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Maternal (Expert Forum)
When exactly is period considered to begin?
Patient medical question and answer from The Maternal and Child Health Forum. Health topic area and articles about newborn care
When exactly is period considered to begin?
by J__0, Apr 10, 1999 12:00AM
Posted By hfhs.md.db on April 15, 1999 at 14:44:35
Topic Area: Pregnancy - Normal
I have a question about when periods actually begin. Usually, my cycles are very regular and when my period begins, I don't experience any spotting right at first, but a steady flow immediately. This included the last two years, during which I was on the pill. I came off the pill last month, and if my cycle followed a perfect timetable (which it usually doesn't, but I use 28 days as a basis) I would have started on a Tuesday. Well, on that Tuesday I noticed some brief, light spotting, followed by nothing until Wednesday night, when I had a touch of more spotting, then it stopped. Then on Thursday I spotted in the morning, then not again until late in the evening. Then on Friday morning, my flow started. (I must say, I think 28 to 31 days isn't bad for a cycle immediately off of the pill!)
Now my question, is my period considered to have started when I noticed that touch of spotting on Tuesday day 28, or did it actually start on that Friday day 31, when I was definitely flowing? Does spotting count as the start of a period? I've never found anything specifying exactly when you can consider your period to begin if you experience random spotting. Like I said, I usually don't spot so I've never had to wonder about this before.
Thank you for your help.
Topic Area: Pregnancy - Normal
I have a question about when periods actually begin. Usually, my cycles are very regular and when my period begins, I don't experience any spotting right at first, but a steady flow immediately. This included the last two years, during which I was on the pill. I came off the pill last month, and if my cycle followed a perfect timetable (which it usually doesn't, but I use 28 days as a basis) I would have started on a Tuesday. Well, on that Tuesday I noticed some brief, light spotting, followed by nothing until Wednesday night, when I had a touch of more spotting, then it stopped. Then on Thursday I spotted in the morning, then not again until late in the evening. Then on Friday morning, my flow started. (I must say, I think 28 to 31 days isn't bad for a cycle immediately off of the pill!)
Now my question, is my period considered to have started when I noticed that touch of spotting on Tuesday day 28, or did it actually start on that Friday day 31, when I was definitely flowing? Does spotting count as the start of a period? I've never found anything specifying exactly when you can consider your period to begin if you experience random spotting. Like I said, I usually don't spot so I've never had to wonder about this before.
Thank you for your help.
Doctor's Answer
by hfhs.md.db, Apr 10, 1999 12:00AM
_
By "convention", the first day of any bleeding (including spotting) is considered to be the first day of the cycle. It is likely that you will have some variability in your periods since you have just started cycling again after being on oral contraception.
