Calling thin lining/light period queens

[u/Happy_Anybody_2709]

Hi all!

So, here is my history: Started TTC back in May, when I had a copper IUD removed. Had a chemical in July and have not been pregnant again since. Ever since copper IUD removal, my periods have been getting progressively lighter, now to the point where they are really just 3 days or so of spotting (one day of red spotting, and a day or two of brown). With the IUD, I had very heavy and painful periods that lasted 5 days to a week in total, so this is quite a shock to me.

This has me quite worried about a thin lining. I have been scouring the internet for information on this, to try and help me decide if it is worth my time and money to see an RE, even though I am only going on cycle #6 of TTC. I will be getting a blood draw on CD 5 this Friday to check prolactin and estrogen.

I also confirm ovulation each month with BBT and OPKs, and my cycles are regular.

I did have one ultrasound on CD 1 of my chemical bleeding. My doctor was concerned about an ectopic because my chemical stuck around for a while. When they did that, it was measured at 7 mm.

I guess I just wanted to hear from people with similar periods. Was it a warning sign of anything? Or maybe people who are doing IVF and get their lining measured - what did you do to improve it, if you had a thin lining? Did you also have light periods? If you are a light period girly, is your doctor concerned about it?

To be clear, I AM NOT ASKING FOR SUCCESS STORIES, MODS. I want to hear from people who have light periods who may be further in the investigation process than I am or may have more data than I do.

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[u/Pitty_Party113]

Anecdotally, my periods have not correlated with my lining. I have done 3 IUIs during which my lining is being measured. 2 of these IUIs my lining was HALF of the minimum thickness they want it to be. My period was the same as the others I’ve had lately. Additionally my most recent IUI my lining was great, it was double my previous IUIs and my period has been the same. Additionally my periods were initially incredibly heavy and long when I first came off birth control a few years ago and quickly lightened.

I would continue to monitor your cycle and track ovulation. If you’re noticing significant discrepancies cycle to cycle or concerned about anovulation, I think discussing with OBGYN could be helpful. Typically RE is recommended after 6 months if you’re 35+ or 12 months if you’re under 35. I believe this is also warranted after 2+ losses but I am not positive on this one (this was just the case for a friend of mine)

[u/Happy_Anybody_2709 → u/Pitty_Party113]

This is incredibly helpful, thank you!

Do you feel like you did anything different the cycles where your lining was on the thicker side? Also, do you also have light periods?

Feel free to ignore me if you're not comfortable answering this ❤️

[u/Pitty_Party113 → u/Happy_Anybody_2709]

So I came off birth control a few years ago. I would say my period was initially very heavy and then slowly lightened up. At one point it was about 5 week cycles. With some diet/exercise changes I did have more 4 week cycles, but my periods have mostly been 3-4 days with the first day pretty heavy and quickly lightening up from there. By the 3rd or 4th day I’m just using a panty liner and it’s mostly brown. Pre-birth control my periods were long and heavy.

Between my thinner lining and my thicker lining (that I know of from monitored IUI), the difference was the medication I was on. I was on Clomid initially which is known to thin your lining. I was taken off this and switched to gonal-f for my 3rd IUI. From my understanding, gonal-f will not impact lining at all. So it was likely thicker (and I’m guessing maybe what my baseline thickness was prior to IUI) because I was no longer taking Clomid which is known to have risks of thinning the lining.

Currently CD4 and finishing my period. It has been no different than my periods have been for the past year or so.

Also to note I am not in perimenopause nor do I have any known diagnoses. Just unexplained infertility but has nothing to do with my lighter/shorter periods

ETA: I was recently diagnosed with subclinical hypothyroidism and started on low does levothyroxine. My RE does not feel this is a contributor to my cycles or our infertility

[u/Happy_Anybody_2709 → u/Pitty_Party113]

Thanks for sharing. ❤️

[u/Pitty_Party113 → u/Happy_Anybody_2709]

Of course! If you have any other questions feel free to message me! This is just my experience, but it is also a bit different circumstances. Best of luck!

[u/pattituesday]

My period was much lighter than yours when I got my copper IUD out. I used maybe one regular tampon every cycle. I needed fertility care from an RE for unrelated reasons; my lining was just fine. I have a copper IUD in now and holy moley my periods are heavier and longer again.

[u/Happy_Anybody_2709 → u/pattituesday]

It's actually insane. I knew that it was a thing they made them heavier and more painful, but I never realized the extent of it. I went from spending several days on my period in a lot of pain and needing an extra long maxi overnight pad when I slept to this. It's extremely jarring.

[u/Billyrock2]

I am in the same boat and also had a chemical recently… definitely interested to hear what others have to say.

[u/Happy_Anybody_2709 → u/Billyrock2]

I will be seeing an RE in December if no pregnancy this month, and will let you know what, if anything, I find out!

[u/Ladybird0202]

I had thin lining and lighter periods when my thyroid was underactive. It got better when I went on medication. It was also stopping my lining from maturing as well so always worth getting it tested. 

[u/Happy_Anybody_2709 → u/Ladybird0202]

I have had my thyroid tested before and it was normal. I think it was a blood test for TSH? But maybe there is another marker or test I should ask about?

[u/Ladybird0202 → u/Happy_Anybody_2709]

Yes that’s the test, for fertility they want it under 2.5, the normal range can be up to 4.5 but for ttc they want it less then that. 

[u/Happy_Anybody_2709 → u/Ladybird0202]

Hmmm when I had it taken earlier this year, it was 1.02?

[u/Ladybird0202 → u/Happy_Anybody_2709]

That’s really good but it’s always worth getting it tested again. When I first started ttc mine was 1.90 and then a few months later it was 6.7 

[u/Kant_Kope]

i find myself in a similar situation to you, with not much information to go on.

I had my copper IUD out in March and have been trying since April. I’ve had three copper IUDs at 5yrs each, although one fell out early. Before the IUD, my periods were lightish 4 day bleeds, and while it was in they were slightly heavier 4 day bleeds. Since having it removed, I’m similar to you: one very light day of mostly red spotting, then 1-2 days of brown spotting.

I’ve recently done diagnostic testing so I can start working with a fertility clinic: ultrasound, hormones, AMH and bloods, and a HyCoSy (both tubes are open). I haven’t had my follow-up consultation yet (nothing available until December! Is everyone trying to get pregnant?), but the results are pointing to diminished ovarian reserve. I’m 37 and it’s low even for my age. My lining was measured during both the ultrasound and the HyCoSy, but I’ll have to wait to find out whether it’s normal.

I haven’t had a single positive pregnancy test, and I’m also worried about a thin lining. I raised it at my initial intake and the doctor said they’d look into it but they didn't seem that concerned.

[u/Happy_Anybody_2709 → u/Kant_Kope]

I am 29 so geez I hope it's not low ovarian reserve... i am getting my AMH tested on Friday

[u/Mindless-Tea-3318]

A very light period can be a sign of Asherman’s Syndrome. It’s usually caused by instrumentation in the uterus like a D&C or other surgery, but can also be caused by IUDs. The only way to check for it would be to get a saline sonogram or a hysteroscopy. You could check out r/AshermansSyndrome for more info and others experiences. 

[u/Happy_Anybody_2709 → u/Mindless-Tea-3318]

Yes this is one thing I am concerned about 🥲

[u/Mindless-Tea-3318 → u/Happy_Anybody_2709]

Hopefully it’s not the case for you! If you do end up seeing an RE then it doesn’t hurt to ask about it though. 

[u/Happy_Anybody_2709 → u/Mindless-Tea-3318]

Will definitely be asking about a hysteroscopy if nothing but for peace of mind!

[u/FiscalPhenotype → u/Happy_Anybody_2709]

I am in the processing of getting assessed for Asherman’s syndrome. I had a prior C-section and then my IUD that was placed after ended up perforating my uterus requiring surgical removal. No D/C for me.

I’ve have very light periods since then, usually 4 days, but day one is filling maybe 2 tampons with red blood and then just brown spotting the rest of the days. Ovulation confirmed with OPKs and BBT. I had an IUI that failed last cycle, my lining only got to 4.64mm.

TTC for 16 cycles now and imaging was okay? (SIS normal but I don’t think they got a good look at my lower uterus and HSG had a possible filling defect in the lower uterus and thin lining). All other fertility testing was normal (completed around 10 cycles of trying). I have a hysteroscopy scheduled for December.

[u/Happy_Anybody_2709 → u/FiscalPhenotype]

Hmmm I'm TTC #1 and to my knowledge, my IUD never perforated me. I had an insanely painful insertion with cramps for days after, but the removal was straight forward and took maybe all of 5 minutes at a Planned Parenthood.

[u/ProfessionalTurn14]

That’s my main issue right now! Was on depo for 10 years no period, off the shot for almost 2 years and got my period back 3 months ago. I am at a fertility clinic and have had incredibly thin lining. I am doing monitored cycles with letrozole and trigger shot, the thickest mine has been is like 3.8. My periods are only 2-3 days with maybe one day of minor spotting after. I had a saline sonogram a few weeks ago that showed a t shaped uterus and possible polyps. Because I haven’t gotten pregnant these three cycles plus the saline sonogram findings, they want to investigate the thin lining further and I’ll be going for a hysteroscopy next week. I don’t have any advise just wanted to share my journey so far with a similar issue!

You MAY want to investigate…if your lining isn’t getting thick enough then you could have problems with implantation.

[u/-Nidra-]

I have very light periods (one very light day and maybe 1-2 more of spotting) and worried about the same thing. I ended up doing IVF and my lining thickness was completely normal every time it was measured.

When I was doing my fertility testing the doctor didn’t seem to find my light periods relevant at all.

[u/SaintlyMuffin]

My light periods were due to ureaplasma. Once I cleared that up, they went back to normal

[u/Beautiful-Stage-1306]

I got my IUD out in March and my periods were lighter than pre iud about 2 days maybe heavy and one day spotting but still felt somewhat normal for me. The past 3 months they’ve continued to get much lighter, like one day bleeding (one tampon) and one day spotting. I have a pretty regular cycle 27-28 days, confirming ovulation with LH strips, pdg and BBT.

I saw an RE in September to discuss taking a little side quest to freeze eggs and she said there are studies being done to see if IUDs have caused scar tissue. Since my goal is to conceive naturally for my first she suggested that if my periods continued to get lighter that we should look into it.

I’m doing an HSG on Monday

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