A surprising reason why you should track your periods
Updated: Jul. 16, 2019
Tracking your periods is important for monitoring your health. You’ll know when you’re late, are more susceptible to pain and be more in tune with your body
Source: Best Health Magazine, October 2010
Medical experts say that on days 23 through 28 of your menstrual cycle (day one is the first day of your period), painful procedures will hurt more. That’s when endorphins’natural feel-good chemicals that dampen pain’are at their lowest level. Variations in women’s estrogen levels, such as those that occur in the menstrual cycle, regulate the brain’s ability to suppress pain, says Jon-Kar Zubieta, a neuroscientist at the University of Michigan.
So consider making your dental or waxing appointments for when you’re ovulating’days 13 through 15. That’s when estrogen levels, and your body’s painkiller system, both peak.
This article was originally titled "Track your periods" in the October 2010 issue of Best Health. Subscribe today to get the full Best Health experience’and never miss an issue!
