Female dopers: do you track your cycle?

[NajaNivea]

@Unauthorized Cinnamon

I like to use FAM for birth control, so of course I keep careful track. It is also nice as a “control enthusiast” to know exactly what’s going on in there. Since I was on the pill from the age of 13 till I wanted to get pregnant, I had had no idea your body goes through changes and gives signs all month long. It’s kind of cool. Also, nice to have zero-side-effect birth control without barriers (well, most of the month).

What she said. It’s a high-maintenance birth control method, but I like the lack of side effects, the low cost, and the ease of reversal should we decide we’re ready for kids(!). I also enjoy watching the cycle happen, and knowing immediately if something’s up*.

*Basal body temp pun fully intended.

[hocow]

I like to use MyMonthlyCycles. They’ll email you when you’re due to ovulate and menstruate.

[KarlGrenze]

@Broomstick

As for activities… I can’t think of a single activity that being on the rag would stop me from doing. I might be slightly less enthused, but not do something? There’s no reason I’d curtail my activities for that.

No, nothing curtails my activities, but say, instead of the bleeding surprising me, I may just go to the place (work/club/gym/etc.) with a pad or tampon already on, so that I don’t stain more underwear (or worse).

And like I said, I have little or no signs before hand (unless maybe I do FAM, which I don’t and am not interested). The cramps (if I get them) come AFTER my period has started.

Yea, I can keep it that way, remembering more or less the week. But I feel safer knowing I wrote it down in the calendar, especially when I have too much stuff going on.

[Count_Blucher]

@tremorviolet

Female dopers: do you track your cycle?

Nope, this thread isn’t about Lo-Jack.

moves on quickly

[Broomstick]

@KarlGrenze

No, nothing curtails my activities, but say, instead of the bleeding surprising me, I may just go to the place (work/club/gym/etc.) with a pad or tampon already on, so that I don’t stain more underwear (or worse).

Oh, sure - it’s just that my internal signals are clear enough and reliable enough that I can do that, pre-equip for the bleeding, without needing to consult a calendar.