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Menstration Question
I have only been monitoring my period for a month now and have a question about it..
If you spot for a day or two before your period becomes heavy, do you count the first day of spotting as day one of your period, or do you count day one being the heavy flow day?
If you spot for a day or two before your period becomes heavy, do you count the first day of spotting as day one of your period, or do you count day one being the heavy flow day?
I have a similar pattern, and my doctor says your period starts when you start spotting, regardless of when your heavy flow kicks in.
Yes, I agree. First day of spotting. Or I always count the first day of red blood...so if it's a little spotting of red blood, then I count that.
See, I spot a little brown. When I count the two spotting days, I have a 30 day cycle, which means I ovulate on day 15. If I count day one as the heavy flow day, I have a 28 day cycle and ovulate on day 14. TTC, so this question is kinda' important.
For the purpose of predicting ovulation, the EXACT first day of your period is basically irrelvant. This is because you can't just say "oh, I have a 28 day cycle so this means I ovulate on Day 14". That is only a textbook rule and does not apply to a lot of women. The only way to know when you ovulate is to watch for EWCM. Or you can use an OPK or chart your BBT.
Don't use the calendar method for predicting ovulation. It's not accurate. Mostly likely you won't ovulate on exactly Day 14 and since your egg is only viable for about 24 hours, then you can easily be missing your window of opportunity.
For example - I used an OPK, found that I was actually ovulating on Day 8 or 9 (can't remember right off-hand). I was shocked! I got pg that cycle too, so I know the OPK was right!
Don't use the calendar method for predicting ovulation. It's not accurate. Mostly likely you won't ovulate on exactly Day 14 and since your egg is only viable for about 24 hours, then you can easily be missing your window of opportunity.
For example - I used an OPK, found that I was actually ovulating on Day 8 or 9 (can't remember right off-hand). I was shocked! I got pg that cycle too, so I know the OPK was right!
How much are OPK? Pretty expensive? Also, I've been on bcp for the past 10 years (since I was 14) and the doc said it may take a while to release an egg. Will the OPK tell me if I release the egg or will it just predict a rise in temp..(I don't really know how they work). Thanks!
They are fairly pricey ($20 maybe) but they do include a pg test too, so it's not too bad. They have 7 sticks in the package and you pee on them just like a hpt. They detect the surge in progesterone (I think that's the hormone) that causes you to release your egg. They have 2 lines that appear (just like a hpt) when the progesterone is present. It might be faint during the first couple of sticks you take, and then it will become blazing bright when the surge has hit.
For me, I started the pack when I was just finishing my period. Both lines were really bright blue, and I thought "nah, no way, can't be right". But we proceeded to do our thing and I kept using the sticks every day. Day by day the second line kept getting lighter and lighter and by the time I got to Day 14 or 15 there was only 1 line...which is just the "indicator" line like a hpt.
For me, I started the pack when I was just finishing my period. Both lines were really bright blue, and I thought "nah, no way, can't be right". But we proceeded to do our thing and I kept using the sticks every day. Day by day the second line kept getting lighter and lighter and by the time I got to Day 14 or 15 there was only 1 line...which is just the "indicator" line like a hpt.
But if you have EWCM, then you probably don't need to use an OPK. You can monitor your mucus (no $$!) to detect ovulation time.
I never have any EWCM so I needed something else to go by.
I never have any EWCM so I needed something else to go by.
This is such a common problem. You could ask 100 people and 50 would say start when you see spotting and 50 would say start at the flow. Personally, I start when I see a real flow. I BBT chart and my temps stay up even if I spot for a couple of days. On day 13 or 14 my temp drops, and sure enough, AF comes that day. I don't really know if that's how I'm supposed to do it, but I do nonetheless.
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