Today on the TOTM blog we are discussing your period as your fifth vital sign. Yes, your period. If you menstruate you probably already know that your period is a health signal, a mood mirror, and a lifestyle guide but it’s never been considered as a vital sign… only up until now.
So what are those four vital signs? First of all, the vital signs are the key measurements doctors use to check if your body is functioning properly. Heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, and temperature. But as you may already know, if you menstruate, your period too can tell you a lot about how your body is functioning.
Now, there’s finally a growing recognition that your cycle deserves the same attention as your other vital signs.
Many of us already use our periods as a checkpoint, noticing when we’re more tired than usual, when our energy dips, or when a restless night might be linked to where we are in our cycle. So why not give it the same status as those classic vital signs?
Why Your Period Matters
A regular, healthy cycle shows that your endocrine system, the network of glands that regulate hormones, is functioning smoothly. When something throws that system off, like stress, poor nutrition, or underlying health conditions, your period is often the first to react.
What Your Body Is Trying To Tell You
When something is off balance in your body, your cycle will try to tell you. Just like how irregular cycles might suggest stress, disrupted sleep, or over-exercising. Or how missing or irregular periods can be signs of conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), thyroid disorders, or hypothalamic amenorrhoea (often linked to stress, under-eating, or over-exercising). Very light or missed periods could indicate hormonal or thyroid imbalances, or nutritional deficiencies. Heavy and painful bleeding can point towards conditions such as endometriosis or fibroids.
In short, your period is a natural diagnostic tool and your body’s monthly update on how it’s handling life. So, when things shift, it’s often a gentle nudge to pay attention. Maybe you’ve been stressed, sleeping less, or pushing your body a bit too hard. By tuning in, you can spot those patterns before they escalate into something more serious.
Your Monthly Health Report
Think of your period as your personal health check-in. A recurring reflection of how your body is managing stress, sleep, metabolism, and hormones. When everything’s in sync, your cycle runs smoothly. When it’s not, your period provides you with those early clues that something’s out of balance.
What Your Cycle Can Reveal:
🩸Stress – High stress levels can throw off the hormonal rhythm that keeps your cycle regular.
🩸Sleep – Poor-quality or insufficient sleep can affect hormone production and cycle timing. We discuss how your menstrual cycle affects sleep here on the blog.
🩸Metabolism – Nutrition and energy balance influence ovulation and flow patterns.
🩸Thyroid function – Thyroid hormones play a key role in menstrual regularity.
🩸Hormonal coordination – Oestrogen, progesterone, and other hormones need to work together for a healthy, balanced cycle.
If one of these systems falls out of sync, your period is often the first to show it, giving you the chance to respond and reset before deeper issues develop.
How to Tune In to Your Fifth Vital Sign
Understanding your cycle gives you the power to look after your body with confidence and curiosity. Here are a few ways to tune in:
✨Track your cycle – Use an app, like *Clue, or journal to note your cycle length, flow, symptoms, and mood. Over time, you’ll start to see patterns and changes. *We’re offering 75% off a whole year’s subscription with Clue, that’s only 52p a month! Purchase your subscription here.
✨Notice little differences – Pay attention to any shifts in timing, colour, flow, or pain levels. Your body may be signalling that something’s changed. You could even write these differences in your notes app on your phone or even better, track them in the Clue app.
✨Support your body – Prioritise rest, nourishing foods, and stress management to help your hormones stay balanced. Why not try this period-friendly recipe linked here.
✨Talk to your healthcare provider – Bring your tracking notes to appointments, they’re valuable context for understanding your overall health.
✨Start conversations – Chat openly about your cycle with friends, family, or colleagues. Every conversation helps to normalise menstrual health and break old taboos.
At TOTM, we believe menstrual health should be a source of empowerment, not a mystery. Seeing your period as a vital sign reframes it, not as an inconvenience, but as an ongoing conversation between you and your body.
