When is CD1?

[trackiesandasmokeyeye]

When I first started ttc, I read that you should count CD1 as the first day of full flow, irrespective of prior spotting. However, I read something else last night that suggested that if spotting becomes full flow without completely stopping in between you should adjust your thinking to consider CD1 the first day of spotting... and now I'm not sure. Mostly I don't spot, but I had a cycle a few months ago with a few days of spotting first and then a shorter full flow period, and I seem to be having the same again, so interested to know what others understand to be the case?

I’ve never thought about this! I would always assume that any bleeding at all is day 1 but For me full flow is day one I don’t get spotting before. Interested what others think!

I've read something that says it's the first day when you have bleeding first thing in the morning. So if you start bleeding in the evening then CD 1 is the following day but that's always seemed odd to me.

That seems odd to me too @bitheby - I'd always count full flow morning or evening as CD1 🤷🏻‍♀️ minefield...

My app isn't amending spotting followed by full flow as CD1 on the first day of spotting, it's just saying spotting followed by CD1 when I record full flow, so I wonder if I go with that.

I've wondered this too, I often have spotting one day then flow the next, but it doesn't seem to have a simple answer!

I’ve also wondered it about the other end. I used to think I had quite a long period (7-8 days) but then I found out that people don’t count spotting at the end, so really mine is more like 4-5 days with 2-3 days of spotting after. Not sure though!

Following this too!

I have 2 days of spotting either side of my proper flow which usually lasts 3-4 days. I've always wondered which day to count as CD1 as the first 2 days of spotting really does come and go.

I have 2 different apps to track them separately, so I am currently CD 7 on one and CD 9 on the other 🤣

CD1 is your first day of fresh blood (whatever that looks like for you) - spotting at the beginning isn't counted as it's technically old blood from previous cycle. Reference from Period Power by Maisie Hill!

@Kally9 - that's the one I meant when I said I'd read it when I first started ttc! Thanks... couldn't for the life of me remember and was just reading other stuff elsewhere!