Definitive decision please! What counts as day 1 of AF?

[alovelycuppatea]

Am a bit confused! Is it the first day of spotting or first day of proper 'need a tampon' day? I was due a visit from AF around Nov 2nd (which would have been day 28 - I vary between 28 and 30 days) and had some very light spotting (no tampon required - just wiped away when visited loo). Nothing on Nov 3rd and then AF arrived in full force on Nov 4th. I counted Nov 4th as first day to calculate my fertile window, but now I am wondering if I should have counted November 2nd?!! What is the general consensus? Where do you ladies begin your count? Have I been counting it wrong all my life? Thanks!

I am so glad someone else has this query!! I've never really thought of what day 1 of AF can be counted as...until TTC. I'm now concerned that because I may not be getting CD correct that consequently my OD is messed up too and I could be causing myself a load of stress for nothing! Would love to hear other views on this! I always have a few days of what I'd deem "spotting" then AF properly takes hold...maybe I should be counting the spotting as CD1???!

I'm with you glitter - is only now we are about to ttc that it has occurred to me! If it is first day of spotting I think I may have unwittingly put myself in the tww....
Hopefully someone will come along and share their wisdom!

Toni Weschler, guru of fertility, says CD1 is the day you wake up bleeding red blood. If you start in the pm, the next day is day 1. Spotting does not count.

Thanks showy - That sounds pretty definitive!

Showy - thanks for that info...I think I've been half right in what I'm counting as CD1 although that's interesting about starting in the pm...

Glad I saw this as I count the first day needing a tampon as my 1st day :) least that's 1 bit I'm getting right! Thanks OP and showy