I didn’t start tracking my cycle until I was 30 and trying to conceive (more on my hormone journey here). Before that, I knew NOTHING about my body. Put on birth control at 17 for acne, I thought the monthly bleed was a real period. It’s not. I had no clue about my real hormone ups and downs, as my endogenous hormones were crowded out by those from the pill.

Sidenote: I have a real problem with the lack of education for women about our own bodies, but alas, this is not a blog about that.

Back to tracking. In the years since birth control (BC) I have learned SO MUCH about myself just by staying on top of my cycle every month. Like life changing learnings, but first a word to anyone who is currently on BC.

If you are a woman who’s taking BC I’m not here to tell you not to. It has a lot of benefits, the biggest being it’ll keep you from getting knocked up! For a lot of women BC is the RIGHT choice for their current situation. If that’s you, just do some simple things to help mitigate the negatives of BC – like taking a probiotic and a high-quality multivitamin, staying hydrated, and eating plenty of fiber. When the time comes for you to stop BC, the following benefits and tips of tracking will still apply.

Alright, where was I? Right, tracking. I’m often surprised when clients not taking BC come through my virtual door and still have no idea how long their cycles are, how to know if they’re ovulating, or understand that many of their symptoms are tied to hormones. The reason they can’t answer the question is because they aren’t… you guessed… tracking it.

Did you know that ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) designates your cycle health as the 5th vital sign? It’s because the body uses your cycle (& hormone levels) to send signals to you when things are off. If you’re not listening, well, the signals just get louder until you are forced to do so. Here’s what I mean when I say “track your cycle”:

You are tracking the length, moods, ovulatory signals (cervical mucous, basal body temp, etc), blood quantity, blood color, how many days you bleed, clotting, and other symptoms (acne, painful breasts, cramps, fatigue, etc) of your entire menstruation cycle.

You can do this via an app like Apple Health, Flo, Period Tracker, or Clue, use a device like the Daisy Fertility Tracker, Ava Bracelet, Oura Ring, or Apple Watch, or use pen and paper.

If you’re new to learning about your own fertility, I highly recommend this book to get started. The goal here is to create an archive of data you can mine for insights AND keep a pulse on how well you’re taking care of yourself at any given time.

Here is why you should spend the time and just do it:

• You get to know your moods: The different phases of your cycle have real implications on your overall sense of self and well-being. Generally speaking, the first half of your cycle brings high energy, creativity, confidence, and productivity while the second half is basically the opposite. You can get more granular, breaking the cycle up into 4 phases each with their own “mood” – Menstrual, Follicular, Ovulatory, & Luteal. The only way to know how YOU feel during each phase is to track. This can be so incredibly useful when you’re in the trenches of the luteal phase and feel like you’re failing at life. Realizing that hormones are driving the urge to run and hide makes it easier to deal with, plus you know it’s only temporary.
• You can plan easier: Having a grasp on when you’ll be in which phase can make planning a whole heck of a lot easier. The obvious bonus is being able to plan your next vacay during ovulation ~ hello hotel sexy time! ~ but the less obvious include your to-do list. For example, I know I’m in a more extroverted state during ovulation, so I try to plan my workshops to fall during that timeframe. If you know you have 0 motivation during the luteal phase you can plan to keep your to-dos lighter and go heavier on self-care. It’s all in the tracking. And if self-care is a struggle during all phases of your cycle, make sure to check out my free self-care guidebook.
• You can troubleshoot your health issues: The biggest of all benefits, your cycle can tell you a lot about your health. Changes in your cycle, like they suddenly get shorter (e.g., from 28 days to 23 days), can indicate issues such as insufficient progesterone production or elevated estrogen levels. These changes may suggest that your body needs less stress, more sleep, a higher fiber intake, increased hydration, and so on. Conversely, if your cycle becomes longer after a period of intense exercise, it may be a sign to dial back your workouts. Cycle related symptoms to keep track of include:
  • Irregular cycle lengths ( < 23 days or > 35)
  • Painful periods and tender breasts
  • Cyclical acne
  • Fatigue
  • Mood swings
  • Excessive bleeding
  • … and so on

Let’s look at a real life example shall we? Exhibit A, me. Here’s a screenshot from my Apple Health app (I wear my Apple Watch at night to track basal body temp).

Just a handful of days difference doesn’t seem like a lot but I can FEEL the difference too. This month I had a lot more cramps, headaches, and my wistfulness before my period was more intense. My body is trying to tell me to calm the eff down and go back to the foundational pieces of nutrition/self-care that I know work for me. The next couple of weeks are all about getting in enough protein and fiber, exercising regularly, and reducing my stress where I can. If I follow through, I can guarantee you my future cycle will be longer and pain-free.

How to get started:

Tracking is magical y’all. Start today by downloading one of the apps above and paying attention to your body’s signals. If you’re unsure how to interpret your data, I’m here to help. Don’t hesitate to reach out—I’m currently accepting new 1:1 clients for the spring. Take the first step towards understanding your body and apply here.