Day 1 or Day 7?

[superchef]

My AF 'proper' started today - heavy & stomach cramps, but usually only lasts 3 days. However, like most months, I have been 'spotting' on & off since last Saturday, 6 days ago. Usually only when I wipe myself after going to the loo for a pee(sorry if TMI!), though some days there's been nothing at all.

So when did my AF start - the first sign of blood or with all the other symptoms today?

Trying to work out best time for BDing!

Am 39 BTW and the above happens most months for has done for a few years.

Thanks for any advise.

Hi,

Sounds very similar to me, but I dont get a heavy period at all. Just light spotting for a while, then slightly heavier (but still quite light) then its all gone. I normally count from the time the bleeding first starts, but hopefully someone will come on a give a more definitive answer!

Not sure of the answer to that one - could try ovulation sticks to see when most fertile, or just wait til AF finishes and then BD every other day anyway. That's the best advice I evry had to getting pregnant anyway rather than trying to pinpoint the actual D Day

Do you use ov-test, temp, CM or CP????? Thses things will help you know when the best time will be!

I'm pretty new to all this (TTC & mumsnet) so sorry but what is CM & CP. Also what do you check for when you take your temp, and are OV tests expensive and where do you get them>????

Sorry so many questions, didn't realise it would be so complicated!

Temp you need to take first thing in the morning before do anything else calling "waking temp" and same time every day! CM mean "cervical mucus" and CP mean "cervical position" and i pay for my OV test on ebay for 10 under £5 and thats with post check ebay out for tests even PG tests! Try and explain more later! Hope this helps!

i get my ovulation sticks from Home & Bargain for £6 (about 5 sticks)- other similar shops like bodycare etc do them cheap aswell.
I have the same, with spot bleeding and then about 4 or 5 days of full bleeding. When working out fertility, i go from the first day of my period rather than when i start to spot as the spotting can sometimes last for 5 days and it will be on and off, a very very small amount, just like you said about wiping after the loo etc and the ovulation sticks always say im ovulating when i test so i know that im roughly getting my cycle dates right at the moment.
This month, i used the ovulation sticks and got a little excited towards the end of my cycle as i just 'felt' different, anyway, af arrived and i was gutted although af was different this month, only had a 2 day period and it was quite light and my boobs are still feeling a little tender and hot!!! Im sure all these symptoms are just in my mind though! Will have to wait and see!

www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007015.htm copy and paste this should tell you what to look for!!