When is the first day of your period, scientifically speaking?

round2t · #1 July 31st, 2011, 11:48 AM

I don't know if this should even go here... my last period was odd, and this one is starting off the same way. Last time I spotted for like 4 days then had a normal period for about 5 days.... Yesterday I started the spotting, it went away, woke up thinking I was going to be light but after taking a tampon out realized that it was again hardly anything....

I am going to be taking First Response's fertility test and it says to test on day 3 of your period but I don't know when to start counting. Yesterday's flow was so light I didn't need a pad or tampon at all, and I wouldn't have known I was bleeding if I wasn't looking for it. Today it was just there when I wiped but nothing more... do these days count?

Thank you.

pepper73 · #2 July 31st, 2011, 11:54 AM

From everything I have heard and read, you should count the first day of your cycle as the first day of actual bleeding. So, the spotting days would not count. Hope that helps!

#3 July 31st, 2011, 05:25 PM

When it's more than just when you wipe and actually saturates a pad/tampon.

Tammyms · #4 July 31st, 2011, 06:26 PM

If it were me I'd count those as spotting, but not CD 1 yet.

ShawnaCAN · #5 August 1st, 2011, 08:36 PM

Scientifically speaking, its' the first day of actual flow requiring more than a pantyliner....but it's only a true menstruation if ovulation has occurred first. If ovulation has not yet occurred, it could be another kind of bleeding and is not considered the start of a new cycle.

#6 August 6th, 2011, 12:19 AM

I agree as well.. I started early . spotted on july 31 full blown the 1st of this month only lasted 4 days.. weird.. not shure whats goin on.. waiting to O but not shure when that will be I cant rely on anything these days. Im 30 to 36 day cycle sometimes longer... I just pray that things happen on the right day and hubby is actually home. I havent seen him in 2 months.. .. waiting for my love to come home on the 16th,, supost to O on that day accoring to this chart on here....

pinkorblue7 · #7 August 20th, 2011, 10:19 PM

I count my day one once the flow becomes at least light. More than spotting. HOWEVER, I count my luteal phase length according to the spotting. To me it makes sense that once you start spotting that is a sign that progesterone has dropped and sustaining a pregnancy at that point would seem unlikely. I would definitely recommend b6 to get rid of some or all of that spotting. 50-100mg every day till O, and then you can take it after O, but don't stop until you know you aren't pregnant as some think it can trigger miscarriage if you are pregnant.