Period Tracking - What It Is and Why It Is So Important

Menstrual calendar and period tracking shown in a smart phone

Period tracking can help you to learn more about your body and how it changes with your cycle.

Using apps like Elara care, you can track not only your period itself but also other physical and mental symptoms which you experience throughout your whole cycle.

This article will give you all the information you need to know about period tracking and its importance.

What is period tracking?

Period tracking, on a basic level, can remind you/predict when your next period will be.

Beyond its basic function, however, period tracking can tell you so much more about yourself in relation to your cycle and hormones.

Apps like Elara Care, Flo, and Clue learn and adjust over time as you track your period, to help you to better understand how each stage of your cycle will affect you and to try and predict how you may be feeling on a particular day.

By learning about your cycle whilst tracking, you can combat your physical symptoms and build on high-energy days, to improve your overall physical and mental health, now and in the future.

How do hormones affect our mental and emotional wellbeing? Click here to find out

How can I track my period?

Phones and smart devices are amazing tools for period tracking, and there is a wide range of apps that are available to facilitate this.

Apps such as Clue will first ask a series of questions about your cycle, period, and birth control. Each day, you can then track your physical and mental symptoms, such as bleeding, PMS, headaches, cramps, etc.

The great thing about period tracking apps is that the more you track over time, the more they learn from your data, making predictions more accurate and helping to improve your knowledge of your cycle.

Beyond simple apps, tracking your period can be done in several other ways, so you can get creative!

Tracking can be as simple as making a note in your calendar and coming up with your system to make sure you know when your periods are, and what your symptoms are during your cycle.

How does the menstrual cycle affect your physical performance? Click here to find out

written period tracking calender

What is the best period tracking apps?

Clue

Clue is an app that aims to not only track your period but to teach you about your body. You can use Clue to track almost any symptom which may be connected to your cycle. These include breakouts, energy levels, mood, cramps, body temperature, and many more. It is available on both Apple and Android.
To Download the Clue app, Click here 

apple android logos

Elara Care

Elara care is not just a period tracker. It is preventive health care in your pocket. By monitoring your daily activity and overall wellbeing, Elara supports your health through every life stage by providing you with an accurate breakdown of your hormonal changes and how this impacts all areas of your wellbeing, including mood, energy, libido, focus, physical strength, and mental wellness. It also provides your health score along with tips and suggestions on how to improve it along with Nutritional suggestions.
To Download the Elara care app, Click here 

apple android logos

Flo

Flo is an incredibly popular period tracker, with millions of users. Flo uses your period and ovulation data to create graphs that show you what is going on in your body, and at which stage of your cycle. It can also be used during pregnancy, to keep track of your progress and symptoms. Flo is available on Apple and Android
To Download the Flo app, Click here 

apple android logos

Ovia

Ovia is a period tracking app which is useful if you are trying to get pregnant. It is more of a fertility tracker, which uses your period and ovulation data to help you chart your basal body temperature, cervical position, and cervical mucus. Using this app, you can better understand your cycle and ovulation, to increase your chance of getting pregnant. Ovia is available on Apple and Android.
To Download the Ovia app, Click here 

apple android logos

Why should I track my period?

Understanding your menstrual cycle

Tracking your period, ovulation and discharge can help you to better understand your cycle and how it affects you.

Throughout your cycle, any changes in mood, energy levels, or other changes such as spots or skin changes, should be monitored.

These can tell you a lot about your general and reproductive health, whilst teaching you about how your cycle affects you on an individual level.

Click here to learn about The Menstrual Cycle – Phases, hormones and their functions

Improving your general health

Regular periods can tell you a lot about your general health.

Factors such as being under or overweight could be affecting your periods, indicating that you may need to make a change in your lifestyle.

Tracking your period can also tell you if you may be showing signs of a reproductive condition such as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS).

By tracking your symptoms throughout your cycle, you can better understand and predict how you may be feeling at different stages of your cycle so that you can adjust your behavior accordingly to improve your health, mental health, and quality of life.

Awareness of abnormal symptoms

Tracking your period can help you to compare past symptoms, to recognize any symptoms which may be abnormal for you.

Differing symptoms between periods can be normal, and nothing to worry about.

However, if you were to experience drastic changes, or were asked by your doctor, it can be helpful to record your period and associated symptoms, to keep track of changes in your cycle and body function.

Types and Colours of Vaginal Discharge and What They Mean – Click here to find out

Fertility

If you are trying to get pregnant (or not to get pregnant), then it can be useful to know more about your cycle and ovulation, so that you might increase or decrease your chances of conceiving.

Not only can period tracking help you to predict when you might be most fertile, but it may also help you to track symptoms and cycle timelines to show to a doctor or specialist if you are having fertility issues.

Showing your doctor

As mentioned above, tracking your cycle can be useful, for example, if you are having some difficulty getting pregnant.

This is not, however, the only scenario in which tracking your cycle may be beneficial.

Your menstrual cycle is often linked to other aspects of your general health, and it may help a doctor to diagnose any underlying health conditions.

Summary

So to summarise, there are infinite benefits to period tracking, which can ultimately improve your mental and physical well-being.

Period tracking is such a simple way to make a huge difference to your quality of life and understanding of your cycle.

Using Elara Care, along with period tracking, you can gain an accurate breakdown of your hormonal changes and how this impacts all areas of your well-being, including mood, energy, libido, focus, physical strength, and mental wellness.


References