Any Doctors around? Quick fertility question but posting here for traffic

[jemimafuddleduck]

Hi all
Just posting to get some clarification around my fertility. I've been to the doctors today for the first time about my cycles but the doctor didn't seem too clued up about women's cycles!
My cycles are currently very short, 22 to 23 days long. I have been counting a new cycle from the day I get red blood as that's what my apps say however I do have very light brown spotting for between 1 to 2 days before the red blood.
I haven't been counting this spotting as menstruation as when I put it into the apps it doesn't. But the doctor says when I start spotting that this is Day 1.
Can anyone advise whether he is correct? As if he is we have been DTD at potentially the wrong times!!
Thanks in advance.

Not a doctor - but I have had ivf and counted my cycle for acupuncture. You are likely spotting due to drop in progesterone levels - if you fall pregnant the progesterone levels in theory should stay high and you won't bleed so I'm guessing doctor is right. BUT when you ovulate is to dependent on your period. for example, I had what seemed a normal 28 day period - but I didn't ovulate on day 14. I ovulated on day 17 and the second half of my cycle was 11 days long. I think you need at least 10 days of cycle after you ovulate to help with the pregnancy staying. When I had IVF I had to take progesterone injections to help keep me pregnant. what you really need to do is find out when you are about to ovulate. There are lots of ways to do this is you don't know how - just google it. Taking your waking temperature is one, checking your cervical fluid is another (ie if your vaginal discharge is gooey and sticky like egg white - then its a good time to DTD as you are or are about to be fertile - once it goes slippery and breaks up easily you are passed this stage). You can also buy kits - when you are fertile - a leaf pattern shows up in your dried saliva (weird but true as I had one of these kits).

Stop trying to time sex with your cycle so precisely. Just go with every other day when you’re not bleeding. Cycles vary.
Try posting on conception board too.

Not sure, but you can get ovulation sticks at Poundland that might help? 5 for £1

I've done lots of IVF and clinics take your first day of red bleeding in the morning as day 1. So according to them you've been doing it right.

Thanks for replying all. I'm fairly happy that I have been ovulating, I've been doing bbt, OPKs and DTD at what seems to be the right times.

I'm just wondering whether the brown spotting is day one or the first red blood is Day one of my cycle??

I use the clue app, and my periods are like yours - spotting for 1-2 days before it properly starts. I count my period as starting when I properly bleed, but according to the app, it should be when the spotting starts. So, the app agrees with the doctor.

Thanks for replying all. I'm fairly happy that I have been ovulating, I've been doing bbt, OPKs and DTD at what seems to be the right times.

I'm just wondering whether the brown spotting is day one or the first red blood is Day one of my cycle??

@BuntyCollocks see my apps say the first day is the red blood but the doctor says the first day is the light brown spotting?

If you have brown blood every cycle then yes you do count it as day 1 of your cycle. This is from the mouth of my infertility specialist.

Not a dr but I remember wondering about this once and looked it up. The answers I found said Day one starts when you get red blood. I read that brown spotting is likely to be old blood left over from last cycle. No idea if that bit is true but I usually have a 28 day cycle, count day 1 from red blood and get a positive opk on day 14 so seems to work out correct timing wise for me.

I think it’s very confusing! It probably should be when the spotting starts.

Wise words from HPandBacon above. The month we conceived I tracked bbt, filled in the apps, pee'd on the smiley stick etc, the date of the scans have put conception 5 days prior to when everything indicated I was most fertile.

If you can, get hold of the book "taking charge of your fertility". It sounds like you are trying to judge ovulation based on how long the previous cycle was - cycles can vary and this may not work. Temping and observing cervical mucus can show you when you are fertile and ovulate in the present cycle - then you don't need to worry about which day your period actually starts.

As a pp said, you can also go with just plenty of early nights with your other half, throughout the cycle - more relaxed than analysing your cycle.

Not a Dr but I spot before my period and it's a sign of progesterone imbalance

Thanks all. I started off being fairly chilled about this whole ttc business but as time's gone on I'm starting to get quite impatient and a bit stressed (which I know is not conducive to conception!)