Should I be concerned with this spotting? Need some advice

[anxietyfilledmom]

Back in September of 2022, I had a Pap smear and cervical cancer test which turned out to be normal and negative. However, since conceiving my son who was born in July of 2021, I’ve had a friable, crappy cervix. The moment they did the cervix swab I started bleeding lol I’ve been on the pill form of the combined hormone of birth control for two years now.

May of 2023, one night I was doubled over after pushing too hard with a bowel movement. My sister thinks it was a cyst but no bleeding until a few days later. Then it went away, and since I’ve had normal periods aside from junes being lighter, and julys being a little heavier. I started spotting after being extremely constipated and pushing way too hard, and when I say spotting I mean only when I wipe is it a little brown/light pink; it never made its way onto a pad or my panties.

I called my Gyno and they said while this isn’t normal for other women, it’s normal for me since they’ve seen how easy I spot and had amounted it to the birth control causing me to have a friable/sensitive cervix. I just got off my period and had a bowel movement. I pushed some and there’s the light pink spotting. Has anyone else had this happen? I don’t have cramps or pelvic pain, no loss of appetite or struggle to breathe. No lower back pain other than the usual (I sit poorly at a computer at night.) I also feel around my pelvic area/lower abdomen to feel any lumps and don’t feel tenderness or anything abnormal. My husband thinks it’s from straining, my cervix is spotty, I wipe too hard, or that I’m pressing around my pelvic area too much and irritating it. Oh- I also have MAJOR anxiety so stress could be a leading factor.

At the end of this, I hope some of you lovely people can help calm my nerves. I am only 24 with a 4 year old and soon to be 2 year old and I immediately think “oh god cancer” despite doctors telling me the stuff I’m experiencing is normal for me.

[AnnieBrooke]

Is there any way to go onto a different form of birth control, like condoms and foam? If the hormonal load of the bcp's is making your cervix friable, it seems like a good idea to do something differently. Obviously you want to stay protected against pregnancy, but with your cervix like that, I'd look for other options.

Another thing is, try hydrating better and maybe take a spoonful of Benefiber every day, or a spoonful of olive oil. There is nothing more annoying on a day-to-day basis than having to worry you'll need to strain and push to have a bowel movement. Also, don't "hold." Even if your kids are pounding on the bathroom door saying, "Mommy? Mommy?" it's better to go regularly to the loo and not try to put off a poop.

It doesn't sound like cancer to me, keep in touch with your doctor if the bleeding happens all the time, so you can get checked more often just for your own anxiety's sake.

[anxietyfilledmom]

Thank you so much for the response, it indeed made me feel a little better! :) I definitely need to include more fiber into my daily eating despite it being hard to not just “grab something” while watching the kiddos (stay at home mom.)

You’d think I’d be used to it by now since I spot after sex sometimes too, it’s just never not scary when you go to the bathroom and wipe and see blood whether it’s a tiny bit or a lot. I’ll definitely try what you’ve suggested. Hoping maybe I can find another pill or something that’ll help since before birth control I had painful periods along with them being irregular. I hope you have a nice day/night :)