Those ladies with absent periods / amenorrhea

[Belfa]

Hi

I have been suffering with this for 6 months (I hace pcos) and I wondered, when you do get some form of a bleed, what is it like?

Sorry this is a bit tmi but every 53 days I get some form of a bleed but all it is is some dark brown blood on a panty liner at around 11am. I know that sounds odd that I am that specific but that's when I usually have my second pee of the day and the blood is there but then I get nothing for the rest of the day / night - very odd! I would just class this as spotting though and it lasts for 9-14 days.

I had my bloods done today and really confused the nurse as I couldn't really tell her what day in my cycle I was on as it's a struggle differenciating!

Would my gynae class this as a period and wait to prescribe me provera or would I qualify to get it anyway as this isn't really a bleed? Maybe some women do have periods like this?

 

[Marcel]

Hi Belfa, a few years ago when I came off the pill I didn't have a period for 18 months and my period just suddenly started of it's own accord but was a proper red normal period. This time when I came off the pill last year I had lots of spotting of brown blood on and off and didn't have a proper full period for 3 months. The doc just told me the brown blood was old blood and nothing to worry about. I wouldn't generally class brown spotting as a normal period xx

 

[Belfa]

That's good to know Marcel! I have heard friends say they only have light periods that last 3-5 days but it's difficult to know what light is if you have been used to quite heavy periods before. I suspect the bleeding I am having is just drops of old blood as perhaps so much is built up that some breaks away but doesnt actualy all come away (lovely!) xx

 

[Marcel]

Sounds nice doesn't it! It is difficult as everyones periods are so different xx

 

[Londongirl]

For the first ~10 months when I came off the pill I very occasionally had dark brown spotting - like you sometimes get at the beginning or end of AF. I asked the doctor at my last hospital appt and she said it had to be red blood to count as a period and so I was prescribed provera to induce a bleed before starting clomid.

I do find that nhs staff struggle with the concept of non-existent or irregular cycles. I have had so many conversations with nurses and doctors that go like this:

Doctor "what cycle day are you?"
Me "I don't know as I haven't had a period since I came off the pill"
Doctor "ok but when was your last period"
Me "about 1999 before I went on the pill"
Doctor "right, when are you due your next period?"
Me "I. Don't. Get. Periods."

 

[Belfa]

LOL Londongirl that is very similar to my conversation today! She's also made some mess of my arm, it's black and blue and sore to move.

 

[laurat]

I didnt get any bleeding at all and had all the same problems and daft questions. My last period was back when I was 17 ish and I was 32! I had been on contraceptiin then my af never came back. It was highly frustrating seen they wanted certain day blood tests. Eventually I was given clomid then letrazole to try after the provera didnt even make me bleed!!

 

[Londongirl]

I didnt get any bleeding at all and had all the same problems and daft questions. My last period was back when I was 17 ish and I was 32! I had been on contraceptiin then my af never came back. It was highly frustrating seen they wanted certain day blood tests. Eventually I was given clomid then letrazole to try after the provera didnt even make me bleed!!

Thanks got sharing Laura! Was it on the clomid that you conceived?

 

[laurat]

No I am an IUI first time success. The menopur finally made me ovulate and the extra help of perfectly timed insemination worked a treat. I got my wee mirical baby and know its possible!

 

[Sianey90]

Hi everyone, I too have PCOS and haven't had a natural period for well over a year now, since I came of the pill to start ttc. I had one that was bought on by taking Provera which was the heaviest period I have ever had and was intolerable! However a day 21 blood test proved that I didn't ovulate despite this! I've had 3 rounds of Clomid none of which were successful.
It's really odd though, because I have all the symptoms of a period pretty much every month e.g. sore boobs, tummy cramps, spots etc but I never bleed! I end up getting so frustrated with my body and I too have had many confusing conversations with doctors/nurses because I don't know my cycle day and don't remember the exact date I last had my period! .x.x.

 

[Belfa]

Sorry clomids not worked so far what dose are you on? have they suggested taking metformin?

 

[Sianey90]

I think I was on a 100mg, they started me on 50mg. I did try metformin but it made me feel really poorly. I had a hicosy today with the specialist which has shown that my tubes are fine. So I've been told that the highest chance of us getting pregnant is having ICSI IVF because my DH has such a low sperm count but I have to lose 3 stone before they can consider starting it. It's rather frustrating but I just have to do it .x.x.