Five reasons women must keep a track of their menstrual cycle

 

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Here are five reasons why you should track your menstrual cycle

Helps you understand your body and menstrual cycle better

Although many think that the normal cycle length is around 28 days, please note that it does not apply to everyone.

Menstrual cycle length varies between individuals and any cycle which is regular and between 21-35 days is considered normal. Knowing what is “normal” for you is important so that you can identify when something starts going wrong.

Can help you conceive or avoid pregnancy

Understanding your fertile days and knowing when your ovulation is likely to occur is very important for those who are trying to conceive. Similarly, for those who wish to avoid pregnancy, refraining from sexual intercourse during these days can decrease your chances of getting pregnant if you are not using any contraception.

Agreeing to this, Dr Ritu Sethi, Director, The Aura Speciality Clinic, Gurgaon and Senior Consultant, Gynaecology, Cloud Nine Hospital, Gurgaon said, “Your menstrual cycle can help you identify when you are most fertile and plan accordingly.”

Gets you prepared mentally for periods and hormonal changes

knowing when your periods are due helps you be mentally prepared to handle these changes better. (Source: Freepik)

Most of us have some or the other premenstrual symptoms before our periods. This could be headaches, mood swings, bloating, diarrhoea or breast tenderness.

So, knowing when your periods are due helps you be mentally prepared to handle these changes better.

Can help you know when something is wrong with your body

So, if your cycles are irregular, you definitely need to see a doctor because there is usually an underlying reason to this, which needs evaluation and treatment. Tracking your menstrual cycles will give you an idea about the pattern of inconsistencies and irregularities. Having a record of your previous few months’ cycle also helps your doctor a great deal in reaching a proper diagnosis.

Let’s you plan your important work or events better

There will be days when you are not at your best. Having premenstrual symptoms can hinder your productivity and creativity to some extent. So, if you have certain things on your agenda which require you to be in a better state of mind, then you can always plan and schedule those things away from these days, making it work in your favour.

Additionally, Dr Sethi said, “By taking control of your reproductive health through tracking your menstrual cycle, you can feel more in control of your body and more empowered to make informed decisions about your health.”

Here are some ways you can track your menstrual cycle, according to Dr Sethi:

Menstrual cycle length varies between individuals and any cycle which is regular and between 21-35 days is considered normal. (Source: Freepik)

*Calendar method: This involves keeping track of the first day of your period each month and counting the number of days until your next period begins. This can give you a rough estimate of the length of your menstrual cycle.

*Basal body temperature method: This involves taking your temperature with a basal thermometer every morning before getting out of bed. Your basal body temperature typically rises slightly after ovulation, which can help you predict when you are most fertile.

*Cervical mucus method: This involves monitoring changes in the amount and consistency of your cervical mucus throughout your menstrual cycle. The texture and appearance of your cervical mucus can indicate when you are most fertile.

*Smartphone apps: There are several apps available that can help you track your menstrual cycle by recording your period start and end dates, predicting your next period, and providing information on fertility.

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