The Power of Period Tracking 

You pop a painkiller, hide your bloated stomach under a hoodie and move on. 

For many people, periods are a monthly reality we deal with — a nuisance we’re forced to manage quietly and efficiently. But perhaps it’s time to think of them in an entirely different light. 

Periods are one of the most powerful diagnostic tools your body provides you with — and one your doctors should be paying more attention to.

Your menstrual cycle is more than just a routine. It’s a monthly status update on your body’s internal balance, especially your hormones.

Irregular periods, missed periods, overly heavy bleeding and severe pain aren’t just “bad luck” or something to simply manage. In some cases, it’s your body’s way of signaling there is an issue. More people who menstruate need to know how to listen to what their body’s telling them.

Most people think tracking apps are used only when trying to prevent pregnancy. This shouldn’t be the case. Every person who menstruates should track their cycle as an essential part of understanding their health. 

Timing, length, flow and symptoms of your cycle can fluctuate due to minor bodily shifts — such as stress, extreme weight fluctuations or even the flu — but these symptoms can also reflect deeper issues. 

Polycystic ovary syndrome, thyroid disorders, anemia and even uterine or ovarian cancer often first appear through changes in the menstrual cycle, according to Mayo Clinic. For example, PCOS causes skipped cycles or very light flow, according to John Hopkins Medicine.

If you’re not paying attention, you might miss the early signs something is off.

The reality is 81% of women aged 18 to 24 feel their period-related issues are dismissed or ignored when they go to the doctor, according to Nurofen’s Gender Pain Gap Index Report. Thanks to the society’s normalization of painful cramps as part of menstruation, it’s easy for doctors to dismiss patients’ pain. 

When you walk into a doctor’s office with a detailed record of your cycle — cataloging exactly how often you’re bleeding, your period’s duration and what symptoms come with it — you’re much harder to ignore. That data gives you power. 

Period tracking should start early. College students are at a higher risk of being overlooked and misdiagnosed. Skipping periods and having crippling cramps aren’t harmless quirks — they’re symptoms possibly indicating more serious issues.

Luckily, tracking your cycle is easier now than ever. There are a variety of different apps available like Clue, Flo and Stardust, all with different features fitting your individual needs.

Clue emphasizes tracking based on clinical evidence, with a clean, gender-inclusive design and strong data privacy. Flo provides a more medical view, with personalized insights, symptom tracking and access to medical professionals. Stardust allows users to share their cycle with partners, log their moods and has a strong stance on privacy-first data storage, especially after the overturning of Roe v. Wade. 

Apps aren’t the only way to track, though. For those who prefer analog over screen time, scribbling symptoms of your cycle in a paper calendar or journal works just as well.

The method doesn’t matter — the point is to start paying attention and tracking consistently. 

It’s about being in tune with what your body is telling you and recognizing what your normal is. 

When things change, you’ll know — and that awareness? That is how you protect your health.

Let’s shift the conversation from one where periods are something to be ashamed of to one where people feel empowered to track their cycles and regain control of their health.

Your period isn’t just a countdown to your next cramp — it’s a built-in diagnostic tool, and it’s time we start using it.