is pointless to go to him with problems. My boyfriend tells me to go to him and say this is my problem do something about it. He is really annoyed with my doctor because he is concerned and also because it affect our sex life of course. I want a gynecologist but my doctor wont refer me to one and they don't take new patient unless they are referred.
Yeah I was thinking because of it being brown that it could be just residual bleeding. I was looking into uterine cleanses and only came across a fertility cleanse, which does cleanse your uteris but I am not planning on getting pregnant, so this is probably no good for me. Is there such thing as a uterine cleanse out there? I would try douching but I have always heard that it is bad for you, and I think I would need something more then that to work for me.
Oh by I have been diagnosed with HPV in the past could this possibly cause this? Sorry I should have mention that originally, but I haven't had signs of it on my pap smear in years, or at least my doctor isn't mentioning whether it is still showing up or not.

April 24, 2009 - 7:42am
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