Cycle question, NFP

[TAS2000]

I just want some opinions on what y’all think might be going on here. Since my last child’s birth, I have had cycles averaging approximately 31 days. The shortest one was 28 days, the longest 35. This past cycle I had two days of light spotting starting on day 25. Then nothing. Now this morning, 17 days after that spotting, I am bleeding again. Too soon to tell if this will last or just be more spotting. But now I’m wondering what’s going on. Since it had been so long with no more bleeding, I was starting to think the 2 day spotting was implantation bleeding, but that would have been a little late in my cycle I thought, because doesn’t that usually happen about 5-6 days after ovulation? Or, I know occasionally some women spot when they ovulate, although I never have before. But then I thought that they say you ALWAYS have you period 14 days after ovulation, which would mean I should have started a period on day 39. This is day 42.
So what do you guys think might be going on? Two really short weird cycles? A pregnancy that is now being miscarried? I only casually follow my NFP symptoms, so I don’t take temps, or chart. I originally thought I ovulated around day 17, but then after the spotting, I’m not sure.

 

[Em_in_FL]

Hmmm… could be any of those ideas.

I would take a pregnancy test today and see what it says - that could indicate whether you’re either miscarrying or just having some spotting with pregnancy. If you get a positive test I’d call the doctor either way.

Yes, the day 25 spotting could have been implantation bleeding (which would explain a positive pregnancy test), or it could be ovulation bleeding, or it could have just been a wacky cycle - sometimes that just happens - and it’s hard to know FOR SURE since you weren’t actively tracking your charting, kwim?

So, take the test as your first step…

Good luck… I sympathize - my post-baby cycles are VERY wacky!

 

[3GirlsRUs]

I had that happen to me before. My NFP doc said that sometimes an over-abundance of estrogen can cause mid-cycle spotting. Without seeing your chart, it’s hard to tell if you had a bit of breakthrough bleeding and this is now your period or what. If you have a copy of The Art of Natural Family Planning, there is a section that explains Breakthrough bleeding. I have this every so often due to my PCOS and extended/late ovulation.

This is just my experience and what my doc told me and should not be construed as me giving you medical diagnosis…

 

[TAS2000]

Yes, the baby is 11 months old. I had about 3 months with no cycles, then I have had 8 cycles since then, averaging about 31 days long.

Yeah I was considering takign a test to confirm until I started bleeding this morning. I suppose it is still a good idea, since the HCG levels would be high enough for a while yet.

 

[TAS2000]

And just so we can appease the moderators, no I am not asking for medical advice, just opinions form the people here who know a whole lot more than the average doctor these days whose standard response is “what’s NFP? oh yeah, the rythem method…here have a pill…”

 

[Em_in_FL]

Yeah I was considering takign a test to confirm until I started bleeding this morning. I suppose it is still a good idea, since the HCG levels would be high enough for a while yet.

Some women spot randomly at the start of pregnancy - even healthy pregnancies!.. so I wouldn’t write it off as a miscarriage even if it comes back positive. Be sure to call your doctor if it’s positive.

 

[fermat]

But then I thought that they say you ALWAYS have you period 14 days after ovulation…

Not quite. It is normal for your post-peak time to be between 12 and 18 days. The pre-peak time, while somewhat predictable, can be highly variable.

 

[terrysa]

Are you breastfeeding, or have you recently weaned your baby? That can cause vast fluctuations in hormone levels…also stress, of course can cause wild fluctuations in hormone levels.

 

[TAS2000]

Nope not breast feeding. I agree about the always 14 days thing, i’ve just never seen it anywhere. Everything i’ve ever seen says that ovulation occurs 14 days before your period begins, so if you have a longer or shorter period, then its the first part of the cycle that is varying. Always sounded way to suspicious for me to believe, but again, most doctors don’t even believe in symptom tracking yet…

 

[Em_in_FL]

Nope not breast feeding. I agree about the always 14 days thing, i’ve just never seen it anywhere. Everything i’ve ever seen says that ovulation occurs 14 days before your period begins, so if you have a longer or shorter period, then its the first part of the cycle that is varying. Always sounded way to suspicious for me to believe, but again, most doctors don’t even believe in symptom tracking yet…

No, the luteal phase isn’t 14 days for every woman (can vary from 9 to 17 days)… everyone can be unique in that regard, but normally it’s consistent for each woman from month to month.

A great online resource is nfpandmore.com/nfphowto.shtml
Check out Chapter 2 - it says:

The time between ovulation and menstruation is under the influence of the corpus luteum and is therefore called the luteal phase. The luteal phase is normally 9 to 17 days long and is usually measured by the days of elevated temperature.
If the woman is not pregnant, the corpus luteum stops secreting progesterone after about two weeks, and the inner lining of the uterus sloughs off in menstruation.

Are all cycles 28 days long?
No. That’s a typical cycle length, but few women have 28-day cycles all the time.

What is the most regular part of the cycle?
The time between ovulation and the next menstruation—the luteal phase—is the most regular part of the cycle. The length of the luteal phase may vary from one woman to another, but for any given woman it is normally quite regular with a variation of only one or two days. The common exception is the time of returning fertility following childbirth, breastfeeding or post-hormonal birth control.

 

[Mary_Gail_36]

The 2 days of spotting were probably an attempted ovulation and now you have AF. Your body was probably gearing up to ovulate, but didn’t for whatever reason.

That happens. See if it happens again next month, I’d then ask my doctor.