How to track your period WITHOUT an app!

Written by Natalie Bronfine

As data from period tracking apps could pose a danger for menstruators who are seeking abortions, charting your period by hand is a secure option to keep your data safe!

So how can you track your period the old-fashioned way?

Recently, we here at Sunny have become obsessed with this TikTok that shows just how easy it is to track your period on a calendar!

There is a lot of research on this subject, and you can read an article here by Planned Parenthood or watch this Youtube video to learn more. To start, count the days between the first days of each period. While everyone likes to say a menstrual cycle is 28 days, everybody is different and periods can be irregular, so your number might be a bit different. Please note that if your cycle is shorter than 27 days, this method might not be the best for you.

Your luteal phase is 14 days of your cycle and it happens after you ovulate (discharge an egg). You can figure out your ovulation day by subtracting 14 from the number of days in your cycle. Sperm can live up to 5 days and the best time to get pregnant is within 5 days of your ovulation day. Avoid having unprotected sex those days (or any other day) if you are not trying to get pregnant. 

As you start doing this method, you may find that your cycles aren’t always the same, and it may take a few months to get this system to be accurate for your body. Being knowledgeable of what our bodies do is a huge asset for us, and this is just one method you can use!

What’s your favorite way to track your period? Let us know by commenting on our recent instagram post on the subject!