Whether you call it your monthly visitor, your period, or one of many other creative euphemisms, menstruation is a mainstay in most women's lives from early adolescence until menopause in their 40's and 50's. Because of the routine nature of this biological process, it's easy to become complacent about tracking it.

Keeping track of your period is important for a number of reasons, primarily health-related. Thanks to technology, it's now easier than ever to keep track of not just your menstrual cycle, but your moods, physical symptoms and even food cravings at specific times of the month.

For many women, a missed period is the first indication of pregnancy. That fact alone is reason enough for sexually active women to keep track of their monthly cycles. Most forms of birth control don't quite hit the 100% effectiveness mark, and an unplanned pregnancy is the last thing you need.

In addition to birth control, following the “rhythm method” — in which a woman avoids sex during her most fertile days to prevent pregnancy — relies on accurate period tracking.

On the other end of the spectrum, women trying to conceive can use period tracking to learn when they are the most fertile. This may boost the chances of conception significantly.

The more intimately you know your own body and its cycles, the more easily you can recognize when something is amiss. Not only that, but a change in menstrual cycle is often the first obvious symptom for a number of women's health issues, some of which have no obvious connection to the reproductive organs.

When a regular menstrual cycle becomes irregular, it may indicate a hormone and/or thyroid issue, liver function problems, irritable bowel syndrome, diabetes or a host of other health conditions. Women also commonly miss periods or experience menstrual changes when adopting a new exercise routine, gaining or losing a significant amount of weight, or simply going through a period of extreme stress.

One late, early or missed period isn't necessarily cause for alarm, but if the menstrual irregularity is coupled with other symptoms , you should schedule an appointment with your OB/GYN doctor.

All menstrual cycles are unique, but do have some things in common:

• Pre-Period
  Premenstrual Syndrome, otherwise known as 'PMS'. Commonly you could experience symptoms of PMS such as headaches, bloating, irritability and generally feeling more emotional than normal. We all know how it feels! Maybe you have that 'my period is coming soon' feeling? Usually, you can experience PMS 3 days prior to having your period. Keep in mind that your diet, caffeine and stress can actually increase the intensity of PMS symptoms.
• Period
  Day 1 is the start of your cycle and when bleeding begins. Maybe you have wondered why do we bleed? As your egg wasn’t fertilized, your womb lining sheds and leaves your body, which explains the blood. Periods generally last between 4 and 7 days, with the heaviest days being the first and second. An average cycle lasts 28 days but can range from as few as 21 days to as many as 35 days. You can predict yours with the period calculator. Keep in mind that you need to consult with your doctor if your period lasts longer then 7 consecutive days.
• Peak Ovulation
  This is the period when you will be ovulating and be at the highest risk for pregnancy as fertile period length is about 6 days. In a 28-day cycle, ovulation typically occurs on day 14. The tracker will help you to define these days!