Post Mirena, extra long cycles, bleeding....

Hayley • Student ODP 👩🏻‍🎓 Waiting for biology to work ⏳ TTC #1 👱🏻‍♂️👩🏻...❓

I’d really appreciate your help but this is going to be a long one so buckle in!

So, a bit of background first…

I'm 24 and been on BC since 12yo for extremely painful periods. So half my life. Because of that I have no idea what is normal for me….I can't remember 2 years ago let alone 12!

12-16 oral pill (21 day green packet?

16-21 Depo jab (no periods - except one)

21-23 Mirena (No periods)

22- Diagnosed with hypothyroidism - still on the way to getting optimal medication - but very nearly there.

Me and Hubby decided we were ready to start TTC so enter the next timeline.

1st Nov 2017 - Mirena removed.

3rd-5th Nov - Light bleeding

17th Nov - Started with BTT

24th Dec - Fertility friend app 'detected' ovulation (CD52 - based on bleed after mirena)

8th-12th Jan - first 'proper' period. - This one was horrific, like the ones that caused me to start BC in the first place. Soaking through Always' biggest pads within an hour, leaking, pain from cramps spread to back and tops of thighs for the first 2 days. Eased a little on day 3 and was fairly light in comparison for the last 2 days.

24th-25th Feb - what I think was EWCM, I'm very new to this - it was crystal clear and sort of stretchy but not much of it.

26th-onwards (today - 2nd March) - Spotting?

28th Feb - Predicted ovulation on Fertility Friend app but says it hasn’t detected it yet. (Glow reckons March 5th in notifications but not showing on the calendar view bit…)

Today - no sign of ovulation…who knows?!

Back to my current spotting….it's about to get TMI here sorry!

I'm not sure if this is spotting or not. I've spent hours on google trying to figure it out. Internet says light pink or brown and not a lot. Mine is light pink on the toilet paper, had bits of brown. Also bright red. Had the odd stringy bit but they're tiny. I've had no pain whatsoever.

So I don’t know if this is either a very very light period or some heavy spotting. Don't need a pad, a pantyliner has been fine even throughout the whole night. Never changed it because its full, usually because its got all folded up and uncomfortable or I just wanted a fresh one. The pic below is about 4 hours' worth (sorry!) and has pretty much been this way from when it started. So far it's been 4 days.

So if it is a period I may not have ovulated this second ridiculously long cycle (or at least not detected it?), if it's spotting…why on earth is it happening? I have a stash of OPKs but I'm not good at using them. I've usually finished peeing before I remember I needed the cup. -_- All of those so far have been negative - including todays. Not even any dubious faint lines.

More questions:

Has anyone else had ridiculously long cycles after Mirena? If so, do they go back to normal or am I stuck with only having 4 chances to conceive per year instead of 12?

If it is spotting, do I need to be concerned?

If it is a period - is it normal to have a barely anything one after a horrific one? Even if they're 3 months apart.

Basically any insight into what on earth is going on with my female equipment would be amazing because I am so confused and out of my depth!

Thanks in advance!

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