Your menstrual cycle is not limited to the days of the month that you bleed. This cycle, which can range anywhere between 24 to 37 days, starts on the first day of your period, and ends on the day before your next. There is a lot of work that your reproductive system does in the background, and the phase of the cycle you are in can affect your mood, appetite, sleep, sex drive, energy levels, who you’re attracted to, and, of course, your likelihood of getting pregnant. Which brings us to why you should track your period.
1. It helps you keep track of your health
If your period is late or early, missed, or scanty, or too heavy, it may be symptomatic of a latent health issue. In fact, a change in your period is often the first and most obvious indication that something may be wrong with the body, and this is not limited to the reproductive system. Unless you track the dates and flow of your period, you may find it difficult to take note of changes in your period.
2. It can help you assess your chances of getting pregnant
If you are a sexually active woman, you would know that pregnancy scares are a real thing. To avoid unwanted pregnancy, many of us pop iPills like it’s candy, and that has adverse affects on the body. Tracking your period would tell you when you are likely to get pregnant, and when it is absolutely not possible for you.
3. It can hep you be in control of your mood
This is especially true for women who are prone to moodiness, thanks to PMS. Most of us expect to be moody a day or two before the blood-flood happens. But PMS actually starts 14 days before the period. So, yes, if you feel like you are in a funk, but your period is still two weeks away, it could still be PMS, and if you track your period, it is easy to confirm that.
4. It can help you schedule waxing, dental, and other painful procedures wisely
From day 23 to 28 of your cycle, your threshold for pain decreases. This is why they say that you should not get a bikini wax right before you period, because it hurts more! This is because of fluctuation in the level of estrogen, which acts as the body’s natural painkiller. The best time to get a wax or a root canal is day 13 through 15 of your menstrual cycle.
Tracking your period is the easiest thing to, once you make a habit out of it. While you can just maintain a menstruation journal or chart, it is best to download an app (thank God for technology) because period tracking apps send you reminders on important days, and let you know if your period is late. Download an app which lets you track:
When your period starts and ends
Your mood
Physical symptoms such as bloating, headaches, and nausea
The texture and colour of your cervical mucus
When you have intercourse
Tracking your menstrual cycle may seem like a daunting task, but once you get the hang of it, it becomes habit. Our hormones affect how we feel, what we want, and don’t want, and keeping a track of these invisible bodily changes can help us maintain a hold on our lives.
