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For 3 months now I have had abnormal periods. I had an unconfirmed chemical pregnancy in August 2011 and since then before my period my breasts are even more tender than they were before, and my periods have been heavier, not significantly but just a couple of days near the end of my period there is quite a bit clotting which I never had before. I didn't attend my GP when I had the chemical pregnancy because it was only 2 weeks after conception and I didn't think there was much need as physically I felt ok. But since December my periods have changed, coming a week early in that month and remaining around that date ever since (I have slightly irregular periods anyway, never knowing exactly which day each month). But as well as that, lasting longer - just basically a mixture of days of spotting or brown staining or nothing for a week, followed by a proper period for the next 8 or 9 days (which is normal for me). I have been to my GP and she has referred me to gynae dept at the hospital and i am awaiting an appointment. She examined me and thinks it could be fibroids but I don't really have the symptoms. Could it been PCOS? I do have more facial hair develop around the time of my period (always have) and I have always had lower abdomen hair which I have just realised is a symptom of PCOS. Also I get bad sugar cravings before my period (always have but they seem to have got worse). I am 37 and have been treated for aneamia in the past. I don't have any children and I want to keep trying for a baby, as every month is precious at my age, but have no idea when i ovulate now due to the lengthy periods. When it was a normal period i was ovulating around day 13. Would I be ovulating 13 days after the beginning of the 'spotting' or 13 days from the beginning of the 'proper' period? I asked my GP but she didn't seem to know.
Optional Information: Age: 37
How tall are you? How much do you weigh? Any weight change? If so, over what period of time?Have you had a pelvic exam and ultrasound lately?How long have you been trying to get pregnant? Does your partner have his own children? If not, has he had his sperms checked? Do you have severe pain during periods? Do you have problem adjusting to cold or hot temperature? Do you feel you are always tired? Dry skin? Fragile nails? Tremor? Loss of outer eyebrows? Hair loss? Bowel problem? Sleep problem? Palpitations? Voice change? Nervousness? Muscle pain? Joint pain? Muscle weakness? Do you have excessive facial or body hair? Do you have thinning hair on the skull? Do you have acne increased? Do you have irregular periods?Do you feel you are always thirsty and drink a lot of liquid? Do you go to the bathroom frequently? Do you wake up to urinate more than once at night? Is your appetite increased? Do you crave sweets?Are you currently sexually active? If so, what contraceptive do you use?Abnormal vaginal discharge?Nipple discharge? Vision change? Headaches? Loss of sexual desire?Did you start strenuous exercise? Do you have excessive stress at home or work?Do you have hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, mood swings, loss of sexual desire?Do you have any other symptoms associated with your problem?Are you aware of anything which might have brought this on?Do you have any medical problems?Have you had STD? Any surgeries?Are you taking any medications including over-the-counter pills and herbs?Any family medical history?
I am 5ft tall and weight about 10st 6 pounds. I have gained a stone in weight but it's been gradual over a three year timespan, although in the past few months I have been more aware of abdomen weight gain I look flabbier in that area and clothes not fitting properly.
I assume when I was at the GP two weeks ago what she gave me would be called a pelvic exam and I haven't had an ultrasound lately, but maybe I will have when I attend my hospital appointment.
I really have just tried to get pregnant once, in late July 2011, and that was when I became pregnant and had the chemical pregnancy. My partner doesn't have children and hasn't had his sperm checked. I don't have severe pain during periods.
I tend to have a low body temperature, not drastically, just freezing when everyone else is cold, I hve been like that for a while and always put it down to being an anaemia type symptom and similarly always quite tired and thought it was anaemia symptoms or just because I hadnt had enough sleep that day. Occasionally I would have sleep problems in that it almost appears to be a bit like sleepwalking, waking up far too early, going down for breakfast then realising the time. I would rarely have palpitations but in the past few months I have had a 'creeping under the skin' feeling on my right shoulder, not all the time, but at some point every day.
I have had seborrea dermatitis on my scalp for many years, untreated, which only flares up when I am stressed (I have had it for about a month at the moment)
and stays on the scalp only unless I scratch it to relieve the terrible itch I sometimes get, then it spreads to my face. Other than that I would usually have an outbreak of acne around my mouth, chin and neck area around the time of my period, and I am not sure if that means it could be a hormone imbalance, although my hormone levels were tested around this time last year and my GP said that my estrogen levels were very good for someone of my age. I do get hair on my upper lip and a lesser amount on my chin, as well as on my lower abdomen, but its never excessive. I do have irregular periods, there is never a big difference in the number of days in my cycle, but its never the same number every month. I do crave sweets, particularly before a period and my appetite hasnt increased significantly.
I haven't been sexually active since July 2011 and I don't use contraceptive and will not until I am pregnant. For 3 months I have been having the spotting/brown discharge before myperiods for about a week. I do not exercise. I do have stress in my life but I wouldn't say it is excessive. I don't have abnormal mood swings and no loss of sexual desire. All I know is my increased breasttenderness and clotting periods started after my chemical pregnancy. I have spina bifida. I have never had an STD and no gynae surgery although surgery relating to my disability when I was a child. I am taking 5mg folic acid, one Omega 3 capsule per day and one Lyrinel XL per day. There is family history of high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer.
There are some possibilities. 1. under active thyroid (hypothyroidism)2. PCOS: the cause is imbalances of hormones due to small multiple cysts of the ovaries; the typical symptoms are overweight, diabetes, male pattern hair growth, excessive acne, infertility, irregular periods, loss of sexual desire. 3. imbalances of hormones due to overweight4. ovarian cyst or tumorYou should have a pelvic exam, a blood test (LH, FSH, testosterone, DHEAS, blood sugar, blood cholesterol), and an ultrasound. If 1 is excluded, the main treatment of PCOS is weight loss. You should ask your doctor to refer a dietitian who can help plan out a diet and exercise program with you. If you have PCOS, you should also have metformin (diabetes medication), fertility medication (clomid, FSH hormones, hCG, Femara). Your partner should have sperms checked. You should also have HSG (hysterosalpigogram) to see if your tubes are open or not. If you can't get pregnant for 3-4 months with fertility medications, you should consider to have IVF. Any questions?
Thanks. But I should like to refer to my original question. While a diagnosis is being sought I should still like to keep trying to become pregnant, but because of the recent changes in period length I don't when I am ovulating at present. Is it 12-16 days from the beginning of the spotting, or 12-16 days from the start of what seems my proper period (which occurs a week later)? During my last cycle I did a home ovulation test 14 days after the beginning of the spotting, which was 7 days after the beginning of my 'proper' period, and there was a result, although not the same or better than the 'test mark'. Maybe I was near ovulation and should have followed it up with a second test a couple of days later, but did not.
Relist: Incomplete answer.I should like to refer to my original, and as yet unanswered, question. While a diagnosis is being sought I should still like to keep trying to become pregnant, but because of the recent changes in period length I don't know when I am ovulating at present. Is it 12-16 days from the beginning of the spotting, or 12-16 days from the start of what seems my proper period (which occurs a week later)? During my last cycle I did a home ovulation test 14 days after the beginning of the spotting, which was 7 days after the beginning of my 'proper' period, and there was a result, although not the same colour or better than the 'test mark'. Maybe I was near ovulation then and should have followed it up with a second test a couple of days later, but did not.
I have read the above exchange carefully. I'm a specialist in abnormal bleeding patterns. I don't think it is possible to be certain when or even if you are ovulating well enough to predict. The shortened cycle length and heaviness of the flow plus all the prolonged spotting is a sign of a hormonal imbalance very much due to an excess of estrogen in your system. This is most likely due to a combination of factors. Estrogen is produced in the ovaries and also in fat cells. Excess estrogen can be produced in the ovaries when you skip an ovulation like you might with PCO. There are no specific tests to diagnose PCO but recently the criteria for diagnosis were revised. You can look up the Rotterdam Criteria and see how the diagnosis is made. Women who are heavy also make excess estrogen in their fat cells. Losing weight, although very difficult, can help correct the imbalance and improve changes of regular lighter cycles and pregnancy. It is possible that you may need help getting pregnant. Most likely Clomid to improve the regularity and quality of ovulation is the best choice. Please ask questions if you have any. Otherwise please click accept so I get credit for my time and advice.
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