The menstrual cycle is a valuable, yet understated, indication of a woman’s overall health. It is even considered to be a “vital sign” by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, meaning that it is of similar importance to heart rate, blood pressure, or temperature (1). Thus, just as checking one’s pulse is a useful metric, so is assessing the health of one’s menstrual cycle. There are two main events that can be assessed – menstruation and ovulation. While menstruation is the most pronounced aspect of the menstrual cycle to evaluate, ovulation is actually the most significant, as it catalyzes the process required to create progesterone (2).
