Cycle Tracking

Do you track your cycle? 

Hi, I’m Elizabeth Lauten, PT, DPT specializing in pelvic health in Lacey & Olympia, WA. This post is all about cycle tracking! How to do it, why it’s important, who should track, what to track, and when to get help.

Menstrual disorders and menstruation are one of the reasons girls and women, especially young female athletes, step away from sports and exercise. Education changes that. When women understand their bodies, know what is normal, and are aware of their options, they can make informed decisions and feel confident continuing to train, compete, and move.

Read through this blog post to learn more. Reach out to me to learn more or for pelvic health PT! I would love to support you on your journey!

Cycle Tracking

Here's what will discuss

• What is cycle tracking

• Why it’s important

• Who should track

• What to track

• When to get help from a healthcare provider

Cycle tracking is the practice of recording your menstrual cycles to monitor patterns in bleeding, ovulation, symptoms, mood, and overall health. This valuable data can be tracked either electronically (through an app) or on paper.

Why is cycle tracking important?

You menstrual cycle provides valuable data that offers insight into your overall health. 

• Gives us a window into reproductive and hormonal health

• Reflects overall health, stress, and nervous system regulation

• Provides data that helps experts diagnose and treat conditions

• Establishes baseline patterns, even if your cycle feels “normal” 

• Supports fertility awareness and timing 

• Helps identify and manage perimenopause symptoms or data for future hormonal transitions

• Loss of cycles, especially over several months, can negatively impact multiple dimensions of health and should be evaluated by a medical provider.

Many factors can influence the menstrual cycle. Rather than making assumptions, tracking provides the information needed to understand a person’s specific situation and guide appropriate care.

Who should track?

• ALL females with cycles should track

• If discussing and tracking cycle tracking is hard because of trauma or mental health disorders, recommend working with mental health/behavioral health to target underlying issues

Cycle tracking is helpful for 

• Teens learning about their bodies

• Athletes monitoring performance and recovery

• Those trying to conceive

• Those avoiding pregnancy

• Individuals navigating perimenopause

• People seeking to understand and address cycle irregularities

What do we track? 

Days on period:

• First day of bleeding, not spotting (Day 1)

• Number of days bleeding

• Flow: light, moderate, heavy, excessive each day

• Blood color: red, pink, purple, brow

• Clotting if present

Every day

• Basal body temperature, check first thing when you wake every day

• Vaginal discharge, cervical mucus changes

• Energy levels

• Mood

• Physical symptoms (ex. headache, fatigue)

• Any spotting/bleeding between cycles

When to get help from a healthcare provider? 

• Heavy bleeding (soaking through pad/tampon every 1-2 hours or quarter or larger sized clots)

• Bleeding for more than 8-10 days

• Cycles shoerter than 21 days or longer than 35 days

• Missed cycles, especially more than one missed cycle

• Vaginal discharge that may indicate infection (strong odor, itching, unusual color)

• Sever menstrual pain that interferes with daily life

• Sudden changes in your previously regular cycle

Knowledge over Fear

Exercise is part of wellness for everyone.

Menstrual disorders and menstruation are one of the reasons girls and women, especially young female athletes, step away from sports and exercise.

Education changes that. When women understand their bodies, know what is normal, and are aware of their options, they can make informed decisions and feel confident continuing to train, compete, and move.

Also, don’t suffer through menstrual pain, get help

There is hope and help!!! A multidisciplinary approach can make a significant difference. Pelvic floor physical therapy, your PCP or OB/GYN, and other wellness professionals can work together to address the root cause and support symptom management.

Want to learn more? 

At Monarch Physical Therapy & Performance, we work with women to understand their cycles, manage menstrual pain, support fertility, and navigate hormonal transitions like perimenopause and menopause, with care that is individualized.

Contact us to get started today!