Ovulation and spotting

[musicmz.livejournal.com]

I had an IUD inserted in August and since then, as expected, my cycles have been extremely irregular. However, I've been noticing the last couple months that I'll spot for a few hours around the time that I should be ovulating. Has anyone else ever experienced something like that? It seems weird that I would spot while I'm ovulating, but it seems a likely cause, because I usually start my period 12-14 days after the spotting.

Comments

[kwokj.livejournal.com]

It's not weird, it even has a name! Spotting on ovulation is called breakthrough bleeding.

[stephumn.livejournal.com]

Wait, I'm confused. Isn't the IUD supposed to prevent ovulation, thus preventing pregnancy?

[musicmz.livejournal.com]

Not neccessarily. The IUD works more along the lines of thicken cervical mucus, inhibiting sperm movement, and thinning the lining of the uterus. It prevents fertilization and/ or implantation. Ovulation may still occur (I'm fairly sure it always still occurs).

[stephumn.livejournal.com]

Crazy. I was so interested that I googled it and came up with this (http://www.about-birthcontrol.com/other/iud.htm), which says that you do still ovulate and that drs aren't 100% sure why IUD works, but hey--it does!

[musicmz.livejournal.com]

aren't 100% sure why IUD works, but hey--it does!

That's all that matters to me!

[stephumn.livejournal.com]

Woohoo!

[ourika.livejournal.com]

You've got a hormonal IUD (Mirena), right? Those effects happen with the hormonal IUD but not with the copper IUD. Ovulation does still occur with both IUDs.

The IUD also makes the uterus a more hostile environment for conception. Having the item in the uterus makes it harder for implantation of the egg, and if it occurs, it's harder for it to implant. Then, (as you've said) if you've got the Mirena, it's harder for sperm to get through and a thinner lining to possibly implant in.

[musicmz.livejournal.com]

Yes, I have a mirena. What you said sounds about right to me.