Ovulation & spotting

[packerup]

First time poster here, on this board anyway. We are trying to get pregnant, but I've had spotting the last 3-4 months around days 10-15 after my period....which should be ovulation time (even though I typically have very irregular periods, my two pregnancies must've been during my regular cycles with ovulation around the 14 day mark).

My question is: does anyone know if you can ovulate/get pregnant if you're spotting?

[thechickencoop]

Pretty sure you can spot at any point during your cycle. Are you using anything to confirm that you're actually ovulating? Does the spotting correlate to the same cycle day each time?

[ohinvrtedworld]

You can definitely ovulate and get pregnant if you have mid-cycle spotting. I've never been pregnant but it's happened to me a couple of times. I've never read anything super concerning about it, seems somewhat normal. I guess if it is heavy or painful I would call a doc.

[Deleted]

Aug 29, 2016 22:13:58 GMT -5 packerup said:

First time poster here, on this board anyway. We are trying to get pregnant, but I've had spotting the last 3-4 months around days 10-15 after my period....which should be ovulation time (even though I typically have very irregular periods, my two pregnancies must've been during my regular cycles with ovulation around the 14 day mark).

My question is: does anyone know if you can ovulate/get pregnant if you're spotting?

For some people ovulation causes spotting. So yes.

[Rama]

Aug 29, 2016 22:13:58 GMT -5 packerup said:

First time poster here, on this board anyway. We are trying to get pregnant, but I've had spotting the last 3-4 months around days 10-15 after my period....which should be ovulation time (even though I typically have very irregular periods, my two pregnancies must've been during my regular cycles with ovulation around the 14 day mark).

My question is: does anyone know if you can ovulate/get pregnant if you're spotting?

Yes, it is totally normal to spot with ovulation.

How are you charting your cycles? Spotting doesn't necessarily mean you're ovulating, either. Without any other signs for ovulation, you might just be shooting in the dark. I'd suggest taking your basal body temperature (BBT) each morning and putting that into a free charting website/app. Fertility Friend is the favorite around here. :) This is the only way to (currently) determine if you're actually ovulating without going in to a doctor.

If charting is more than you feel like doing right now, that's okay! There are other ways to hint at ovulation, they just can't definitively signal ovulation. Using ovulation predictor kits (OPKs) and/or checking cervical fluid/mucous (CM) are perfectly fine places to start.

Feel free to ask questions! We love helping. :) And welcome to GKU!

[packerup]

thechickencoop, I haven't checked to see if the days of spotting are always the same days. Anything I've ever tried to track is inconsistent and irregular--days of cycle, length of cycle, temperature, OPKs....so I've given up on most of it except tracking the day my period started and counting forward 10-16 days. I don't know for sure that I've ovulated, no. My periods have been close to 28 days apart for a few months in a row, which is a huge change from my normally-irregular cycle....but this spotting started too, so I figured it was just my weird cycle stuff going on.

[Rama]

Aug 29, 2016 22:47:17 GMT -5 packerup said:

thechickencoop, I haven't checked to see if the days of spotting are always the same days. Anything I've ever tried to track is inconsistent and irregular--days of cycle, length of cycle, temperature, OPKs....so I've given up on most of it except tracking the day my period started and counting forward 10-16 days. I don't know for sure that I've ovulated, no. My periods have been close to 28 days apart for a few months in a row, which is a huge change from my normally-irregular cycle....but this spotting started too, so I figured it was just my weird cycle stuff going on.

Definitely suggest a charting app like Fertility Friend for you. It keeps track of everything, so you don't need to remember. Really easy to look over several cycles and see patterns, too. :D

[packerup]

Rama, thank you for the welcome and the suggestion. I've looked and tried many apps to track, but the one I've been using is the best I can find, although it's not great. I'll look into the one you mentioned.

[Rama]

Aug 29, 2016 22:54:20 GMT -5 packerup said:

Rama, thank you for the welcome and the suggestion. I've looked and tried many apps to track, but the one I've been using is the best I can find, although it's not great. I'll look into the one you mentioned.

It can be a little intimidating and it has something of a learning curve, but I'm willing to help you figure it out, if you want. :)

[thechickencoop]

Aug 29, 2016 22:47:17 GMT -5 packerup said:

thechickencoop , I haven't checked to see if the days of spotting are always the same days. Anything I've ever tried to track is inconsistent and irregular--days of cycle, length of cycle, temperature, OPKs....so I've given up on most of it except tracking the day my period started and counting forward 10-16 days. I don't know for sure that I've ovulated, no. My periods have been close to 28 days apart for a few months in a row, which is a huge change from my normally-irregular cycle....but this spotting started too, so I figured it was just my weird cycle stuff going on.

So, if you're just charting your actual period then it's going to be more beneficial to count BACKWARD 10-14 days from your first day of your period (CD1) to retroactively determine an approximate ovulation time. The luteal phase (the time between ovulation and the start of your period) is going to be pretty consistently 10-14 days (I believe? Someone fact check me), whereas the follicular phase (from the start of your period to ovulation) can vary. 

I mean, if you've had consistent 28 day cycles, then yes, you have most likely ovulated around CD14, but like Rama said, the only way to really confirm ovulation is temping, which ALSO retroactively confirms since your temp will spike AFTER ovulation. So....try Fertility Friend, keep charting, and the best thing to do is to just look for patterns over several cycles.

AND GET AN AVATAR!!!!

[PirateCat]

Aug 29, 2016 22:54:20 GMT -5 packerup said:

Rama , thank you for the welcome and the suggestion. I've looked and tried many apps to track, but the one I've been using is the best I can find, although it's not great. I'll look into the one you mentioned.

Fertility Friend is not the most user-friendly or well-designed app but I think it does the best at analyzing the data and giving you back useful information. I liked Clue for tracking everything else like length of cycles, spotting, etc., which was still helpful because I also had very irregular cycles, but I definitely would recommend FF if you want to start temping. Good luck! 

[icedtea]

Just echoing that FF isn't pretty, but it gets the job done. Spotting isn't a bad thing, though I can see how it'd be alarming if you hadn't had it before. My OB said that patterns matter—so pay close attention to what's happening for a few months and you should be fine.

[packerup]

W, @wickedcandy, I would define my irregular cycles as anywhere from 13-44 days between cycles, and the length of my cycles are from 3-20 days long. When TTC my last baby, it was:
14 days between cycles, then a 12 day period (length)
18 days between cycles, then a 5 day period
40 days between cycles, then a 10 day period
29 days between cycles, then a 4 day period
21 days between cycles, then a 7 day period
37 days between cycles, then a 6 day period

That seems pretty irregular to me....yes? No?

[Rama]

Aug 30, 2016 20:40:56 GMT -5 packerup said:

W, @wickedcandy, I would define my irregular cycles as anywhere from 13-44 days between cycles, and the length of my cycles are from 3-20 days long. When TTC my last baby, it was:
14 days between cycles, then a 12 day period (length)
18 days between cycles, then a 5 day period
40 days between cycles, then a 10 day period
29 days between cycles, then a 4 day period
21 days between cycles, then a 7 day period
37 days between cycles, then a 6 day period

That seems pretty irregular to me....yes? No?

There is no in between to cycles, so I'm kind of confused.

From the first day of your period to the first day of your period is one cycle. How many days is that, normally, for you?

If I'm reading this right (days in cycle):
26
23
50
33
28
43

This doesn't seem too irregular. It's normal to have an odd cycle here and there. They do seem to be trending longer, as you went, though.

[Rama]

Menses/menstruating is only the first part of a cycle.

A cycle is these parts:

Menses >> Follicular phase (this overlaps with your period, actually) >> Ovulation >> Luteal phase >> Menses, repeat unless pregnant or post-menopausal

[ceejay]

Aug 30, 2016 21:12:29 GMT -5 Rama said:

Menses/menstruating is only the first part of a cycle.

A cycle is these parts:

Menses >> Follicular phase (this overlaps with your period, actually) >> Ovulation >> Follicular Luteal phase >> Menses, repeat unless pregnant or post-menopausal

FTFY  

[Rama]

Aug 30, 2016 21:41:44 GMT -5 ceejay said:

Aug 30, 2016 21:12:29 GMT -5 Rama said:

Menses/menstruating is only the first part of a cycle. :)

A cycle is these parts:

Menses >> Follicular phase (this overlaps with your period, actually) >> Ovulation >> Follicular Luteal phase >> Menses, repeat unless pregnant or post-menopausal

FTFY  ;)

Derp. Thank you!

I might have been being harassed by my husband while I was making that comment. Psh, you'd think he could hold his own food while he's driving. ;)

[packerup]

Aug 30, 2016 20:40:56 GMT -5 packerup said:

Here is what I hope clarifies things. Sorry, I say cycle for period, but I really shouldn't because it's not accurate.
I would define my irregular cycles as anywhere from 13-44 days, and the length of my periods are from 3-20 days long. When TTC my last baby, it was:

14 day cycle,
18 day cycle (includes a 12 day period),
40 day cycle (includes a 5 day period),
29 day cycle (including a 10 day period),
21 day cycle (including a 4 day period),
37 day cycle (including a 7 day period).

Sorry if the quote thing is messed up. I don't understand that on my iPad..

[Rama]

Aug 30, 2016 20:40:56 GMT -5 packerup said:

Here is what I hope clarifies things. Sorry, I say cycle for period, but I really shouldn't because it's not accurate.
I would define my irregular cycles as anywhere from 13-44 days, and the length of my periods are from 3-20 days long. When TTC my last baby, it was:

14 day cycle,
18 day cycle (includes a 12 day period),
40 day cycle (includes a 5 day period),
29 day cycle (including a 10 day period),
21 day cycle (including a 4 day period),
37 day cycle (including a 7 day period).

Sorry if the quote thing is messed up. I don't understand that on my iPad..

Okay, so, for clarity, I don't need to know how long your period was. That's what's confusing me.

So your cycles were (total days in cycle): 14, 18, 40, 29, 21, and 37? Or did you split them and I need to add the period days on top of those?

[icedtea]

I'd probably be weirded out if I had a 12-day period. Is that not weird?

This is a side note to the OP, as I am still tipsy and numbers aren't my friend even when I'm sober.

[Deleted]

Aug 30, 2016 23:07:54 GMT -5 icedtea said:

I'd probably be weirded out if I had a 12-day period. Is that not weird?

This is a side note to the OP, as I am still tipsy and numbers aren't my friend even when I'm sober.

No, that's weird.

packerup - Is it spotting or your actual period? That actually makes a difference.

[icedtea]

Aug 30, 2016 23:14:33 GMT -5 W said:

Aug 30, 2016 23:07:54 GMT -5 icedtea said:

I'd probably be weirded out if I had a 12-day period. Is that not weird?

This is a side note to the OP, as I am still tipsy and numbers aren't my friend even when I'm sober.

12 day period, or 12 day cycle, or is she just saying 12 days after she had her period? It's confusing.

Ooh, good question. I was taking it to mean she bled for 12, 5, 10, 4, 7, and 6 days respectively, and that seems like it'd trip my wtf meter if it was my body. 

But you're right, I haven't been able to follow the numbers and could have misunderstood. 

[Deleted]

Aug 30, 2016 23:15:28 GMT -5 W said:

12 days of bleeding or a 12 day cycle sucks for sure, but I don't know if she's just not including the days she bled?

I think she needs to differentiate between spotting and actual period bleeding. Also needs to learn how to difference between cycle length and length of period.

[packerup]

W, I had the nexplanon, so no hormonal birth control this time around.

Rama, those numbers are the cycle length. No need to split any more. I guess I include the length of the period just because that's what makes it extra irregular, I feel like--some cycles I am bleeding more days than I'm not. Those are bleeding days, not spotting.

[Sparkly]

Aug 30, 2016 23:07:54 GMT -5 icedtea said:

I'd probably be weirded out if I had a 12-day period. Is that not weird?

This is a side note to the OP, as I am still tipsy and numbers aren't my friend even when I'm sober.

One of my PP periods was 11 days + a couple days of spotting IIRC. If I'm reading right OP has 1 or 2 children already. Her cycles being "irregular" and varied period lengths is most likely because they're PP and for a lot of people it takes a bit to re-regulate or find your new "normal" cycle.

[Sparkly]

Aug 31, 2016 7:08:56 GMT -5 packerup said:

W, I had the nexplanon, so no hormonal birth control this time around.

Rama, those numbers are the cycle length. No need to split any more. I guess I include the length of the period just because that's what makes it extra irregular, I feel like--some cycles I am bleeding more days than I'm not. Those are bleeding days, not spotting.

I don't think these are "extra irregular." The 12 day and probably 10 day periods are a bit long, but the others are all totally normal, and given what information is here, I would not be concerned.

[ironbaby]

FWIW, on the subject of irregular cycles, FF started giving me the "Irregular Cycles" warning a few months ago. It's kinda laughable bc my cycles are all 29-44 days (and the 44 and 41 were outliers).

Just goes to show there is some variation in what is considered "irregular."

For PP cycles, OP's seem to be just fine.

[PirateCat]

Aug 30, 2016 22:02:18 GMT -5 packerup said:

Aug 30, 2016 20:40:56 GMT -5 packerup said:

Here is what I hope clarifies things. Sorry, I say cycle for period, but I really shouldn't because it's not accurate.
I would define my irregular cycles as anywhere from 13-44 days, and the length of my periods are from 3-20 days long. When TTC my last baby, it was:

14 day cycle,
18 day cycle (includes a 12 day period),
40 day cycle (includes a 5 day period),
29 day cycle (including a 10 day period),
21 day cycle (including a 4 day period),
37 day cycle (including a 7 day period).

Sorry if the quote thing is messed up. I don't understand that on my iPad..

I thought I had the numbers figured out but then this clarification totally threw me. Like, during your 18-day cycle you bled for 12 days then started your period again 6 days later? 

Anyway, whether your cycles are ranging 25-45 days or 14-40 days, I would consider that to be irregular (I seem to be in the minority here - FWIW, my RE considers anything outside of 26-35 to be irregular), but not super concerning since I think your cycles are still regulating PP. 

[obscurereference]

I mean if these are PP or BF cycles I would not be concerned at all. You can still say you've just had some odd cycles here and there. The only one that would bother me is the 18 day cycle with 12 days of bleeding. But for me that would be an extreme variation from my normal.

[daisy818]

Personal anecdote time!! Re: long-ass periods - when I was a teenager, I went about a year where I would have periods that lasted anywhere from 10-14 days (very heavy flow most days) with usually a week or less between the end of one period and the start of the next. I actually developed anemia. When I finally talked to my mom about it and saw a doctor, they chalked it up to endo and put me on the pill continuously.

So OP, if you keep having long (10+ day) heavy periods on most cycles, that may be worth talking to a doctor about if only for anemia concerns, but as PP have said, the overall lengths of your cycles are not terribly irregular, especially post-partum. And FWIW, it looks like most cycles your periods are a normal length, so it's probably related to post-partum adjustment and will self-correct.