Why Tracking Your Menses is Important?

With an upsurge in the number of women suffering from dysfunctional reproductive systems and a myriad of gynecological problems, resulting in irregular periods, infertility and several other complications, it is of paramount importance to keep a record of the dates and duration of your monthly cycles. This is not only useful for future reference when you consult a gynaecologist, but it also helps you to understand if there are delays in period or excess of bleeding in any particular month. 

Why is tracking your menstrual cycles important?

Keeping track of your period is important for a number of reasons, primarily health-related. Additionally, thanks to technology, it's easier than ever to keep track of not just your menstrual cycle, but your moods, physical symptoms and even food cravings at specific times of the month.

Period Tracking and Pregnancy
For many women, a missed period is the first indication of pregnancy. That fact alone is reason enough for sexually active women to keep track of their monthly cycles. Most forms of birth control don't quite hit the 100% effectiveness mark, and an unplanned pregnancy is something you want to be aware of as soon as possible. In addition to this, the rhythm method of birth control — in which a woman avoids sex during her most fertile days to prevent pregnancy — relies on accurate period tracking.

On the other end of the spectrum, women trying to conceive can use period tracking to learn when they are most fertile. This may boost the chances of conception significantly.

What to Track

At the very bare minimum, you should keep track of the first day of your period each month. This information is enough to help you notice most irregularities. However, you can get pretty sophisticated with your period tracking. Keeping up with all of the details helps you monitor your health more closely, and it can also help you prepare yourself for other symptoms related to menstruation.

1. Period heaviness by day — Does your period start with a couple of days of heavy flow and then taper off to a day or two of spotting? If so, you probably require different strengths of pads or tampons through the course of your cycle. Anticipating these needs can make your life much easier.
2. Changes in mood during the menstrual cycle — If you experience PMS or PMDD, your moods may seem subject to random fluctuations. Start tracking your moods in the days leading up to and during your period, though, and you just might find that you wake up on the wrong side of bed exactly two days before starting your cycle each month.
3. Forewarned is forearmed, so the more you know about what you can expect from your moods, the better you can cope with them as they come.
4. Energy level, appetite and other changes — A lot of women don't even realize how many aspects of their lives are dictated by the menstrual cycle, at least during parts of the month. When you track how you feel as your cycle approaches, you can learn some pretty interesting things about your habits. You may find that you tend to eat everything in sight on the first day of your period, for example, and you can use that knowledge to make sure you have healthy snacks on hand to indulge those urges.