spotting v. light flow

earychener

Just an opinion question...I've been lurking b/c i'm starting to chart and I'm a little new to this.  If I put spotting in to FF it keeps the cycle going, but if I put "light" in for AF, it starts the cycle over.

What do you consider light flow vs. spotting. (is it flow amount, or do you consider it more brown v. pink) My last depo shot was June 20th, and in August I had about 15 days of "light" flow, but it was brown (I considered it spotting, but I used pads/light tampons daily).

I am having very "light" flow starting yesterday, but it was brown. Today it's pink...not red. Would you consider that day 1? Or still spotting. If it's spotting, I would be on day 36 of my cycle.  Im tempted to call it light flow day 1, because it's pink and not brown.

Thanks for the opinions!

Opinions? 

TeamAwesomeBaby

ChristyPooP:

I say if you were using tampons or pads, then THAT day is CD1.

This! 

earychener

Right, but that was Aug 15th, and the Depo was still "active". So I did count that as my last CD 1, and today would be CD 36.  I'm more wondering if you would count light pink as the start of a new cycle, or if you would count it as CD 36 with spotting...

spacepotatoes

Spotting for me looks just like what it's called - spots of blood in my underwear or on TP. When it's a flow, it's continuous and requires a pad/tampon.

RayRay007

IMO spotting can be red/pink or brown, and it's the amount that determines whether it is spotting or AF. If I use a panty liner or two all day I call it spotting. If it needs more than that, I call it AF, but AF is always red.

earychener

Thanks for the opinions! I've never had to question this. Before I would just get AF, never had any spotting. So I wasn't sure if it was based more on flow or color...stupid question, I know

amandarins

ChristyPooP:

I say if you were using tampons or pads, then THAT day is CD1.

 

this.  

CiderWench

If you need a tampon or a pad, it is not longer spotting but, more than likely, the beginning of a new cycle.

Good luck!

DA682

I agree with previous posters. Spotting is something where a liner would suffice, AF requires something more. I generally consider anything dark brown to be spotting (indicates old blood that is either days old or flowing so slowly that it gets "old" before it exits the cervix) where as red blood means more active bleeding, so it exits the cervix in a shorter period of time, thus you see it while its still red. 

Svenny1011

I get confused with this still. If I only use pantyliners, then I consider that spotting. The minute I have to use a tampon, it is CD1. Sometimes, for me, the line can be very thin and I have trouble determining. I usually err on the side of caution and say CD1 b/c if the spotting is that heavy, AF is going to show up full force very very soon.

kelle017

Svenny1011:

I get confused with this still. If I only use pantyliners, then I consider that spotting. The minute I have to use a tampon, it is CD1. Sometimes, for me, the line can be very thin and I have trouble determining. I usually err on the side of caution and say CD1 b/c if the spotting is that heavy, AF is going to show up full force very very soon.

Me too. This cycle is tricky for me. I'm either on day 8 or 9. I had a c/p last week and Wednesday evening was bright red, but a liner was fine.  But I still needed something so I marked that as light and called it day 1.  I still think it was more spotting though.  I just have to remember I'm probably a day behind.