OB-GYN (Obstetrician-Gynecologist) Questions OB-GYN

Sudden irregular periods?

I've been trying to have a baby and now I'm suddenly having irregular periods when I'm usually regular. My last period was early and very light and abnormal. Then a little over a week ago I had some very light barely noticeable mid-cycle spotting now my period is late and I just started having some very very light spotting. I do not usually spot.

Female | 18 years old
Complaint duration: days to months
Medications: allegra

3 Answers

Discuss this with your doc and consider pregnancy test as well.
Check a pregnancy test! See a Provider and get an Ultrasound and work up!
You are right in that every woman knows her body and knows her menstrual cycles. So when things change and either periods get lighter and out of routine, then we know something is off or out of balance. Especially when we’re trying for conception, we are sometimes very focused on trying and we tend to focus too much; this can actually raise our AM Cortisol, one of the foundational hormones that controls our wellness and that rise in Cortisol can actually upset our female hormone balance of Estradiol (E) and Progesterone (P4). If our E+P4 get so out of balance that we can actually impact ovulation; that means we continue to make E but no P4; then it’s not possible to get pregnant because you aren’t ovulating. If you can get your d21 labs drawn for E, P4 and AM Cortisol (draw before 9AM), then it confirms what you have going on. Sometimes taking Vitamin B Complex with methyl Folate/methyl B12 is enough to settle an AM Cortisol and get back to an ovulatory cycle; but sometimes you need to supplement the P4 with bio-identical P4 and sometimes you actually need to supplement with both E and P4. If you still are not ovulating, then you may actually need to work with your doctor as you may need some help pushing your ovary to make follicles by taking Clomid d5-9 of your cycle. You need to be carefully monitored for excess follicles or BP side effects or even ovarian hyperstimulation side effects.

Of course, sometimes every woman will just have an ‘off’ period and you don’t ovulate but then you DO ovulate the next month; so sometimes waiting it out, and doing an ovulation stick ($1 at the Dollar Store) can help you determine if you are indeed ovulating or not. If you are, then realize you don’t always get pregnant just because you have an ovulatory cycle; if may take a few cycles for everything to work; patience is a virtue. But if you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact your doctor; you may actually need no more than someone following your levels but you may need a little more medical help.