Could breakthrough bleeding for a week and a half be considered a menses?
The phrase ‘breakthrough bleeding’ is used for bleeding not caused from the hormone decrease that triggers menstruation, so no. If you start charting your cycle you will see that the first half of your cycle (before ovulation) can vary by any number of days (depending on outside factors like stress, illness, etc.), but the length of time from ovulation to menstruation rarely varies within the same woman from month to month by more than one day. This may help you determine the cause of your bleeding.
