7 Reasons Why You Should Track Your Period

Tiffany Harper

You notice some blood spots on your underwear today. You scour your things to find sanitary napkins. You realized you did not buy them when you had your last trip to the grocery. You did not expect your period to come today. You are not tracking it because you never thought of it as essential until you have to take a quick trip to the pharmacy to get your supply of sanitary napkins.

Maybe, you do not have enough reasons to monitor your period. Let us understand why you need to in this article, but let us go through the menstrual cycle first.

The Menstrual Cycle

A menstrual period consists of events that occur from the first day to the beginning of the next one. Your body goes through a phase to produce more estrogen that results in your ovulation; then, progesterone production follows. The next cycle will happen if you do not become pregnant within the period.

Cycles generally last for 28 days, but if they can also occur every 21 to 38 days. They vary in every woman, depending on the following factors:

• the severity of the premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms

• the frequency of ovulation

• the length of each period

Some women’s cycles can differ monthly and may fluctuate as they grow older. The amount of bleeding and the period length can also fluctuate. On average, women can have a five-day menstruation length.

Ovulation usually occurs on Day 14 of each menstrual cycle, but the pattern can differ between women. Thus, it is better to track the menstrual period to understand theirs. Moreover, it can help time sex if you are or are not trying to conceive.

Women using hormone-based contraception may not have an accurate picture of their health or fertility if they track their period because methods change or prevent the usual cycle stopping ovulation effectively. However, it is an excellent strategy to monitor your bleeding patterns to recognize anything unusual, even if you are on birth control.

Women Who Need to Track Their Period

Women who missed a period may worry that they are pregnant. It is for this reason that sexually active women monitor their monthly cycles. Some birth control alternatives are not very effective, and some women do not welcome unplanned pregnancies. If they use the rhythm method, they need to track their period to avoid having sex during their fertile days.

On the other hand, some women try to conceive, so they track their periods to discover their fertile periods. According to a Bestessay.com article, they experience a boost in the probability of conception if they have sex when they are ovulating.

Women who understand their bodies and their cycles can quickly recognize if something is wrong. Any change in their menstrual period can be a symptom of other health issues. An abrupt change in their menses can be a symptom of thyroid or hormone issues, irritable bowel syndrome, liver function problems, diabetes, and other health conditions.

Some women may also experience changes when they lose or gain a significant amount of weight, adopt an exercise routine, or go through stressful situations. One missed, late, or early period is not alarming; however, they must consult their OB/GYN doctor if they experience other symptoms.

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Why Track Your Period

Here are some reasons why you should be monitoring your monthly periods:

If you log your period, you begin to understand your menstruation cycle length. Although the global average is 28 days, yours may be different because unpredictability is a characteristic of menses. You become aware of your cycle, and you feel more in control. You will not feel surprised when your next period comes.

If you are trying to be or not to be pregnant, you need to understand your ovulation period. Pregnancy is possible a few days before and after this period. You gain a better understanding of your fertility if you track your period. Ovulation is an approximation, and you will discover it is challenging to predict when it will be. Your fertility varies even if you have regular cycles.

Your menstrual cycle can also tell you about your overall health. If you skip or have a heavy or unpredictable period, it can indicate an underlying condition. Logging the details can help you recall them if you talk to your doctor.

An report notes that monitoring your sexual activity and sex drive can help you ascertain patterns. Your sexual desire will spike around your ovulation period. Sex is a healthy activity, and awareness of your sexual activity is essential.

Changes in your hormones can happen throughout your menstrual cycle, and they can affect your moves. Although there is no substantial study on the link between menstruation and mood, it is possible to discern these changes to understand your cycle rhythm.

Testosterone surges before the onset of your period, and it increases the sebum in your body. You will notice oilier skin and hair, and you may be susceptible to breakouts. If you know when you will have your menstrual period, you may start using an excellent salicylic acid serum weeks before it comes. You need to ensure that you clean your face and take off your makeup before sleeping.

Some women have the worst experiences a few days before their periods because of the increase in progesterone hormones. You can relate with them if you feel irritable, bloated, and lethargic. If you track your menstrual cycle, you can plan for your down days and be kind to yourself.

How to Monitor Your Menstrual Cycle

You have several ways to monitor your menstrual cycle, and you can use some tools to help understand your situation.

Period

You can monitor your cycles by noting the start and end dates of every period. You can also track how light or heavy it is. Understanding this information can offer a big help in pinpointing irregularities or changes in your cycle length.

Mucus

Tracking your cervical mucus or vaginal secretions during the cycle can tell you if you are ovulating. You experience heightened estrogen levels before ovulation, and you will notice a very wet and slippery discharge about three to seven days before ovulating. On the other hand, the progesterone levels increase after ovulation to produce thicker mucus. Two weeks after the mucus flow, you can expect to have your period.

Basal Body Temperature

Your basal body temperature is your lowest temperature when you sleep. You can take it when you wake up using a digital thermometer. If you make it a habit to take your temperature in the morning, you can monitor progesterone changes. Taking it consistently each morning can make you realize your pre-ovulatory basal temperature. The temperature change is an indication that you already ovulated. However, heavy drinking the night before or having unusual sleep patterns can affect this temperature.

Hormones

Some reports point out that you can measure some hormones responsible for your menstrual period through your urine. The luteinizing hormone (LH) determines your fertility and causes the release of your egg for ovulation. If there is a significant LH increase, it means that you will ovulate within one to two days. If you wish to avoid pregnancy, you may purchase digital monitors to test your urine.

Conclusion

Tracking your menstrual cycle brings many benefits. It is essential that you do it if you wish to avoid or get pregnant, appreciate your sex drive, understand your menstrual patterns, and control your skin breakouts and mood swings. Your menstrual period is also an indicator of your overall well-being. You may start monitoring it for a healthy you.

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NannoPad® is a must-have for a healthier period. Super thin and absorbent, NannoPad is developed to help with your menstrual discomfort in a holistic and effective way. See reviews here. 

About the Author

Tiffany Harper is a freelance writer and consultant for online research paper writing help and a dissertation service uk. She has a new blog about inspiration, self-care and likes to meet new people. If she is not doing other research for Superiorpapers, you can find her doing yoga or meditation in the local park.

NOTE: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of Nannocare. Nannocare is not affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with the author of this article, or any of its subsidiaries or its affiliates.