When Is the Start of My Menstrual Cycle? TMI Question

I highly recommend spending the extra money for Clear Blue Easy digital ovulation kit. It shows a smiley face in the window for a positive response and an empty circle when it's negative. I, too, had a hard time reading the other tests and never got a positive test according to the directions (the test line had to be at least the same color or darker). It's $26 at Target, which is considerably more money but I now consider the regular tests I bought to be a waste of money. I didn't get pregnant last month, but at least I feel more confident about my chances. GOOD LUCK!

if you have brown discharge and brown clots before the start of your cycle,
you may have an infection. Talk to your gyni.

The 1st day of any bleeding or brownish discharge is considered day 1. The reason for the difference in the color and amount has to do with the speed of the flow. Watching CM can be helpful to time ovulation, it's what worked for me. As far as the stick tests, try the digital ones, there's no guesswork or color matching, just a smiley face or a yes/no reading. Also, it sounds like your cycles may be on the shorter side of the spectrum, so you may want to consider testing every day, not waiting until so many days into your cycle like the test directions suggest because you may be missing it by waiting too long to start testing. The most important thing you can do though is relax! Believe me, I know it's hard when all you can think about is how bad you want a baby, but honestly, I finally got pregnant after almost a year when I tossed all of those tests and charts and just paid attention to my body. Good luck!!!

Your first cycle day is the day you actually have flow. You may want to check out www.fertilityfriend.com They have a small course you can take and a lot of good info (free). I've been trying for 9 months for my fourth. Good luck!

Purchase the book: Taking Charge of your Fertility.

It is eye-opening on how our bodies work and will give you info on how to know when you're fertile. The charting can be helpful.

I would second the post that mentioned checking out fertilityfriend.com. They have a lot of helpful information and if you choose to chart your basal body temperature, then you can chart it online and keep track of other physical signs. Keep in mind if you choose to chart your basal body temp, you will need to purchase a basal thermometer (walgreens, target, etc.) that reads temp to the hundredth degree.

The days when you have brown discharge do not count. Cycle day 1 is the first day of the red blood flow. The brown discharge is leftover from last month.

Good luck in TTC. Have you joined fertilityfriend.com? I found this website very helpful in TTC. I would suggest temping also. Once I did this, it changed everything for me. I was calculating my days incorrectly for a couple of months. But this wesite got me straightened out and I am now 3 months preggo today.

C.

check out the book "taking charge of your fertility" from your local library. it will help you understand your cycle and tell for certain when you are ovulating. i used this book to help me get pregnant and once i had my cycle figured out with the help from this book we got pregnant in 1 month. good luck!

My dr said your first day is when you have actual blood flow.

HTH

G.