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mcgill
My last period began April 19. About a month after that, I had a minimal amount of spotting but no period. I figured I hadn't ovulated that month, due to a very stressful career change. I took a couple of pregnancy tests just to see, both were negative. After the spotting, I have had intercourse. Now, I experienced minimal spotting once about six days ago, and once this morning. I took a third pregnancy test about a week ago, also negative. Normally, my periods are very regular - like a calendar! I have been TTC for 9 months - had a m/c in January. Any thoughts?
Whenever a sexually-active woman of reproductive age misses a period, pregnancy is going to be first and foremost on her mind — especially if, like the woman who posted this question, you've been trying to conceive for a while. Getting a negative pregnancy test can be very confusing under these circumstances, so it's no wonder the person was worried.
SteadyHealth members quickly weighed in, some thinking that pregnancy could still be possible:
A friend who just gave birth three weeks ago, said that she tested negative until she was 9 weeks pregnant. Anyone hear of that possibility?
And others sharing that their similar experiences turned out to be a miscarriage:
I found out eventually that I was actually pregnant, and the spotting was a miscarriage. :-(
What, besides pregnancy, could cause a missed period but light vaginal spotting?
What do the experts say?
Missed period:Causes
A suddenly missed period is quite the event for women who typically have very regular, predictable, menstrual cycles. It becomes even more puzzling if you suspect you're pregnant and take a test, but it comes back negative. These cases may be explained by various different things, including:
- Pregnancy — You're indeed pregnant, but may have tested too early. Pregnancy tests show a positive result when there ishCG (human chorionicgonadotropin)in your urine, and a negative result when this hormone, which a budding placenta starts producing shortly after implantation occurs, isn't present. If you test earlier than the day of your missed period, a pregnancy test can come back negative even if you're expecting. The advice we'd give is to take multiple tests stretched out over several days.
- Unusual circumstances — extreme stress, very strenuous physical exercise, and traveling may throw your cycle off for a bit. (Note that this may include feeling really excited about a possible pregnancy, according to some.)
- Being underweight or obese can also lead to changes within the menstrual cycle.
- The perimenopause, the transition to menopause, often initially manifests as missing periods here and there.
- If you recently took an emergency contraceptive like Plan B, this can delay your period a bit.
Long-term medical conditions can also affect your menstrual cycle, but in this case, you usually wouldn't be looking at a sudden missed period, but rather at a pattern of absent or irregular menstruation. Conditions that can cause this includepolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis,a slow or fast thyroid, and pituitary tumors.
Vaginal spotting
The woman who began the thread didn't just ask about a missed period combined with a negative pregnancy test, however, but also mentioned that she experienced some vaginal spotting. This may point to a very early miscarriage, sometimes referred to as a chemical pregnancy. Though any pregnancy loss before the 20th week of gestation is a miscarriage, miscarriages often take place very early in pregnancy, including around the time of your expected period. This may explain vaginal spotting that looks quite a bit different from a period. Other signs of miscarriage can include abdominal cramping, pain, and clotty tissues leaving your body.
Ectopic pregnancies, which develop outside the uterus and can be life-threatening, can also cause vaginal spotting along with abdominal and shoulder pain and feelings of dizziness and fainting. If this sounds familiar to you, don't wait — go to the ER right away.
Many other conditions can cause vaginal spotting outside of menstruation, and they range from the harmless to the serious:
- Infections of the reproductive system, including sexually transmitted ones.
- Uterine fibroids or polyps, benign growths within the uterus.
- Reproductive-system disorders such as polycystic ovary syndrome and endometriosis.
- Other medical conditions like diabetes, lupus, or liver disease.
- More, ehm, vigorous sexual endeavours.
In this situation, however, experiencing spotting instead of a period is being discussed, so this is not the same as spotting between periods. One more possibility to explore is that your spotting is, in fact, menstruation, but you have extremely light flow this month. This can happen for the same reasons that lead to missed periods (with the exception of pregnancy, of course).
When to see a doctor
Any woman who has missed three consecutiveperiods and has had negative pregnancy tests should seek medical attention so your doctor can help you get to the bottom of this mystery, and offer treatment where needed. It is fine to initially ask your primary healthcare provider, and they can then refer you to a gynecologist or endocrinologist (who looks at hormonal issues) if they think it's necessary.
Women who notice worrying symptoms like extreme abdominal pain, foul-smelling discharge from the vagina, or a fever should also see their doctor right away. If you have a more serious underlying condition like an ectopic pregnancy or an STD, you need timely medical attention.
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Discussion highlights
Questions
SteadyHealthmembers wanted to know:
- Jay,is it possible to spot for so long during the week I should have had my period if I didn't ovulate?
- So my question is how far long do I have to be before I get a positive pregnant test?
- Was the spotting my period, or is there a chance i am pregnant?
- Should I simply give it a little more time and test again in about 2 weeks or should I just go to the OB and have them test me?
- Could I be pregnant?
Experiences
Others who had experienced similar situations said:
- You probably have a cist on your ovaries I had the same isssue
- Just got diagnosed with a UTI today, but the doc says that baby is fine.
- I am now 5 weeks pregnant and doing well!
- it was too late for contraception!
- Well, a week later, lo and behold.
Symptoms
Posters described their symptoms in these ways:
- I still have not had a period, but my breasts are beginning to get sore.
- If the spotting were my "true" period, it was already a week late, as I have a 31 day cycle.
- At times during this past week I started spotting a light brown color when I would use the bRoom This usually happens continuously before I get my period for about 2 to 3 days, no period though.
- I noticed 2 weeks ago that for what ever reason looking at certain food made me want to vomit.
- I had random sudden headaches, can't sit still.
Diagnosis
What did SteadyHealthmembers who went to the doctor learn? Let's take a look:
- Just got diagnosed with a UTI today, but the doc says that baby is fine.
- i was told early this year i had cysts in my ovaries but later on i got told i didnt have anything.
- I have taken two hpt both game back negative and so I went into the doctor and got a blood test and that was negative also.
- - hyperthyroid- irregular periods.
- endocrinologistMy thyroid level has become normal but my hormone level is high and she sent me to have an ultrasound and it turns out I have PCOS( Polycystic Ovary Syndrome).
Suggestions
Here's the advice that was shared in the thread:
- You probably have a cist on your ovaries I had the same isssue
- If you have been several months without a period, a gynecologist may give you some progesterone in a pill form (eg Provera 10 mg for 5 days).
- Hello Sarah,To be on the safe side I highly recommend that you see your doctor, it could be a hormonal imbalance or an Ovarian cyst, poor diet, lack of exercise, weight gain/weight loss, stress, etc could all be the cause.
- If you are stressing about being pregnant can also cause a missed period.
- One of the other things I have learned that could cause a missed period is a cold or flu.
In conclusion
Women who miss more than one period while repeatedly having pregnancy tests show up negative should see their doctor, as should those who have additional worrying symptoms like pain, dizziness, or foul-smelling discharge. Of course, if you're worried after missing just the one menstruation, you should also feel free to check in with your healthcare provider.
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