Do those with thin linings have light periods?

[AmyG18]

Hello,I have unexplained infertility. Have had one failed cycle that produced 3 good quality blasts. 1 x fresh failed and 2 x FET both failed to implant. I had one cycle cancelled due to thin lining of 5.5mm. I now take additional estrogen, Viagra, Aspirin and progesterone which have given me a lining of 7.6mm for one transfer and 8mm for another.

I have EXTREMELY light periods. After my most recent failed transfer, my period lasted one day and had very little blood - mainly just lining (sorry TMI).

I can't help but worry I have poor blood flow to uterus based on my periods. I have been having weekly acupuncture since October 2023. I walk a lot and exercise regularly, dry brush, castor oil packs, eat beetroot soup and bone broth daily.

Has anyone else had thin lining, light periods but been successful?

Thanks

[Millbanks]

Hi lovely,

My periods sound exactly like yours! They are so light that sometimes I only "bleed" for a day with a bit of spotting either side. I was worried about this too and each transfer I've had I've been on 5 x progynova tablets and vitamin E to help build it up.

But I do managed to achieve between 7.5 - 8mm most times and have had 1 successful cycle (with a little boy who is now 2) and recently trying for a sibling - my lining only got to 7.6mm but they went ahead anyway and just got a BFP.

So try not to worry too much - the meds can do a lot! I also drank a lot of beet juice in the lead up to transfer... who knows if that actually helped.

xx

[AmyG18 in reply to Millbanks]

Wow...thank you so much for your reply. It's so hard because I want to know why we are not getting pregnant and my periods are something that I can see and it feels like it makes sense that then being so light could be contributing to our infertility.

Do you mind me asking how many transfers you had for success? We have had 3 with no joy yet. I have to have another egg collection now and hope we get more embryos.

[Millbanks in reply to AmyG18]

Yes quite possibly! I did a lot of researching in to periods before we started IVF (as I was desperate to avoid it!!) and I did basal body temperature charting - and it basically showed that my luteal phase was so short (I'd start spotting 4 - 5 days after ovulation) that there was little to no chance of implantation.... I asked my doctor for extra progesterone to support my periods and it did help in terms of keeping the lining in place - but it turned out that my tubes were blocked anyway so it was all a bit moot!

Might be worth looking in to though?

Of course, so we did 5 FETs which all failed then got lucky on our 6th. I had done a shedload of research on everything RIF related and had an ERA test, NK cells test and had our embryos PGT-A tested - and I think these were all the things that made it work in the end - in particular the steroids for overactive immune system.

Weirdly though we followed the exact same protocol these past 2 transfers as the one that worked and they didn't work - so this 3rd one I kinda tweaked my protocol a bit myself.... xxx

[AmyG18 in reply to Millbanks]

Thank you for your response, congratulations on your BFP. It all feels so overwhelming to know what investigations to invest in and how many times to try x x

[Millbanks in reply to AmyG18]

Thank you.

I know, it really does - I think sometimes it's easier to rule out what to not have first....

xx

[MiniCeeCee]

hey AmyG18 hope you’re doing ok. No real advice or success stories but just want to say I’m in a very similar boat. Super light periods - pretty much 1 day only. 2 failed transfers (1 fresh, 1 frozen). I have two embryos remaining, but I can’t help but think my light periods contribute to my infertility. In my failed cycles I did get pumped with quite a lot of oestrogen so my lining built up ok in the IVF, but still no success. In the 2nd cycle, they found a small endometrioma cyst, so now I’m in a world of researching endometriosis (as when you have a endo cyst, it automatically means you have stage 3 / 4 endometriosis.) I’ve never had any endo symptoms, so this was a surprise to me. Endometriosis can often be caused by retrograde menstruation, where the blood goes back into the uterus instead of coming out as a period. So it could be worth looking at whether you have any endo symptoms if you haven’t already. Like I say, sorry I don’t have too much advice, but just thought I’d share where I’m at in case it prompts anything helpful for you. Really hope for success for us all! x

[AmyG18 in reply to MiniCeeCee]

Hi MiniCeeCee, I hear you! I've asked 4 different consultants about my SUPER light periods and not one seems to think it's an issue which I find hard to accept. This whole journey started with me going to the doctor to ask about my light periods when we started trying and here I am, now with a full failed cycle and still no answers. I have had a hysteroscopy where I had a small polyp removed, apparently everything else and the biopsy came back with no concerns. I have the Daye vaginal biome kit ready to see if I have any imbalances. I feel like I'm drowning in possible routes and testing options and feel lost as to where to invest the time and money. Wishing you lots of luck for your next transfers x x

[Sharkey919 in reply to AmyG18]

Dear AmyG18, please advise did your periods become much lighter after removal of the polyp? Was the procedure called Hysteroresectoscopic resection? I have similar issue after removal of fibroid during hysteroscopic resection, that is where they use electric instrument. Significant change in my periods (always normal before and very scanty after), plus pain in my uterus.

[AmyG18 in reply to Sharkey919]

Hello Sharkey, my periods have been VERY light for years, especially after having the copper coil around 8 years ago. My periods seem to have got even lighter since starting IVF, I've had 3 frozen transfer cycles and each month my period feels even less. After the hysteroscopy, my next period was barely even spotting...I've had about 5 periods since, no pain but light, 2 day periods with clumps of lining but very little blood (sorry TMI)

[Sharkey919 in reply to AmyG18]

Hello Amy, I consider it hypocrisy when doctors dismiss our complaints about light period/thin lining, as they do know that thickness and structure are important as they are indicators of endometrium quality, this is the place where embryo has to implant. They also often suggest that endometritis is #1 cause for it, but hardly if ever, mention that this can also be consequence of intrauterine manipulations such us hysteroscopic surgery, especially the one where they use electric instrument. In my case it’s just light blood, no any endometrium tissue visible after the op. And pain. Nobody mentioned to me about it prior to op, and even after the op, until I told them that I’ve read medical articles on that topic. Then, some of the doctors, admits such side effects take place quite often. I also read that medicines used to speed up eggs/ovulation for IVF also impact endometrium and can make it thinner. Sorry for possible grammar mistakes (non-native speaker).

[AmyG18 in reply to Sharkey919]

I'm sorry to hear of your experience after your procedure. I'm worried about poor blood flow to my uterus but no consultant seems interested. It feels like such an important indicator of fertility health to me. I'm about to go into my second cycle of IVF after a failed cycle with 3 failed good quality embryos. I really hope this next cycle works, I'm 40 in September and don't think I can continue much longer x

[Sharkey919 in reply to AmyG18]

Hello AmyG18. May I ask how did your 2nd cycle of IVF go? Also please could you share what is/was your lining thickness (M-echo) on ultrasounds?

[AmyG18 in reply to Sharkey919]

Hi Sharkey, I didn't have a second round in the end. We were due to start stimulation in August, I was waiting for my period but it never came. I was pregnant. Sadly I had a missed miscarriage at 12 weeks, testing showed this was because baby had down syndrome. I had surgery in October. I am guessing it was a good sign that I was able to get pregnant and carry our baby to 12 weeks despite my worries about thin lining. We are working with a functional nutritionist and trying naturally before choosing to go IVF again as that didn't work and natural did. I don't know if it's the right decision as I turned 40 in September but we plan to try till summer. x x

[MiniCeeCee in reply to AmyG18]

 AmyG18 I’m so sorry to hear about your miscarriage - I hope focusing on your nutrition, and that sign that you were able to get pregnant is giving you hope for the future. I too am focusing on nutrition at the moment, after 4 failed transfers - I’m doing 3 months of healthy eating and exercise (my husband too) before another ivf cycle in March. Hope you don’t mind me asking but do you feel like your periods have got any better? Mine are still so light, still only last 1 / 1.5 days and like you mention about, more lining over blood it seems. I’m going for EMMA/ALICE/ERA testing soon and hoping that might be able to shed some light too. Wishing you all the success!

[MiniCeeCee]

same here, so hard to navigate! If you don’t already, I would recommend following Dr Tim Child on Instagram - instagram.com/drtimchild?ig... - he has really helped me work through what I should be focusing on and what I should be avoiding / ignoring! Best of luck! Xx

[Tigerlilyy]

I can totally relate! Thin lining isn't completely related to light periods (apparently your body can absorb lining as well) but lots of women have both. For example, I've had 11mm lining after ivf stims (freeze all) and barely a period whatsoever. I've had three euploid transfers (we did pgt due to chromosomical issues). One succesful natural cycle with 6.5mm, one unsuccesful with 11mm on low dosis GonalF, and one succesful with 8mm on low dosis GobalF. My dr says triliminar lining is more important rather than thickness. Also, research seems to point more and more into the role of the embryo itself in succesful development. That sure was useful to me in dealing with stress about lining.

[AmyG18 in reply to Tigerlilyy]

It is reassuring to hear success stories of those with light periods and thinner linings. It's so hard being undiagnosed as I need to know what is stopping us getting pregnant and my periods are the only thing/evidence that I can actually see on a regular basis, I've been told I have trilaminar on each transfer but we have had no pregnancy yet x

[luma02]

Hi everyone. I saw your post and want to respond as I completely understand the stress of a thin lining. I also have light periods and a thin lining (7 - 7.5mm max on a good cycle). I tried everything, beet juice, castor oil, vitamin e, light walks… honestly, I sent myself crazy!! Nothing worked. I was just told some women naturally have a thin lining and this was probably the case for me.

Fast forward > after 9 months of trying to conceive naturally following a miscarriage + d&c + hysteroscopy for retained products, I decided to get a second opinion.

My new doctor did a hysteroscopy and diagnosed me with chronic endometrisis. This is infection / inflammation of the uterus that makes implantation difficult. I was treated with a few courses of antibiotics, and fell pregnant that same cycle with a lining of 7.5mm. I am now 12 weeks pregnant. My new doctor told me not to get too fixated on the thin lining, as it’s more important that it’s trilaminar.

Testing for chronic endometritis is simple and can be done via biopsy procedure in the chair. I hope this story helps someone out there reading this

[AmyG18 in reply to luma02]

Thank you and congratulations! I have had a hysteroscopy that includes a biopsy, I was told the biopsy came back with no issues although I can't say exactly what they tested me for, I will check out endemetris in my follow up in a couple of weeks x

[Suki27]

Omg I thought I was the only 1! I have been going crazy thinking my light bleeds were so strange and getting frustrated nobody seemed to be concerned or able to give me an answer. Mine used to be "normal" (whatever that is) then around 2 years ago got super light, lasted around 1 day. Currently awaiting a frozen transfer after having too high progesterone for a fresh transfer, but we managed to get 4 day 5 blastocyst's so keeping everything crossed and praying to all the implantation gods for success. Wishing you all the best & sending lots of fairy dust!

[AmyG18 in reply to Suki27]

Congratulations on your 4 embryos! It's so hard when you are undiagnosed as we want to know what is getting in the way and our periods are something tangible that we can see and to me it makes complete sense as blood flow is so important x

[Conceivingblee]

Hi AmyG18I would look into having an hysteroscopy if you haven't had one yet to rule out and scar/adhesions internally if you haven't had one.

Good luck.

Mandy

[AmyG18 in reply to Conceivingblee]

Thank you, I have had a hysteroscopy and they removed a small polyp, the biopsy and scratch came back clear apparently and everything looked ok to the consultant visually...it's so hard being told it's undiagnosed x

[Conceivingblee in reply to AmyG18]

Ahhh damn I was hoping that would give you some answers. They put me in the undiagnosed infertility section 7 years I've been going trough it only to find out after 9 transfers they didn't give me information I needed to make an informed decision on my first round. My womb was full of scar abd adhesive tissue never had any room for an embryo to implant. So wasted all that time and my biology because of a Clinic mistake that a hysteroscopy could of prevented. Other things PGT if you haven't. ERA/ALICE.. antibiotic vaginal probiotic. Might be worth asking for a vocal scan I think it's called where they can see blood flow to the uterus. I'm also having PRP into my uterus before cycles now last cycle I managed to get 8mm usually I'm at 6mm. But My uterus is so damaged I've had 5 surgeries to get to that point aswell. Bit if yours looks health ly that almighty help .

[Emzy12580]

Hey I had similar until this current prep for FET where I have added vitamin E supplement twice a day, red raspberry leaf tea once a day (until 5 days before transfer), hot water bottle on uterus area for 20 mins per day up to 5 days before and also tablespoon of pumpkin seeds. My lining went from 4.7 on day 8 to 10.1 on day 12 and the consultant was seriously shocked!

[AmyG18 in reply to Emzy12580]

Wow, that's a huge improvement. With added vitamin E, Viagra, aspirin, extra estrogen in patches and tablets plus caster oil, bone broth, beet juice, walks, hot water bottles, acupuncture, yoga and more I have managed to get my lining above 7mm and up to 8mm for the last two transfers. My concern now is blood flow as I appear to make a decent lining but there is so little blood when my period comes x

[Emzy12580]

Only difference with me was the red raspberry tea then - perhaps that's the magic potion we all need?! X