Important to note: The first bleed that you experience after hormonal birth control is a withdrawal bleed which must be logged within the app as such. Any bleed after this first bleed should then be logged as a period. We write about this here.
When do I add a period?
You should log Period for each day that you are bleeding (around the time you usually get your period/when the app predicts your period). Any light bleed that you experience at the beginning of your period should be logged as Period. Similarly, if you have light bleedings after your period, you should continue logging it as a period for as long as you are bleeding. Read more about periods here.
What is spotting?
Spotting is very light bleeding, most often just brown or pink fluids or a few drops of blood that you may see when visiting the bathroom or on the toilet paper. Spotting sometimes occurs after ovulation, as the release of the egg may also release some blood and other fluids from the follicle. During these days, you may need to use a panty liner. Spotting is a data point that the algorithm doesn't consider when calculating your fertility status.
Spotting may also occur during pregnancy and can be logged as Spotting during that time as well. Please note that if you are experiencing any bleeding during your pregnancy, it is recommended that you talk to your healthcare professional.
What if I’m not sure if I’m on my period or spotting?
Sometimes, it can be unclear if the bleeding you experience is a period, spotting, or even withdrawal bleeding. This can be particularly confusing if you just quit hormonal birth control or if you’ve recently had surgery.
If you’re unsure what type of bleeding you’re experiencing, we recommend reaching out to a healthcare professional so they can give you personalized advice based on your medical history.
If you are interested in reading more about this topic, please visit our Cycle Matters blog post on spotting.