The 5 Reasons You Should Be Tracking Your Menopause Symptoms

I love the advancement in technology, especially those related to women’s health!

One of the best things you can do for your own health is track your periods. And with all this new technology you can do it with a simple push of a button.

But you don’t just want to track your cycle, as you get older you are going to want to track your menopause journey starting with those perimenopause symptoms you’ve started to experience.

Tracking your menopausal symptoms isn’t just a way to remind yourself of how many hot flashes you experienced in a week, it’s also a great way for you to stay on top of your health and helping you find the relief you so desperately seek!

Here are 5 Reasons Why You Should Be Tracking Your Symptoms

#1 It’s going to help you identify patterns.

It’s common for women to experience patterns in their menopausal symptoms.  Some women notice that they only experience hot flashes at night, while others feel them throughout the day.  Some women experience irritability closer to the start of their menstrual cycle and some women experience it toward the end.  

Being able to identify patterns in your symptoms can help you better understand what to expect, when to expect it, and what you can do to find relief.  Monitoring those patterns can also help you identify symptom triggers. Multiple symptoms can have the same triggers, so if you find yourself experiencing multiple symptoms at once, this could be an indication that you have a symptom trigger.

#2 It’s going to help you and your doctor.

Your doctor needs to know what kind of symptoms you are experiencing and how often so they can help you create a plan of action that is best suited for YOU!  

Tracking your symptoms can help your doctor better understand your specific menopausal journey, as well as help you identify any abnormalities or other potential health concerns. Your doctor may pick up on things that you weren't even looking for.  Showing your tracking reports of these symptoms could help your doctor give you more accurate answers and the treatment options available.

#3 It can help you notice new symptoms.

Menopausal symptoms do not always present themselves immediately. In fact, many women will develop new symptoms over the course of their lengthy transition. (Remember, you can be here for 2-13 years!)  Some symptoms develop gradually, others seem to appear out of nowhere.  Being able to pinpoint when new symptoms arise can help you better monitor your health, determine if you need to change up your current treatment plan, make some simple lifestyle changes like adjustments to your diet, or if these new symptoms are even related to menopause.  

Not only can you track the arrival of new symptoms, but you can also identify when existing symptoms become more intense. You might experience only mild hot flashes in perimenopause, but intense ones in menopause. Or you may notice that you experience more frequent mood swings in perimenopause but fewer in menopause and post-menopause.  Being able to detect and track changes in your menopausal transition can help you better structure your changing health needs and help you maintain your overall health.

#4 It helps you map out your next steps as you transition to the next stage.

As a perimenopausal woman, you may notice the development of new symptoms or a decrease of previous symptoms, and this may help you better identify the window of time in which you’ll enter menopause.  Tracking your transition from one stage to the next can provide you with what needs to be adjusted in your routine to help you stay healthy.

As women age, and begin to move into post-menopause, there is an increased risk of osteoporosis. The earlier you take preventative measures, the better your bone health will be.  Tracking your symptoms can help you determine when your next stage may be and help you better prepare for the new health challenges that will come with it.

#5 It’s helps keep you on your routine.

It can be hard to maintain a healthy routine, especially when trying to address all your health concerns. Tracking your symptoms can help you stay on top of your routine.  If your hot flashes are more intense on the days when you have that second cup of coffee, then you know to cut down on the caffeine.  If you have worse insomnia on the days when your work days are longer and your stress levels are higher, then you should implement ways to relax and destress after work.   

Being proactive about your health starts with understanding what you can do to influence and improve it. Tracking your symptoms can help you avoid symptom triggers, stay on top of medication use, and help you determine what new adjustments you have to make as you progress through the different stages of menopause.  

Do a little reach and find the tracker that works best for you and your lifestyle! And let me know how it’s going . . . I’d love to hear from you and what tracking has taught you, or if you have any questions now that you have started tracking!

For more on tracking make sure to check out my book (available on Amazon) Navigating Menopause.  This comprehensive workbook includes over 20 trackers to help you monitor your health journey through perimenopause and beyond.