How do I track my menstrual cycle?

Bottom lineTrack your cycle by recording your period start and end dates, flow intensity and clots, symptoms, and cervical mucus (plus optional basal body temperature and ovulation kits) each month; mark day 1, count cycle length to the next day 1, and log for a few cycles. This reveals your average length, ovulation and fertile window, whether symptoms follow your cycle, and changes worth raising with a clinician.

Tracking your cycle means recording a few key things each month so you can learn your pattern, predict your period and fertile window, and spot changes early.

What to record

• Period start and end dates - the foundation of everything
• Flow intensity - light, medium, heavy, plus any clots
• Symptoms - cramps, mood, bloating, headaches, breast tenderness
• Cervical mucus - dry, creamy, or clear and slippery
• Optional fertility signs - basal body temperature, ovulation predictor kit results

How to start

1. Mark day 1 (the first day of full flow) each period
2. Count your cycle length from day 1 to the next day 1
3. Log daily for a few cycles to reveal your pattern
4. Note symptoms alongside dates so links become visible

What you learn

• Your average cycle length and how regular you are
• Your likely ovulation day and fertile window
• Whether symptoms truly follow your cycle (the hallmark of PMS)
• Changes from your baseline worth raising with a clinician

Why apps help

Apps turn scattered notes into predictions and charts that sharpen over time, and give you an exportable record for appointments.

Use the Menstrual Cycle Calculator for a quick estimate, and read why should I track my cycle.

Femora logs dates, flow, and symptoms in one place and predicts your period and fertile window from your own data.