Period worry. Unusual. Which should I count as day one?

[Cuppppatea]

Hi everyone. Hope you had a great Christmas. Nothing straight forward here 🤪 appreciate any views

Waited for period to start this months cycle of IVF - I was three days past due date and during this time I had a really sore stomach at points. I skipped two days of dhea (only taking a 25mg but heard it can delay period)

and on the second day started light bleed at 10pm (barely noticeable on tissue) (three days late)

The next morning it started only slightly heavier and I then had quite a large dark red black clot the following morning when wiping. This is totally unusual for me. Bleeding seemed to be quite consistent all that day light flow until present.

I usually have quite light periods but not as light as when this period started, or maybe I just caught it earlier. My periods seem to be getting lighter and shorter and I’m petrified of menopause. This one seems to have only really lasted 1.5 - 2.5 days.

Question is - which would you count as day 1? I am due to start nohisterone on day 18. Does it really matter?

The clot worried me, as it's not usual for me. I have been trying naturally so I am concerned this is some kind of very early miscarrage. I had taken tests two days after missed period which was negative. My cycle is usually 25 days and this was 28

[MrsOrangejuice]

It was always really difficult for me to decide which was day 1 as I spotted for 5+ days before period and it got gradually heavier, so I could be spotting/bleeding for 7-10 days, sometimes two weeks. My cycles also always varied 30 +/- 3days. My clinic said use the first bright red blood if you get that or the day of full flow. It still wasn't easy to tell but I combined that with ovulation tests as I knew my luteal phase was 15 days and hoped I was roughly within the right window. If it's to time when to take the pill I wouldn't worry too much anyway as it'll all be medicated and bring on a bleed when needed, so it should be much more controlled for your treament cycle. If you're worried about a possible early miscarriage you may be able to get hcg blood tests done and they may possibly show.some residual hormones if that's what it was, or confirm zero so at least you know, but not sure it's necessary and you may need to get it done privately.

[Twiglet2]

I would take the second day (where you had the clot) as day 1 my clinic say first day you see red blood before midday as day 1 even when my periods are a bit all over the place I just go by that rule. If you aren’t normally on clexane you might want to discuss that with your clinic as it can help prevent clotting in your treatment cycle, you might be right though the clot could have been an early chemical I’ve defo had that with those! Good luck for this next round! I hope this is the one for you Xx

[Positivechangeplease]

I had the same issue on trying to identify day 1 as with normal periods I often get brown blood before the red starts. The fertility nurse said that the first day of bright red blood is the first day. I was a bit unsure but tried to follow that. Sounds like yours is darker and heavier but anything that resembles blood and not spotting is probably the main day.

[Tir-26]

I’ve experienced this too, it a head wreck knowing what is Day 1, any advice I’ve got from my clinic is, Day 1 is first day of more steady flow, you’ll be medicated so try not to worry to much.

[Shadow-monkey]

Hi Cuppppatea, This is what my clinic consider to be day 1:

"We consider day 1 of your cycle to be the first full day of bleeding (i.e., full flow occurring before 12:00pm)."

Hope this is helpful.

[Cuppppatea]

thanks so much for everyone who kindly took the time to reply. It means a lot. Navigating this is hard when friends and family don’t understand the processes and protocols x