Does spotting mark the end of the cycle? Is my AF too light?

So I'm a bit concerned that my luteal phase is too short, and I don't bleed enough.

I know CD1 is counted as the first day of AF, but I tend to have brown tinted mucus for 1-2 days before my actual flow. And dull cramps a day or 2 before the spotting. So really, my cycle was over from the day of those cramps, yes?

Let's say:
9DPO - light cramping
11DPO - brown mucus
13DPO - light flow

So in my mind, I'm thinking the cycle was really over at 9DPO, since those cramps were likely the cause of the 11DPO spotting.
Even though the actual flow doesn't start until 13DPO, it was all over at 9DPO.
Does that make sense?

And 9 days is too short to conceive, yes?

Also, I have little to no pain at all during AF - which only last 2 days - and it is a very light bleed. It used to be heavier. But now, it's a very light red/pink, barely enough to actually reach the pad. Quite mucousy. I afraid I'm not shedding enough lining, or maybe not even producing enough lining in the first place?

Any ideas? Do you agree/disagree with my self-diagnosis, and would it be hindering my chances of conceiving? I'm thinking I need to book in to some TCM and acupuncture for help....

Your cycle is over when you have a full flow of blood. I don't consider spotting to be a full flow of blood.

Might be. Might not be.
Have you had your thyroid levels checked recently? I used to have very light periods before having my thyroid out and going on hormone replacement. I had undiagnosed underactive thyroid. I don't kow that's why there was a difference, might be a coincidence

Thanks ladies.

MadB I've never had any tests of any kind done before, so I have no idea. Maybe I'll book in to the GP as well...

If you reckon something's off, then it might be worth having some basic blood tests done.
Some reckon spotting like that indicates lueal phase defect, but I dno't know that it's definitive. Certainly you could have baseline CD hormone test and the CD 21 progesterone test to confirm ovulation and see whether the levels look good :dunno:

Well like MissEm said it only counts as AF if it's red flow. However even though you can still get pg the spotting is not great news either. I spot for 4-5 days before AF and I'm doing a cd21 progesterone on Tuesday so will be interested to see how low it is. My acupuncturist has also targeted the spotting as something he wants to fix - he would prefer AF to start all at once.

Also wondering if you chart and if so what are your temps like late into your LP - if they're low sometimes that can indicate low progesterone too.

It's quite simple to get your GP to do a blood test like madB says, that way you can know for sure instead of just wondering or fretting - that drives me nuts! Good luck :)

Hi Ree*Ree,

I have always had spotting before AF, usually about 3-4 days. I have had progesterone checked, all normal. Thyroid checked, all normal. Don't know why i spot for so long, but I DO have irregular cycles. I thought it was just normal to spot before AF until someone brought it to my attention.
I have also been told that AF day1 is RED blood, not any spotting.

Ta MadB, I am going to ring my GP today.
Thanks Tasha, and Stephie. Yep, I do count red steady flow as Day 1 and actual AF too.
I'm just thinking that my cycle was really over when the cramps/spotting that lead up to AF began, kwim?
Good luck Stephie for your progesterone test tomorrow :)

I don't know much about the light flow,

but BOY am I familiar with spotting!

Prior to concieving ds1 I used to have this really long extended spotting - like a week, or up to 9 days worth - it was ridiculous. And we were having no luck ttc either, and I could tell it was DEFINITELY interfering.

After researching I thought I had low-progesterone, went and got that P4 test done that you are all talking about - all normal! Did MORE research and diagnosed myself (with help from Dr Google) with endometriosis (had NO other symptoms apart from the spotting). I eventually got to see a specialist and that is EXACTLY what she suspected as well - apparently something like 75-80% of spotting can be attributed to endo?

I ended up having a laparoscopy (keyhole surgery no biggie really), and my dr said I only had VERY MILD endo and she didn't think it would be affecting my fertility - BUT straight after the op my massive spotting diminished to only 1-2 days before af, and then BANG - UTD at last!!!

ReeRee - after that massive story I don't think a couple of days of spotting will be getting in the way for you - when my spotting went back to only a couple of days I didn't have any trouble getting preg. But I always hear people thinking of "low progesterone" being the culprit for spotting, and in my experience endo is more likely. However the test for progesterone is easy so it makes sense to get that done first if you are worried.

Goodluck! xx

And to add - I also found that GPs didn't seem to have any clue about the spotting thing. It was only when I wrangled a visit to a specialist that she said "endo" straight away. The first GP I went to just told me to come back in 6 months (when I was having 7 or so days of abnormal bleeding prior to my af - aaaaaaaargh!!!)

Thanks for sharing smamfa, always good to hear a diff perspective, especially with a happy ending! Very interesting too, I always thought endo involved very heavy/painful periods, so there you go I learned something new :)

Little update - saw a GP yesterday, he was very thorough and listened to everything I had to say. He's pretty sure there's nothing up with me, but still ordered 2 lots of bloods, one for during AF and the day 21 test, just to see how everything's going. Also gave me a referral thingy for an abdo ultrasound if I want to get that done as well. So now it's time to play the waiting game I guess.... In the meantime, I have booked both Dh and I into a TCM clinic to see what they have to say :)

Hope all your tests come back fine ReeRee. I always felt really good to be proactive, and it felt good to gather information too. It might well be the same for you as it was for me with ds1 - one month I didn't have any spotting at all - and it was a sure sign for me of my BFP! Hope yours is on it's way to you :D

Stephie - did you get your prog results back yet?