connection between AF & O times?

[pinkdreams]

This past cycle Af started just past 6 pm ( I know this because it was during dinner :( ) and I felt strong O pains at around the same time in the evening on the day I was supposed to O. Do you think this is just a strange coincidence or could the time your AF starts really be an indication of when O could happen?

[TTC5]

I am not sure but yeah have heard of this before??

[rainbowflower]

I'd have thought the link would be the other way around - the time of O indicates the time that AF starts because the corpus luteum will survive a regular length of time (hence why you have a pretty consistent luteal phase length from cycle to cycle but OV can occur on different cycle days)

that doesn't mean that 6pm OV will be 6pm AF for everyone, some people might not have it regular to the 24hr mark

[atomic sagebrush]

This past cycle Af started just past 6 pm ( I know this because it was during dinner :( ) and I felt strong O pains at around the same time in the evening on the day I was supposed to O. Do you think this is just a strange coincidence or could the time your AF starts really be an indication of when O could happen?

I have heard of this idea before (some of the ladies who were doing Microsort were very concerned that their IUIs were not being timed for maximum success because of this theory) BUT I tend to discount it to a certain extent. The reason is because you O when you have the right hormone profile to trigger the surge, whenever that may be...maybe some sort of biorythm governs that, but maybe it's just when you've collected enough of the right hormone, or both. Things like sudden stress and illness can postpone O even after you get a pos OPK. And also because I know for a fact that sometimes you can make AF come a day earlier or later by having intercourse with orgasm or taking an aspirin. Point being, there are other things that can affect both when your O and when AF comes and so even if there was a link between the two, it's far from reliable.

Interestingly, one thing I have read that seemed intriguing, was that when your cycles are very normalized you tend to start AF in the morning and when they are wonky, you start it during the day/evening. When I was a teen I had crazy irregular cycles and often started AF during the day at school (which was highly annoying BTW). Then once I got into my 20's, my cycle became very regular and I always started AF first thing in the morning, without exception. Now, I am def. into perimenopause and I find that I started AF in the evening this last cycle (which was a strange cycle and I may not have Oed) and one other cycle as well and this seriously has not happened since I was a teenager. So if your AF is suddenly starting in the evening and it never has before, that might be a good sign for your sway, if nothing else that hormonally, things aren't the way they were before.

[zanacal]

That's interesting Atomic - my AF always starts in the morning, both before and during swaying!

[maybeoneday]

That is really interesting, thank you. My AF always started in the morning but last month while swaying, it started after lunch! Maybe there are slight changes happening we are not even aware of.... x

[Hobbermittens]

This made me realize I have never paid much attention at all to what time of day I get AF. There are definitely times when it starts in the morning, and sometimes during the day, but I don't really know how often or anything...

[pinkdreams]

Very promising, thanks Atomic!! This is the first time it started in the evening, and that cycle had higher temps than I'd had before, so I'm going to keep on doing what I am doing. I was just curious if anyone else had seen a connection since it was the first time I had noticed any sort of similarity in the timing.

[atomic sagebrush]

This made me realize I have never paid much attention at all to what time of day I get AF. There are definitely times when it starts in the morning, and sometimes during the day, but I don't really know how often or anything...

That is interesting since you have both genders HM! If you have half a sec ever, keep us updated on how it goes for you with this issue.

The other interesting thing is, that I read about this when I was doing the research on lunaception. The idea was that for people who are super fertile and whose fertility is in line with the lunaception idea (are Oing on the full moon) they then get AF on the new moon when the sky is at its darkest, so in the wee hours of the night of the new moon and they wake up in the morning and have gotten AF. Hobber, since you sleep with the lights on I wonder if that could affect when you even get AF!

(Please note, this is all total speculation.)

[atomic sagebrush]

Very promising, thanks Atomic!! This is the first time it started in the evening, and that cycle had higher temps than I'd had before, so I'm going to keep on doing what I am doing. I was just curious if anyone else had seen a connection since it was the first time I had noticed any sort of similarity in the timing.

No, I think this is a very intriguing thread. Thanks for thinking of it!!!

[zanacal]

I should have said that even though AF usually starts in the morning (I think so - it certainly did this past cycle but I'm now struggling to think any further back!), I'm pretty sure I usually ovulate in the evening!

[NeedAGirl!]

My O and AF are always at 10-11PM. Weird, huh? Having been charting for 8 years, I can pinpoint my O to pretty much the exact moment. Too bad I dont believe in O+12!!

[Hobbermittens]

That is interesting since you have both genders HM! If you have half a sec ever, keep us updated on how it goes for you with this issue.

The other interesting thing is, that I read about this when I was doing the research on lunaception. The idea was that for people who are super fertile and whose fertility is in line with the lunaception idea (are Oing on the full moon) they then get AF on the new moon when the sky is at its darkest, so in the wee hours of the night of the new moon and they wake up in the morning and have gotten AF. Hobber, since you sleep with the lights on I wonder if that could affect when you even get AF!

(Please note, this is all total speculation.)

Well, I can tell you this cycle it started in the morning. Last cycle I had a tiny pink smear before I went to bed, but got the real AF the next morning (so how do you count that?). THat's as far back as I can remember specifically. But I have gotten it during the day as well (not sure how long ago). I will start paying attention.

I have been sleeping in total darkness (mostly--we do have thin shades, so when the moon is full, some light does leak in, but not much). I will turn on the lights when I want to O this month and we will see what happens! I guess it could take a while to see if all this stuff is lining up, but I will keep you posted! :wink: