Post-Mirena: Understanding Your Cycle & Fertility After IUD Removal

Question
I had my mirena removed 12/30/11 after 4 years of having it with normal periods the whole time. Had what I thought was going to be my period on 1/1/12 but it only lasted that 1 day. Had dark brown spotting only when I wiped on 1/7/12 and absoutley nothing since then. My last period was about the 2nd week of Dec. I have been TTC. I have taken about 5 HPT and they we're all negative. I have been experiencing cramping like I'm going to start my period for about 3 weeks but haven't yet and have had extreme breast tenderness for 3 day now(I've never had breast tenderness except with my previous 2 pregnancies). Could I be getting false negative HPT or is there something else wrong with me?

Answer
Dear Melissa

This is atypical menstruation that lasted for l day with dark brown spotting. Atypical menstruation especially when accompanied by unusual cramping is usually, not always, is an alarming sign against ectopic pregnancy. The best way to avoid and early diagnose such life threatening cases is to be "Ectopic minded".
I therefore, advise you to go for a blood estimation of your beta hCG level. A pelvic ultrasound may be needed as well for proper diagnosis/exclusion of ectopic.

Good Luck