Brief Answer:
It is not unusual to have irregula cycles sometimes

Detailed Answer:
Hello, and I would be happy to answer your question today.

If your cycles have been completely regular, coming every month at roughly the same interval for your entire life up until now, you are the exception rather than the rule. Most women can get a period earlier than usual (which normally produces blood that is lighter in color than what you usually see), or be late once and a while, or even skip a month, without anything being physically wrong. Furthermore, some women even bleed for a few days when they ovulate.

Many things can affect a woman's menstrual cycle: travel, changes in weight, stress, hormonal irregularities and other sources of bleeding within the uterus. In addition, when you are over 40, irregular periods are more common. Furthermore, the stress of trying to conceive can even interfere with your normal hormonal cycling and cause you to bleed at the wrong time. A way you can tell when in your cycle you are ovulating is to purchase ovulation predictor kits, which can test your urine for your most fertile time.

So at this point, unless the bleeding becomes very heavy with clots, or lasts longer than 2 weeks, you really should just wait and see what happens over time.
Try to be patient and see what happens with your next menstrual cycle. You should keep having regular (at least every 2 to 3 days) intercourse unless your period is late in which case you should perform a pregnancy test. Women can still ovulate when they are bleeding, which can sometimes be confusing when you are trying to get pregnant.

If you're over 40 and trying to conceive, I generally recommend that couples pursue fertility evaluation after trying for six months. If you keep having abnormal bleeding during the majority of your cycles going forward, you should probably have an evaluation of hormone tests and an ultrasound to examine your uterus and a consultation with a gynecologist or fertility specialist. The ultrasound test will also rule out uterine problems, like fibroids and polyps, that can cause vaginal bleeding as well. Uterine cancer is very rare before menopause unless you have a strong family history or are morbidly obese and/or have diabetes.

Again, I want to reassure you that just because you had irregular bleeding does not mean that there is anything wrong with you or that you are infertile. The human menstrual cycle is not a perfect system and things can throw it off sometimes. One abnormal cycle can happen to anyone. If you continue to bleed in an atypical fashion, you should have a medical evaluation including hormone tests and an ultrasound.

I hope that I was able to adequately answer your question today, and that my advice was reassuring. If you need any further clarification or more information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

I wish you and your partner the best of luck in conceiving, and hope that your menstrual problem resolves itself soon.

Best wishes,

Dr. Brown

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Brief Answer:
No, I do not believe you could be pregnant

Detailed Answer:
Hello again, and I hope I can help clarify your situation.

Because your bleeding started on cycle day number 20, and your pregnancy test has been negative, this early bleeding is not likely due to pregnancy. The amount of pregnancy hormone needed to make a urine pregnancy test positive normally will be high enough by the third week of your cycle to be picked up by urine pregnancy test of the first morning urine sample. For that reason may drugstore pregnancy tests advertise that you can take them before you even miss your menstrual period.

So in your case, I really think that you either bled due to ovulation or due to the stress of trying to become pregnant. Having your period become irregular while trying to conceive is a very common complaint of my patients. Also just because this happened this one particular cycle does not mean it will ever happen to you again. I would consult with your gynecologist if you are still bleeding by two weeks because they could give you medication that would shut off the bleeding and set up your next cycle.

I hope this additional information was helpful.

Let me know if you need anything further.

Warm regards,

Dr. Brown

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