Why charting transforms healthcare conversations
How charting your cycle can be a key tool for medical advocacy
I used to be overwhelmed walking into clinical settings, especially when it came to reproductive health concerns.
My cycle felt like a mystery to me, and since I didn’t have any body literacy vocabulary of my own, I let whatever my provider said wash over me.
It wasn’t until I started charting my cycle that I felt I became a true partner in my own healthcare.
By tracking my menstrual cycle’s biomarkers (cervical fluid and basal body temperature), I had a powerful intrinsic tool that gives me powerful realtime data. It was this data that allowed me to advocate for myself in medical settings more confidently and clearly.
Given that studies have found gender and racial biases embedded in medical training and culture, my hope is that equipping cycling clients with accurate charting skills may be a tool to support more consistent, holistic, evidence-based care.
The power of data
Healthcare providers work with evidence, and your chart is exactly that - evidence. When you can present months of carefully recorded observations, you shift the conversation from subjective complaints to objective patterns.
Instead of saying, “I think my periods are irregular,” you can show precisely when ovulation occurred, how long your luteal phase lasted, and whether your cycles show concerning variations.
Medical appointments can also be crushingly brief, and I know that I often forget important details when I’m nervous and/or pressed for time.
Your chart offers you a level of specificity so healthcare providers can understand your own unique patterns rather than relying on textbook averages.
This can help providers work with you for the most accurate testing timing, for instance.
This data also becomes crucial when addressing issues like irregular cycles, fertility concerns, or hormonal imbalances.
My cycle chart equipped me with specific signs and symptoms that empowered me to request a scan for fibroids. I was able to show my provider clear patterns that warranted deeper investigation so I could follow up with the care I needed.
Navigating overwhelm
Advocating for your health is a skill that moves beyond the walls of the doctor’s office.
In today’s digital age, we are constantly bombarded with health advice, miracle cures, and conflicting information on social media. This constant stream of generic advice can leave you feeling confused and overwhelmed about what is actually right for your body.
This is where your chart becomes an invaluable filter through all the noise. If you try out a new supplement, you may be able to track its effects through your cycle patterns. If you adjust your diet, your chart may reflect whether it’s actually working for your unique physiology.
Your chart lets you make informed decisions based on your body’s actual responses.
It also cultivates a mindset that your body is unique, and it is not helpful to compare your experience to an idealized version of health and fertility that you see online.
Your chart reminds you that your body has its own patterns and rhythms that are valid and normal for you… even if they don’t match the highlight reels of others.
Your chart reminds you that your body has its own patterns and rhythms that are valid and normal for you… even if they don’t match the highlight reels of others.
With your chart in hand, you’re able to come to a provider and say, “I tried this supplement for three cycles, and here’s what happened to my ovulation timing and cycle length.”
This transforms conversations from theoretical discussions about what might work to concrete evaluations of what is actually working for your body.
Long-term benefits of self-advocacy
When you consistently chart and advocate for yourself using your charting data, you develop a deeper understanding of your body and health patterns.
This can support a positive feedback loop: the more you understand your body, the better questions you ask, and the more effectively you can advocate for appropriate care.
Your chart can be a tool for empowerment, communication, and advocacy in a system that can leave many feeling overlooked.
By becoming an informed advocate, you are taking the first step to become an active partner in your healthcare.
With gratitude,
Kate
P.S. Are you ready to start charting? Learn more at helloearthbody.com/cyclesense