My AF usually starts the same way. Some very light pink/red streaking late at night after using the bathroom. Definitely more red than brown, but very light, and usually late at night. Like at 10pm or something. The next day I have a full fledged AF. Which would you consider my first day to be? If it were brown spotting I wouldn't count it, but since it's more red and late at night is this spotting or should I count it as my first day? Does the time matter? Like is there a cut off for the next day?

TIA!!!

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Mo & Carlos

~God's Blessings~

Red flow, no spotting. I'd count the next day. Technically, there is a cut-off time, but I don't remember it... maybe 6 p.m.? Occassionally, I'll have what I considered red flow sometime after 8 and I count it.

I think consistancy is more important so that you know the cycle day you may typically O.

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If you charted your basal temperature, it would be the day your temperature took a dive along with consistent streaks of blood (sorry TMI). I would count that as day one, and I'm sure Fertility Friend (www.fertilityfriend.com) would count that as well.

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FF will leave the old chart if you add spotting. If you add light, it'll start a new chart.

I wouldn't rely on the temps unless you were referring specifically to her chart. My temps typically drop 2 days before af arrives, however, it's not really reliable to look at the temps because some people may not see a drop until after af arrives. Too many things can affect temps.

TMI: I don't count it if you just see it on tp. I look for it making it's way to the toilet on its own. If there's enough to drop down then it's flow enough.

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Thanks girls!

Nancy, that makes sense. It was really only on the TP and it was later on at night too. Like after 10pm or somehting. I think it's probably safer for me to mark it as starting the next day then. Thanks!

Oh, and I do temp, but I was on vacation at the end of last week and didn't temp. In any case my temps drop somethimes a couple of days before too.

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Mo & Carlos

~God's Blessings~