Charting your period symptoms on a period calendar or monthly cycle calendar helps you predict your periods, note changes in your body and track possible premenstrual symptoms. Plus, when you visit your doctor, they will probably ask you the date of your last period – so you’ll be prepared to answer their questions.
Another good reason to make a period calendar is that you generally don't want to visit the doctor when you’re having your period. Certain tests, like Pap smears, must be done when you're not bleeding, so it's important to know where you are in your cycle. Ultimately, charting gives you more control over your reproductive health and helps you understand your own body rhythms.

Keeping track of your period symptoms on a period calendar or monthly cycle calendar is simple, but you do need to remember to do it. Make sure you note the first day of your period. Also consider noting when you get cramps, if you have mood changes, experience spotting between periods, see changes in vaginal discharge, experience pain when you don’t expect it, or any other changes you think are unusual. Soon a cyclical pattern may emerge and you may be able to match certain symptoms to different phases of your menstrual cycle.
If you want to identify the times when specific symptoms occur, think about recording changes in your basal body temperature (BBT). Most gynecologists have a graph you can use for this. You’ll need to get ahold of a digital BBT or fertility thermometer from your pharmacist. They’re easy to use and you just take your temperature first thing in the morning, before getting out of bed. Your BBT increases from one half to one degree Fahrenheit when you ovulate.
If you’re not pregnant, your body temperature will return to its pre-ovulatory level as estrogen and progesterone levels drop and you approach your next period. However, if you are pregnant, your BBT will stay elevated for more than 16 days after ovulation.
While keeping track of your periods, keep in mind the following questions – as your doctor may ask you these:

Mark down the days of your period on a calendar. The first day of your period is also 'Day One' of your monthly cycle. If you begin to chart your cycle each month, you'll see a pattern. A normal cycle is 21 to 35 days.

If you've been having periods for a while, you know what your flow looks like. So keep track of light or heavy bleeding and any changes in colour and texture, such as blood clots. Tell your doctor if you notice anything unusual about the length of your period, amount of flow or the way it looks.

Note down any unusual vaginal secretions that occur during the month. You may notice a thicker or stickier discharge at mid-cycle – this is normal and means you’re ovulating. Other changes that give you and your doctor important information include:

• Variations in your period length
• Timing or amount of menstrual blood
• Spotting in between periods
• Irregular periods
• Any change in vaginal secretions such as colour and amount, particularly if it's itchy or smelly
• Vaginal lubrication problems
• Any pelvic pain, whether or not it’s linked to your period
• Depression, mood swings and irritability

If any symptoms don’t seem right, call your doctor right away.