Charting Your Cycle
- Why you want to chart
- How many days do you menstruate?
- What is your menstrual flow like?
- What other symptoms are apparent during your cycle?
- How do I know if I have heavy bleeding?
- What are some of the more common causes of heavy bleeding?
- Is heavy bleeding dangerous?
- Irregular Periods
Each month, your reproductive system repeats a regular pattern of events. Here's how you can chart the phases of menstruation and why you would want to do so.
Changing hormone levels in your menstrual cycle bring a variety of bodily changes each month. There are changes in vaginal discharge, increases and decreases in body temperature, abdominal twinges and pain. Charting your menstrual cycle over time will allow you to predict your menstrual periods, note changes in your body and track possible premenstrual symptoms. Charting the cycle also gives you more control over your reproductive health and allows you to appreciate your own unique bodily rhythms.
Keeping track of the monthly cycle is simple, but it does require diligence. Be sure to note the first day of your period. Also consider charting episodes of cramps, spotting or any other important symptoms. Pretty soon, a cyclical pattern may emerge and you may be able to relate certain symptoms to your menstrual function.
To further identify times when symptoms occur, you may want to consider charting your basal body temperature. Most gynecologists have a graph that can be used to record changes in temperature. A digital thermometer is easy to use, and your temperature should be taken first thing in the morning, after a good night's sleep, and before getting out of bed. You will notice an increase in basal body temperature once ovulation has occurred. This increase ranges from one half to one degree Fahrenheit.
If pregnancy does not occur, your body temperature will return to its pre-ovulatory level as estrogen and progesterone levels drop and you approach your next period. If, however, you are pregnant, basal body temperature will remain elevated. If your temperature remains elevated longer than 16 days from ovulation, you may be pregnant.
Why you want to chart
When you visit your doctor, he/she will ask, among other things, "When was your last period?" By charting your cycle, communication with your doctor will be easier because you will be prepared to answer his or her questions. Some of the questions that your doctor may ask are listed below. These questions should be considered when charting your cycle.
How many days do you menstruate?
Mark down the days of your period on a calendar. The first day of your period is also Day One of your menstrual cycle. If you begin to chart your cycle each month, you'll see a pattern. A normal cycle is 25 to 35 days, but it can be longer or shorter.
What is your menstrual flow like?
If you've been menstruating for a while, you know what your menstrual flow should look like. With this in mind, you'll want to keep track of light or heavy bleeding and any changes in color and texture such as blood clots. Anything unusual in terms of length of your period, amount of flow or the way it looks should be reported to your doctor.
What other symptoms are apparent during your cycle?
You will also want to note any unusual vaginal secretions that occur during the month. You may very well notice a clear or white secretion at mid-cycle — this is an indication that you are ovulating. This information is also helpful to the doctor.
As always, if anything abnormal appears, it is best to call your doctor right away.
Another good reason to chart your cycle is that you generally don't want to visit the gynecologist when you are menstruating. 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. The following symptoms or changes may also provide some important information for you and your doctor and should be noted when charting your cycle:
- Variations in length of your period
- Timing or amount of menstrual blood, such as spotting
- Any change in vaginal secretions regarding color and amount, particularly if it's associated with itching or odor
- Vaginal lubrication problems
- Any pelvic pain, whether or not it is related to menstruation
- Depression, mood swings and irritability that may be related to your menstrual cycle
Don't trust your memory. Exact dates and patterns will provide you and your doctor with a guide that will help to ensure speedy and satisfactory treatment if you do have a problem.
During the 35 to 40 years that most women will get periods, many will experience times of heavier bleeding. It is natural to wonder if your heavy bleeding is normal, what might be causing it and what to do about it. The information below should help to answer those questions.
How do I know if I have heavy bleeding?
Since the amount of flow and number of days of a woman's period varies considerably from woman to woman, it's not easy to know whether your flow is exceptionally heavy. However, if your period lasts longer than 7 days, requires a lot of pad/tampon changes per day (changing after 2 hours or less), or is accompanied by gushing (sudden surges of flow) or clots, then you are probably experiencing flow that is heavier than normal for most women.
What are some of the more common causes of heavy bleeding?
There are many possible causes of heavy bleeding, so you need the help of a doctor to find out which might be causing your bleeding, but some of the most common causes are listed below:
| Condition | Description | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Fibroid Tumors | Small growths that occur on or around the uterus that are not cancerous and not serious | Usually occur in women over 30 and often there are no other symptoms |
| Endometriosis | A condition where the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterine area, causing pelvic pain as well as heavy periods | Frequently affects younger women before they have children |
| Von Willebrand's Disease | An inherited problem that affects the ability of blood to clot | Other symptoms include tendency to bruise easily or frequent nose bleeds |
Is heavy bleeding dangerous?
Heavy bleeding on its own can cause you to lose iron and make you anemic (weak and tired). Some of the causes of heavy bleeding are not very serious and, despite the inconvenience of period management, do not require treatment. Others are more serious and warrant treatment to preserve your health. Very rarely, VERY heavy bleeding is a medical emergency. If you are experiencing heavy bleeding and are concerned, you should contact your doctor or go to an emergency room right away. Keeping a diary of your periods, including the number of pad or tampon changes and occurrences of gushes, can be very helpful for your doctor in diagnosing your individual problem.
Disclaimer: Advice on this website is general advice. Procter & Gamble is not responsible for the outcome should you choose to follow this advice.
Irregular Periods
Many women experience irregular periods at some time in their lives. The exact causes of irregular periods can vary and are often quite normal. You are the best judge of what is normal for you. If you have a sudden change in the regularity of your periods, chart your symptoms and consult your doctor.
