Tracking Irregular or Absent Periods
Cycle tracking and lunar syncing have big benefits for all bodies, regardless of the regularity of your cycle.
When your period is irregular or missing completely, tracking your cycle might feel confusing or even pointless. But it’s even more important to pay attention to what’s happening in your body when it’s experiencing change or challenge.
Though you may not be menstruating regularly or at all, following the ebb and flow of its cycle also offers a nourishing antidote to our constantly “on” modern world and teaches us how to move at a pace that is sustainable for both our bodies and our planet.
Luckily, the menstrual cycle is just one of nature’s many regenerative cycles. By observing the moon and its 29.5-day orbit around earth, you can benefit from the rhythm of the menstrual cycle without needing to have a regular period.
WHERE’S MY PERIOD?
Before we explain how to track a missing or irregular period, we need to address the many reasons why you may not be bleeding consistently or at all.
Reasons for an absent period include that you may be on hormonal birth control, pregnant or breastfeeding, have reached perimenopause or menopause (either naturally or through surgical induction), or were born in a body without a uterus.
If that’s you*, simulating the menstrual rhythm by following the lunar cycles is a great way to connect to your body, support your regeneration, and learn about sustainability from Nature herself. We’ve also heard from many of you that it can feel healing, especially if you haven’t had a positive relationship to your period.
(*Exception: Pregnant or breastfeeding folks should skip lunar syncing, and just enjoy tracking their bodies daily.)
If your period is inconsistent or M.I.A. and you don’t fall into those categories, it’s important to know that a missing or irregular period is a sign of missed or irregular ovulation.
Occasionally, ovulation may be delayed temporarily as a result of significant stress or illness as your body prioritizes survival over reproduction. But if your body is consistently struggling to ovulate, it can be a sign of an underlying issue. Talk to your doctor if you have not experienced a period within the last 3 months.
If you fall into this category, tracking your cycle can help you collect data to share with your healthcare provider and discern the effectiveness of any interventions to restore regularity to your menstrual cycle. And adding lunar syncing into your cycle tracking practice can help you feel grounded while your body recovers its own rhythm.
Cycle Tip: A period will always start within 16 days of ovulation (ideally 10-16 days) as that’s the lifespan of the corpus luteum, your temporary progesterone-producing endocrine gland that forms on your ovaries after ovulation. Once it stops producing sex hormones, your body gets its cue to shed the uterine lining that has built up over the course of the cycle.
Our lunar mirror
It’s almost too perfect how the lunar cycle mirrors the menstrual cycle in length, phases and qualities. But while science has yet to prove the connection, indigenous wisdom traditions–including Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine–teach that our bodies are microcosms of the cosmos.
We can therefore use the archetypal qualities of each phase in these celestial cycles and our bodies’ cycles to simulate a consistent menstrual cycle, even when it’s not present in our physical bodies:
New Moon = Menstrual Phase
First Quarter = Follicular Phase
Full Moon = Ovulatory Phase
Last Quarter = Luteal Phase
As you observe each 7-ish day moon phase, consider drawing inspiration from the related menstrual cycle phase to understand the potential gifts and challenges of that phase, as well as practices you might incorporate into your week. This might include adding a rest practice during each New Moon phase, or planning time with friends during the Full Moon phase.
Our best advice is to try different practices, track what feels good, and mix it up when something isn’t feeling right for your body.
CYCLE WITH THE MOON
Now you’re ready to put all of this into practice. Here’s how to get started:
Pick a cycle tracking method, such as Field Notes or a recommended app below.
Set your Cycle Day 1 as the date of the most recent New Moon.
Use each lunar phase to mimic its menstrual cycle counterpart by incorporating practices or routines that help you honor the shifting phases.
Track what you’re noticing in your body daily, such as physical changes, emotional shifts, or things that made you feel good.
Review your data monthly to see if any patterns emerge.
Maybe you notice a connection between your rhythms and the ever-changing moon, or maybe you simply enjoy having a gentle cadence that reminds you to make time for both your blooming and your rest.
Cycle Tip: If you know the date you most recently started a period, use that date as your Cycle Day 1 and continue numbering from there to determine your current cycle day (even if you’re on Day 65!). The lunar phases can be tracked alongside and used as your guide for which “phase” to observe, providing a sense of place as your body finds its way back to its own flow.
The most sustainable cycle tracking practice is usually the simplest one. Here are a few tools to make this easy:
Field Notes (Free) - Our daily 2-question journaling practice helps you track your menstrual cycle alongside the cycles of the natural world, and is easily adaptable to any cycle status. Learn the method in our free course→
Stardust Period Tracker (Free and Paid Option) - A moon and period tracker in one with a notes section for all your observations and helpful notifications. Customizable settings enable you to use the app with both unpredictable and absent cycles.
It’s Just A Phase (Free) - Take or leave the app’s magic and astrology aspects, this lunar phase app uniquely lets you take daily notes to track how you feel.
MOON - Current Moon Phase (Free) - Beautifully simple app allows you to check the current moon phase and receive notifications when a new phase begins.
Whatever your intention or method, incorporating the lunar phases into your cycle tracking practice can be a beautiful way to restore your connection to your body and the natural world, and let nature be your guide in learning the rhythm of regeneration.
Photo Credit: Roman Odintsov
Disclaimer: This article is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. None of the information provided should be construed as medical advice. If you have concerns related to your menstrual cycle, please consult a licensed health care provider.