Dark brown discharge during 2ww IVF

[Florencehill]

I am 11dp5dt. OTD is Saturday. (age 42, second round of IVF, 9 embryos waiting on results of chromosome testing, one HB transferred Aug 1st)

Yesterday afternoon I noticed the tiniest flecks of dark brown discharge, presumably 'Old Blood' when I wiped, and a bit more if I probed inside with tissue. By 8pm it looked to have stopped. Today its back again. Ever so slightly heavier but same shade. Slight cramps too. My partner wants to hold out testing till 15th - date clinic gave us.

I read online that Old Blood isnt a cause for concern. But cant help wondering if it will develop into a red bleed /period. My periods is actually due roughly today. (based on an average of 30 day cycle length)

Any thoughts or similar experiences?

Also wondering why 15th is my OTD when embryo was 5 days old when put in me on Aug 1st. Or am I confusing this with when you date the pregnancy from (Fertilisation was July 27th)

TBH have never had hope for this embryo. Was told by a practitioner at clinic that at my age 90% of my eggs would be chromosomaly abnormal. Given that 10 of my eggs were good enough for transferring /PGS testing, Im kind of holding out for having one 'normal' egg. Statistically this one in me could be the one in 10....Dare I hope?

*UPDATE * Just stood up after laying down to for an hour after taking Progesterone vaginally. Discharge heavier again. Still not bright red but starting to think this is bad news.

[Twiglet2]

Hey lovely, I am in a similar boat this morning with the brown discharge but I’m a few days behind you in the 2WW. It can mean you period or it could be early pregnancy bleeding (Which can be normal or can be a sign of chemical pregnancy) there is just no way to know unless you test. At 11dp5dt you should get a pretty close to accurate result. I am trying to hold out a little longer as I am only 7dp5dt and tested last time At 7 days with brown discharge Which was a positive but lost it a few weeks a later so not quite ready for that roller coaster again 🙈 xx

[Florencehill in reply to Twiglet2]

Hi Twiglet2, your reply means so much to me. I feel confused and a bit upset. I dont even know what a chemical pregnancy is. I want to reach out to friends and family but my family are on holiday and most freinds are too. Partner at work.

I will convince partner that testing tomorrow morn is a good idea. But not holding out for this. Do I continue with progesterone if bleeding? Does it still get absorbed?

Keeping my hopes up for your embryo x

[kathgibson22 in reply to Florencehill]

I was told to keep on with the progesterone until you get negative test on otd. Xxx

[Twiglet2 in reply to Florencehill]

Yeah keep going with all meds Bleeding is common in early pregnancy so you aren’t out until your out. Fingers and toes crossed for you!

[Twiglet2 in reply to Florencehill]

And sorry a chemical pregnancy is where the embryo implants but doesn’t progress so you can get a positive test and then it fades away to negative. Which is why some clinics (mine included) say to test at 14 days after transfer even though a positive can show up a lot earlier In some cases xx

[Florencehill in reply to Twiglet2]

Thanks for clearing that up. I did google but your answer makes more sense.

[kathgibson22]

Hi lovely, so sorry you're going through this, it's so tough. If it's any help though..my cycle failed and I had pink spotting that turned to red then full on bleed. It was never brown . Brown i heard is ok so keeping everything crossed for you xxxx

[Florencehill in reply to kathgibson22]

Thank yoh kathgibson22, Thanks for sharing. Sorry yours didnt work out. I was thinking the same actually, last time I had a misscarriage they all began with pink then red. Such difficult assessments to make. My clinic is abroad. I will sit this out. Have reached out to a friend who lives nearby incase I need anything. X

[Baypony]

I had the same in 2ww at various points, it got pinker but we still got our positive!

Consultant (in UK) said it was from pessaries aggravating my cervix. Try and hang in there till testing date 🤞

[Florencehill in reply to Baypony]

Wow!! That gives me hope! By pessary do you mean little balls that you insert vaginally? Sorry for getting personal /being ignorant.

[Baypony in reply to Florencehill]

Yup those little balls of joy 😆

[Libsie3103]

Hey Hun, I had my OTD last week (12dp5dt) and I had exactly the same thing from 8dp5dt. I was told that it could be the progesterone aggravating my cervix so I took some hope from that. The problem is that it's almost impossible to tell if it's your period, you're pregnant or it's the medication / procedures that you've been through. Unfortunately mine was bad news and I got my BFN at 11dp5dt and confirmed by a blood test the next day - but that doesn't mean yours will be, lots of people have positive stories. Your test day seems really late - you're already 16 days past Ovulation so if it was a natural cycle you should be able to test, I'd test tomorrow if I was you just so you know. Wishing you lots of luck xx

[Florencehill in reply to Libsie3103]

Thank you Libsie3103, you hit the nail on the head, there's no way of knowing what the bleeding is, its just another notch on the IVF journey and an unknown blip in the notoriously uncertain 2WW.

Thanks for your support and yes I will test tomorrow just for a marker... It could all change as you say. Holding out for the crop being tested and hoping one of them makes the cut!

[Ozma4]

Hi, I am currently having the same. I started the brown spotting on Sunday and its been going on since then. I am due a period since yesterday but its not changed at all. My test day is Friday so I only have a couple of days to wait. I darent test before. I am currently 14dp2dt. Try not to worry too much. I phoned my clinic and they said progesterone pessaries wont stop your period so if its coming it'll come. They also told me not to worry about the brown spotting. Hoping and wishing for you

[Florencehill in reply to Ozma4]

Thanks Ozma4. Mine has progressed from dark spotting yesterday to more reddy brown and heavier more like a normal period. Going to test tomorrow...and up till test day....and beyond.... And keep taking progesterone till I know for sure. Might have to request blood test for that to see HCG dropping, if it was ever there. Thanks for letting me know what your clinic said. Hope you are well and wishing you all the best.