Unicornuate Uterus, spotting and clomid?

[Unicorn]

Ok, so I've joined this site in the hope of finding someone else experiencing the same thing as me. My husband and I started trying to conceive a year ago after I had the implant removed after a total of 12 years. Everything seemed to be going fine and my cycles went back to being regular within a couple of months. Then, a few months in my periods became very light, to the point that nothing actually came through onto a pad, it was just there when I went to the loo. I went to the doctor and had progesterone tests, which came back at 2 and 3 but we couldn't seem to get them on the right day. My periods started to get a bit heavier again but since then I have experienced spotting or more like a dark brown discharge every month from about 6dpo for about a week and then nothing for a day and then my period starts. I have had another progesterone test during a month with the spotting and it was 24, so I probably am ovulating, also suggested by my very regular cycles.
So, I was referred to a gynaecologist, who just though I had a bit of a hormone imbalance, but on conducting a scan found that I only have half a uterus! I had a laparoscopy earlier this week to remove the fallopian tube on my underdeveloped side to eliminate the risk of ectopic pregnancy and now I start clomid next cycle to try and sort my hormones out, stop me from spotting and obviously ultimately support us to conceive!
I would really appreciate hearing from anyone in relation to UU or spotting and clomid. I just feel like we are really up against it and could really do with some reasurrance from anyone who has been throught the same.

 

[snowbee]

Hiya, I have a slight bicornate uterus. I also have light periods, I think mine are caused by low progesterone levels as when tested my levels have always been low even when taken on the correct day, highest they have been is 29 and my clinic say they need to be 30 to be in with a chance of a viable pregnancy. I'm currently waiting to try clomid but my consultant is not overly helpful. If I'm not on it by the end of the year we will be going private. In the meantime I've been trying agnus castus which has regulated my cycles and given me more normal periods, it did take a while to get into my system but seems to be doing the trick. We are in year 3 ttc now and we are desperate for a natural bfp.

 

[phonixgirl]

Hi Unicorn

I don't have half a uterus (wow!) but I do have completely messed up hormones and spotting due to PCOS.

I have probably been spotting for about 3 years. It started as brown, then over time turned to bright red and gradually got heavier and longer - until I was pretty much bleeding from ovulation until my period! Doctors kept on shrugging it off and only actually yesterday have I had it confirmed that it is due to a hormonal imbalance and full on PCOS (I don't have typical symptoms). When I finally got a diagnosis, I was given medication - including progesterone supplements. Have you asked about these? If not, do. Alternatively, you can buy natural progesterone cream online - I found this made a difference.

Because it took so much time, I have tried every supplement going. Agnus castus works for a lot of people but not me. Chromium, however, did (but won't for you as you do not have PCOS). You could try other things too, such as dim plus (a hormone balancing supplement), acupuncture, dietary changes to increase progesterone in the second half of your cycle and exercise. B complex also works for some.

I have never had a BFP but I have never felt more optimistic and last cycle I had one and a half days of light brown spotting (reduced from two weeks of heavy red blood). I was on cinnamon and chromium (for metabolism - you won't need these), evening primrose oil to ovulation, omega 3 fish oils from ovulation, conception multivitamin, plus low carb diet (with lots of honey before ovulation) and exercise. This cycle I am adding dim plus and eating pineapple and Brazil nuts after ovulation (great for progesterone) - and my progesterone supplements.

So keep your chin up - it will happen xxx

 

[Unicorn]

Thank you. Yeah, we went privately and our consultant has been brilliant and it has just made the whole process so much faster. I tried accupuncture to address my light periods and they stopped my cycles all together, I then tried hompeopathy, which got my cycles back on track but didn't help with the spotting. I've been taking co-enzyme q10, which I read was good for blood circulation so I thought that may help and I take omega 3,6+9, b vitamins and the regular pregnancy vitamins with folic acid. I mentioned progesterone supplements to our consultant and he said that there is no evidence to suggest it makes any difference other than with IVF and he thinks that the clomid should help with my progesterone levels as well. I'm thinking I will give 1 month of the clomid a go and if it doesn't stop the spotting I will push for progesterone cream as well. Is everyone in agreement that spotting is caused by low progesterone levels?

 

[Unicorn]

Phonixgirl, have you ever tried clomid? xx

 

[phonixgirl]

I do think the spotting is caused by low progesterone, yes. There may be an underlying issue causing it or it could simply be low progesterone. I am surprised by your consultant's reaction - but then, it took 2/3 years for me to get a PCOS diagnosis, metformin and progesterone tablets (she told me I can take these immediately - I am not having IVF until the end of the year).

I did try clomid for a couple of months, yes. They just 'automatically' gave me it when I was gearing up for my first IUI. It stopped my spotting completely and lengthened my cycle from around 24 to 28 days. But I responded too well and so it was cancelled. We tried again on 25mg and the same happened (no spotting, yay) but I again responded too well. If your cycle is cancelled, you are not supposed to try naturally because of the risks of multiples... but we did and STILL didn't get pregnant!

I ended up doing IUI on natural cycles, but I took progesterone supplements. I didn't spot but think it was because of these. When I stopped the treatment, I started spotting again.

It is soooo frustrating and nobody seems to take you seriously or see it as an issue. Xxx

 

[Unicorn]

Sorry Phonixgirl, I seem to be asking you the same questions in 2 different threads, oops!
I will definitely speak to our consultant about progesterone again! Have you had any luck in identifying why your progesterone levels are low? I'm wondering whether mine are because I had an implant for 12 years in total, which is progesterone, so my body just hasn't got back into making enough of my own yet!? But who knows, I'm no expert, although it sometimes feels like you have to be in all of this xx

 

[Unicorn]

Hi Snowbee, how are you getting on, where in your cycle are you? I've been told different things about 21 day progesterone levels, I've read that anything above 10 on a non-medicated cycle indicates ovulation and about 15 for a non medicated cycle, my test results state that anything above 16 indicates ovulation and then it is only on here that I have read that it needs to be above 30! I start clomid next week and I'm going to request a 21 day blood test to see f it has any impact on my progesterone levels, I'll let you know xx

 

[phonixgirl]

When I had my day 21 tests, they just told me I was ovulating... So I've no idea of the number! But in my appointment last week, she looked at all my results, said "looking at these you have typical PCOS" and gave me the progesterone tablets. I have only had them tested once but I'm guessing they weren't great! Presumably PCOS is the cause.

Contraception can mess our bodies up so it is a possibility - I was on the pill for a few years and came off it to NTNP. I then did a course at uni and went back on it for about a year (probably just made things worse!).

It is worth mentioning that I was referred to a gynaecologist initially, who thought I may have had an issue with my cervix. Obviously this was not the case.

Have you had a scan of your ovaries etc? If not, might be worth asking if they can do one to check for any underlying issues. Not saying you have PCOS, but if there is something else going on, best you find sooner rather than drag it out like I did. And get referred to a fertility specialist if you haven't already. Xx

 

[Unicorn]

Thanks Phonixgirl, I'm under a fertility specialist because of my unicornuate uterus, so I have had numerous scans, MRIs and a laparoscopy. My ovaries look fine, although only the 1 is of any use really. So, our consultant thinks my spotting is a result of a hormone deficiency and thinks the clomid will address this. I really hope so xx

 

[phonixgirl]

I think it should. It is an oestrogen blocker which is what us hormone-crazy girls need, and it certainly sorted mine out. It just didn't get me pregnant (no idea why, but two cycles isn't long I suppose). Xxx

It's amazing really how many people have hormone problems. I believe it is a result of the stuff they add into our food and you would think they'd look into it. Maybe they are but it just seems that nobody cares. And these additives could be causing other health problems too, we just don't know.

Good luck hun xxx

 

[Unicorn]

Thank you Phonixgirl. I feel a little apprehensive about trying to do anything to address it myself as well, just in case it makes things worse or has an adverse effect on what our consultant is trying to do! I tried accupuncture but it stopped my periods pretty much altogether, I am also really sensitive to homeopathy. I take co-enzyme q10, b vitamins, omega 3,6,9 and regular conception mulit-vitamins and I am also considering selenium and agnus castus but think I might just leave things up to our consultant for a little bit and give clomid a try for a month and if I still spot and / or don't have improved progesterone levels on the 21 day test request that he gives me progesterone supplements as well xx

 

[phonixgirl]

I would definitely as the clomid should help. You can't take agnus castus with clomid anyway. Wishing you massive amounts of luck xxx this baby-making stuff ain't easy xxx

 

[Unicorn]

Ah, it's soo not easy! Thank you Phonixgirl, I will try and relax and stop stressing myself out about what else I could be doing xx