Women have reportedly been tracking their menstrual cycles since the Stone Age. Today, period-tracking apps like Flo and Clue make it easier than ever to log symptoms, predict periods and watch for changes.
Along with knowing when to expect your next period, tracking can give you more information about your health, fertility and hormones. It can even help you better understand menstrual migraines, premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and other conditions.
Here are five top benefits of tracking your period.
1. You know what to expect
One of the key reasons to track your cycle is to know when your next period should start. With that information, you can plan for big events, manage symptoms and even make sure you have enough menstrual supplies on hand.
With tracking, you can also spot patterns like how long your period usually lasts and when you tend to get symptoms like cramps, fatigue or mood changes. You may also notice that symptoms like acne or bloating are linked with your cycle.
2. You can identify any irregularities early
Tracking can help you spot a shift caused by a medical condition. If your menstrual cycle is too short, too long or irregular, it could be a sign of a health condition such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or thyroid disorders.
“If you have any concerns about your cycle, it's always important to discuss it with your provider so they can assess it and help determine if you need further evaluation,” said Joy Bulger Beck, MD, an internal medicine specialist with Banner - University Medicine.
Cycle changes may also be signs that you are starting the transition to menopause. “The years leading up to menopause, called perimenopause, are often when symptoms begin, such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness or discomfort and sometimes changes that affect mood or sleep,” Dr. Beck said.
Tracking gives your health care provider valuable information. “I find it helpful for patients to track their cycle along with their symptoms to see if there's any correlation. Cycle tracking with the associated symptoms helps me make a diagnosis and formulate specific treatments,” Dr. Beck said.
3. You can better manage your hormonal health
Your hormones change throughout your menstrual cycle, and they can impact your mood, energy levels, appetite and sleep. You might notice that you feel more energetic at certain times in your cycle and more tired at others. Cycle tracking can help you plan workouts, important tasks or self-care around your energy level.
4. You’re more aware of your fertility
By tracking your period and paying attention to changes in your cervical mucus and body temperature, you can estimate when you’re ovulating. Whether you’re trying to conceive or trying not to, it’s important to know when you’re most likely to become pregnant.
5. You can track symptoms of menstrual-related conditions
Some conditions have symptoms that follow hormonal changes. “A lot of women are not aware that specific health conditions are related to the menstrual cycle,” Dr. Beck said. Tracking can help you spot patterns.
- Menstrual migraines: Estrogen drops before your period starts can trigger these migraine headaches.
- Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD): PMDD is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). “This severe shift in mood typically occurs one to two weeks before the menstrual cycle,” Dr. Beck said. It can cause mood changes, depression and anxiety.
- Heavy bleeding: Monitoring pain, the length of your period and the intensity of flow can help show whether you might need to be checked for endometriosis or fibroids.
Share your symptoms and tracking data with your health care provider. “Anytime you have a change in your cycle that's causing you alarm or discomfort, it never hurts to bring it up. There are many specific treatments, including hormonal treatments, that can be helpful,” Dr. Beck said.
Addressing privacy and data security
While period tracking apps are helpful, you may be worried about your privacy. Most apps collect information about your cycle length, symptoms and ovulation patterns. Some may share this data with third parties.
“This is a legitimate concern because the data the apps collect does not fall under health privacy laws,” Dr. Beck said.
You may want to:
- Choose apps with strong privacy policies: Look for apps that do not share data with advertisers or third parties.
- Manage app permissions: Avoid apps that request access to unnecessary data like your location or contacts.
- Consider offline tracking: A simple paper journal or spreadsheet can provide the same benefits without data security risks.
The bottom line
Tracking your cycle can provide useful information about your reproductive and overall health. Whether you want to predict your period, monitor your symptoms or understand how your hormones might be affecting you, tracking can be a valuable tool.
If you notice irregular cycles, severe PMS symptoms or signs of any menstrual-related conditions, talk to your health care provider or reach out to an expert at Banner Health for help making sense of your cycle.
