Since the Supreme Court Roe v. Wade overthrew, every passing hour brings new and even more troublesome ways that will affect bodily autonomy. You may have been quick to delete your period tracking apps to keep your fertility information private. But, what now? With a plethora of applications available, the last few years have made it easier than ever for people who have been menstruating to both get pregnant and avoid getting pregnant. However, these are complicated times (to say the least). Period tracking applications have become something against which experts warn contemporaries. And yet, living in a post-Roe USA further requires period detection as an extra protection against pregnancy now that safe, legal abortions are banned in many states.
Until the overthrow of Roe v. Wade on June 24, period tracking seemed so simple. An afterthought, even. The only thing that was required of you every month was to sign up for your elective program when your period started. Then, somewhere, somehow, a computer algorithm will process the information for you and let you know what your fertile window is, when you are least likely to get pregnant and when you can expect your next period. Some applications even notify you when it may be time to take a pregnancy test. Others can help you recognize signs in your own body to determine when you are ovulating.
It was like magic. And that probably restrained the calendar industry almost on its own.
Why do some experts suggest deleting your period tracking applications?
The hook now? Reproductive supervision. Recording all that information could theoretically make it accessible to legislators. How soon before you are tried for murder after you have been accused of having an abortion simply because you forgot to record your period and many not pregnant a few months later? Alarmist? Can be. But this is precisely the scenario that worries privacy experts.
“It’s almost surreal that using a period app can get you in trouble in some states,” said Deven McGraw, former deputy director of health information privacy at the Department of Health and Human Services’ civil rights office, with Truthout shared. “But if an abortion is a crime, it can be obtained in building a case against you.”
Why track your period at all?
The short and simple reason for menstrual tracking is that it can help you get pregnant – and help you avoid pregnancy.
For many people who have menstruated, you know that your period is coming before any application can ever warn you. The pimples. The cramps. It’s all there. Some people are just as in tune with their bodies. But do you know when you ovulate? Do you know when you are least likely to get pregnant? Without thoroughly tracking your period, it can be easy to keep up with those things. Whether you are trying to conceive or trying to avoid it, tracking your period is a great resource to use along with birth control.
A visual reminder of when your period should come can also benefit you when you make a mistake. Although there are still many states where abortions are legal, many states have imposed restrictions on “late term” abortions or passed “heartbeat” laws. If you have a visual indication that your period was supposed to start last week, but no, you have enough time to get a test and, if necessary, a possible abortion in your own state instead of going elsewhere travel.
How do you track your period without an app?
- Know your cycle length. If it’s not too late, gather as much information about your application period as you can before deleting your data and deleting your account. If your period has a history of fluctuating, your period tracker will already have a very good estimate of how long each cycle will last. Know that number.
- Keep a paper calendar. The first day of your period is the first day of your cycle. Mark it on the calendar. If your cycle generally lasts 30 days, you can count 30 days in advance and have a good idea of when your next period will begin. You can also use the calendar to record symptoms you experience during your cycle.
How do you monitor ovulation?
While tracking your period can help you quickly detect when it’s late, it can also help track your ovulation. The general rule is that most people ovulate 14 days before their next period. The Mayo Clinic provides some additional information that is helpful in ovulation tracking.
- Count back 14 days from your next period and mark it on your calendar.
- Give yourself a window. Your period app probably marked five days, known as your “fertile window”. You are still more likely to get pregnant during those days than at other times.
- Buy some ovulation tests. These puppies work just like pregnancy tests, but look for different hormones in your urine. During your estimated “fertile window,” use the tests to confirm your calculations.
- Take your temperature every morning before you get up. Your basal body temperature (temperature when you are at rest) should be about the same every day. During ovulation, however, it will rise slightly.
- Know your dismissal. That “gunk” on your panties? It plays a crucial role in your cycle. Knowing the difference in the appearance and texture of your vaginal discharge will also help you know when, exactly, you are ovulating.
- Remember, you are much less likely to get pregnant after ovulation than before.
A final note on birth control
The absolute best ways to get pregnant are still birth control and condoms. However, birth control is not an option for everyone, and condoms are breaking. The more steps you can take to prevent getting pregnant (if you are trying to get pregnant is not on the agenda), the greater the chances that it will not happen.
English
French
Spanish