Hormone balance is essential to keep the female body functioning properly. Hormonal imbalances occur when there is too little or too much of a hormone in the bloodstream, such as testosterone, progesterone, cortisol, thyroid, insulin, or estrogen. Tracking your menstrual cycle can provide valuable insight into hormonal patterns.
You may wonder why you need to track your period and record symptoms. This is because unlike testing iron or cholesterol in your blood, there is no quick test to determine if a woman’s hormones are in balance. Hormone levels can change on a day-to-day basis, based on stress levels, what you eat, your period, and other factors.
The best way to determine if your hormones are out of balance is by taking the time to observe and record symptoms, even those you thought were normal or have gotten used to over time. By analyzing your hormonal patterns, your Naturopathic Doctor can help you identify what is out of balance and how best to re-balance your hormones.
Tracking Your Period Cycle
Keeping track of your period can be useful for any woman who still experiences menstrual cycles. By using a period tracking app, you can learn about your period’s length and frequency. While the length of a woman’s period can vary, the average menstrual cycle occurs every 21 to 35 days and lasts about two to seven days.
Tracking your period cycle can also help you track abnormal symptoms. Record symptoms like irregular periods, heavy bleeding, pain, spotting, or abnormal discharge. You can then share these symptoms with your Naturopathic Doctor during your visit to determine if further testing or treatment is needed.
In some cases, an irregular menstrual cycle that is shorter than 21 days or longer than 35 days may indicate an underlying medical problem. For example, irregular cycles have been linked to conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and certain thyroid conditions. Consult with your provider if you continually experience irregular cycles or if you experience concerning symptoms, such as an extremely heavy period or heavy flow.
Period tracker apps can also be helpful for women wishing to get pregnant. Understanding your cycle better enables you to plan for the future. Period tracker apps can predict your ‘fertile window,’ as well as your estimated day of ovulation so that you can plan to have sex at the most appropriate time.
Install the Period Tracker App
The Period Tracker app on Google Play is free to install. Just press a button at the start of your period each month. The Period Tracker logs the dates of your period, as well as predicts when your next period is likely to occur by calculating the average of your last three months of menstrual cycles.
With the Period Tracker app, you can view both your current and future period dates, as well as your fertile and ovulation days. Your recorded symptoms and moods are also shown on an easy-to-read month-view calendar. The app makes it easy to take daily notes of all important events, such as symptoms, moods, and intimacy.
Schedule Your Appointment
If you are interested in learning more about your hormonal pattern, symptoms associated with your hormones, and treatment options, book an initial consultation with one of our Naturopathic Physicians at Vitalia Health Care in Vancouver.
Tracking your menstrual cycles and any associated symptoms on a period tracker app will be very helpful information for your Naturopathic Doctor. She will use this information, along with the results from a Female Hormone Assessment, to develop a treatment plan personalized for your individual hormone health.
Dr Tasreen Alibhai, ND