Is spotting rather than normal bleeding a sign of pregnancy?

Question

Hi doctor,

I am 30 years old and got married a year ago. We have been trying for a baby for the last three months. My LMP was on the 9th of last month. I never faced issues with my menstrual cycle. It is a regular 29-day cycle. We had unprotected sex from the 17th to the 25th every other day.

I have started getting pain in the right pelvic or pubic bone area from the 29th. The pain is not continuous. Sometimes, it was a severe stabbing pain. I have consulted a doctor and performed a vaginal test as well, and no abnormalities have been noticed.

Also, I have had an ultrasound and thyroid test in the past two months, and no abnormalities have been noticed. I got spotted on the 8th and continued till the 10th. It started as pink and turned into bright red and then dark brown. In the whole three days of my spotting, I had on-and-off pain. Whenever there is pain, there will be spotting, and I can wipe it up with the tissue.

On the 8th evening, the spotting continued for 2 hours with 15 to 20 drops and a few clots as well. I am sure that was not my menstrual bleeding. I have had proper menstrual bleeding for all these years for three days. I performed a beta hCG test on the 10th, and the test results came back as negative with a value of less than 1.

Please clarify my doubt.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

If the serum beta hCG test (human chorionic gonadotropin) on the 10th is less than 1, then you are surely not pregnant.

The symptoms, like clots or spotting, are a part of the Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) complex, where stress and anxiety can often cause the scanty onset of menses.

But full flow may be achieved in the next few days. There is a likelihood that the flow may start in the next few days. Keep a watch, as you are not pregnant during this cycle for sure.

I hope this helps.

Answer 2

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

In that case, get an ultrasound of the pelvis done and check for endometrial thickness. If more than 9 mm and no pregnancy, then you can wait for a week to allow menses to restart. If not, then you may opt for a progesterone withdrawal.

I hope this helps.