Strange Spotting

I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced anything like this.

Backstory: I was on birth control for about 8 years, I came off of it in January 2017 and did not have a period until about end of June. since then I've been getting my period but it has been about 40 day cycles (which apparently is not within the healthy norm to my understanding). I've been trying to give it some time as I know that The BCP can really mess you up sometimes. I had gone for a physical in the summer and the doctors only advice was to go back on birth control to "regulate my cycle again" which doesn't make sense to me since it's not a real cycle. I'm getting married in March 2018, and will be TTC soon afterwards so I want to give me cycle the best shot at healing itself.

So lately, I've been seed cycling and cutting out added sugars to help my body get back on track, but for the past few months I've been getting spotting around CD 28 and then it is on and off until approx CD 40 when I get my period. This month I thought my period was coming on time cause I even had some cramping and a small clot...then it stopped. usually the spotting is brown but this month it's pink. has anyone else had this experience? obviously I should go see a doctor about it, I just don't want "go back on birth control" to be the solution.