Spotting Vs Full Flow?

[Anonymous]

The last 3 days I think I have been spotting. I only used a light pantyliner and it's only a little brown blood (sorry TMI). I haven't had the need to use a tampon or even a pad at all. Is this definitely spotting versus my period? Just want to make sure. Any input or advice would be appreciated.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like spotting. My RE always said that Day 1 was the day when you have a bright red flow -i.e. when you urinate, you also expel bright red blood. I had terrible brown blood spotting (and, at times, I would have called it a "period"), but my RE was adamant about the two components 1) bright red blood and 2) flow (i.e. if you wipe and there is a little, that is not the same as a flow).

[Anonymous]

I sympathize with you. I always hated having to judge when full flow began. I agree with the PP that full flow is bright red and usually fairly heavy. Are you on any meds now? For my last cycle, they had me on low-dose pills versus regular BCP's and my flow while still bright red was noticeably (sp?) lighter.

[Anonymous]

OP here....so I'm STILL just spotting with no AF. I had AF like cramps last night so I thought for sure this was it and that AF was on her way that evening or in the morning. But no. Do you think I should take a HPT just to make sure? My blood test was supposed to be last Monday but with the weather and the fact that I was spotting I thought I was getting AF so I cancelled it. I have been waiting for AF ever since. I am 19dpiui today but have gone as long as 20dpiui before getting AF on a previous IUI cycle.