Understanding Your Period: What Counts as the First Day?

Question
I have seen this question asked in different forums, with different/conflicting answers given.  Before my period starts "Flowing" there is always at least a day or two of a brownish/pinkish spotting.  Usually it just shows up on the toilet paper after I go to the bathroom. Then I know my period will "start" in the next couple of days.  But now that I have started to try and calculate my date of ovulation, I don't know what day counts as my first day of my period.  Some doctors say it's the first day you see ANY blood/spotting. Other doctors say it's the first day blood starts to flow.  This presents a discrepancy of up to 3 days, which makes my attempt to calculate problematic! Also, if I do count the spotting days, my cycle is really weird.. Because I spot after the flow also.  How do I count?


Answer
Count the first day of ANY bleeding as the first day of your period. Your cycle is from the first day of your period until the first day of your next period. It does not matter when you end your period or if you spot after your flow. If you have a regular 28 day cycle (from the first day of bleeding (spotting, staining, red, or brown) until the first day of your next period) ovulation usually occurs on cycle dya #14. (If your cycle is longer or shorter than 28 days, ovulation occurs 14 days PRIOR TO the first day of your next period.) Thus, if you have a 30 day cycle, you will ovulate on cycle day #16 (14 days prior to 30). You can only become pregnant if you have sex starting on the day before ovulation until 2 days after ovulation. In other words, if you ovulate on cycle day #14, you can only become pregnant if you have sex on cycle day #13, 14, 15, or 16. I would suggest that you have intercourse every other day starting on cycle day #13. Good Luck.