O date and start of period

socialwkrsweetie · November 2012

So I've googled but can't really find an answer to my question so I figured you ladies would probably have some insight. By no means am I looking for medical advice, just seeing if anyone else had a similar experience. Just some background first. I had an IUD for 5 1/2 years and never had a period or spotting (maybe twice in that time). I got my IUD removed on 9/30. I never had spotting past the first day and did not get my period. I started testing with the OPKs just to get in the pattern. I know I O'd on or about 10/24 because I tested + with an OPK on 10/23. I think I might have a short surge since it wasn't positive the day before/after. Since then, I started with some red/brown spotting on 11/2 and that continued until 11/5. It was light on 11/3 and 11/4. I marked it as such on FF. I stopped temping because we were on our honeymoon and figured I would just wait till my next period before starting again. Since then I figured that was my period so I would ovulate again this past weekend (if things proceeded as normal, which I know doesn't always happen right away). Had watery CM several days and even FF said it seemed like I might be fertile so we BD several days, just in case. Now I am spotting pinky orange. It's either my period starting or God knows what. What I am curious about is 1) if this is the start of my period, would you count the 11/2-11/5 days as a period? And 2) anyone else O and then a month later get a period? I have never heard of that, so I figured I would see what you guys knew/thought.

spacepotatoes · November 2012

I have no experience with IUDs so I'm not sure what's going on there. But about the watery CM, you can get fertile CM at any point in your cycle not just when you ovulate. It is actually quite common to have it right before your period as well. FF will tell you that you are possibly fertile if you enter watery or eggwhite CM. Doesn't necessarily mean that you are.

Sorry I can't be more helpful than that!

socialwkrsweetie · November 2012

No, that was helpful! Thank you!

FoxiePM · November 2012

When my Mirena IUD was removed it was a total mind fluck. You can't be sure you O'ed just from OPK's. Give your body some time to figure out what is happening.

socialwkrsweetie · November 2012

ColeRose:
I have never had an IUD so I don't have any experience there, but I just took a look through your question and chart.

1) I don't count spotting at CD1, I only count it as Heavy/CD1 when I need a tampon/pad. However, given that you recently had your IUD out, it could have been a light period.

2) I'm not entirely sure you O'd when you thought you did. Your last chart is quite incomplete with a ton of missing temps and open circles. Just because you got a +OPK did not mean you O'd. Your body may have geared up, and then never actually ovulated.

3) You can have fertile CM throughout your cycle. Some people are able to gauge when they are gearing up to O and/or ovulating based on CM, but others aren't. I can't just use CM as an indicator b/c mine tends to be all over the place (hehehe not literally).

I wasn't originally thinking that it was my period but then I thought what you said, "maybe it's because I just had the IUD taken out". Before my IUD I had periods that were med-heavy at least 2 days. But usually was only 4-5 days and spotting by day 4. Granted, that seems like a million years ago, but I figured it would be similar.

Yes, my last chart is a nightmare. With gearing up for our wedding, I wasn't really into the temp thing. Just couldn't get into the habit regularly. I am really making it a resolution to be better. I actually just got the fertility monitor to help figure things out. I got a wicked deal so I figured, why not?

MommyAmes2 · November 2012

I had my IUD for 4.5 years, never had a period. I got it removed 10/31. My body was a complete mess! I had spotting and such for a month or so. I finally actually got AF 37 days after removal. I just got my first positive OPK yesterday and today.

I have heard of lots of women having spotting after removal for a while. Until their bodies regulate. IUDs suck and really make a womens body all kinds of wonky!

GL!

sugarellie · November 2012

I had my Mirena taken out on 8/27. I did not chart my first cycle so I am not sure if I o'd or not but I will say it took my body two periods ( one right after my mirena was removed and one after my first month off) to regulate. The first cycle off I had every "early pregnancy" symptom in the book, but obviously I was not pregnant. My second cycle off Mirena I did get pregnant and it ended at just over 4 weeks. So my advice would be to give your body some time and know you might be wonky for a while. Best of luck to you !!

curlylocks3 · November 2012

No, luteal phases cannot last a month. Likely that you geared up to O when you had that fertile CM and then actually didn't. As for the spotting at the beginning of this month if it was heavy enough that you needed to use a pad or tampon I'd mark it as your period, if you could get away with just a panty liner I'd mark it as spotting and chalk it up to a wonky cycle coming off birth control.