Habits for a ‘Very Demure, Very Mindful’ Fall

As we enter “demure fall,” and Sexual Health Awareness Month, now’s the time to super-charge your health goals for the new season. Keep reading for habits you’ll want to add to your routine.

Getting in Sync with a Period Tracker? Very Mindful.

Using a period tracker helps with more than knowing when to have a cozy night in. It also helps you get familiar with your unique menstrual cycle and navigate its different phases. Some trackers even let you share your info with your SO (so they know to show up with chocolates, heating pads, and a very thoughtful demeanor).

While menstrual cycles aren’t the same for everyone, it’s considered normal for period bleeding to happen every 21 to 35 days and last between 2 to 7 days (according to the Mayo Clinic). This timeframe will likely change as you get older or after having children. Your menstrual cycle says a lot about your health, and irregularities can be a sign of larger hormonal imbalances, illness, or reproductive health issues. So be sure to track it as diligently as you track screen time!

Bonus perks: You’ll always be able to answer the doctor’s questions about your periods with 100% confidence. Plus, you’ll be able to ask informed questions about your symptoms or any irregularities if they happen. Keep reading to see our team’s recommended period tracker apps!

Period Tracker Apps We Think Are 10/10

Here are two app recs from our team:

Flo
Clue

Both Flo and Clue offer expert insights from clinicians, symptom logs, and are available to download on iOS or Android. They are free to use, with some advanced features (like symptom predictions or more expert insights) requiring a paid subscription.

Some cool features from each?

Flo has a partner function where you can share your cycle insights or symptoms with your SO. It also has an Anonymous mode allowing you to sign up without a name, email address, or technical identifiers in case you want to keep your health data super-secret (you know for post-Roe privacy reasons!).

Clue has over 100 experience-tracking options for very detailed charts on your cycle. It also offers symptom prediction and relatable FAQs.

Making Sure Your Birth Control is Also Ready for the Season? Very Cutesy.

Just like picking out the perfect fit for fall, taking time to lay out what birth control is really working for you right now is top tier. Try listing out how you feel, how much time you have, and any prior experiences you’ve had with both hormonal and non-hormonal BC. If the cons outweigh the pros, maybe consider switching.

Be sure to do an inventory check! Birth control pills do expire, and so do non-hormonal options like condoms and cervical caps. The good news? There are tons of options to choose from and you can even get birth control over the counter now. If you’re interested in learning more, check out this article.

You can also order a free reproductive health kit from Personally and stay prepared for anything. It comes with everything from contraceptives to period products to pregnancy tests. And it ships directly to your door!

Personally is a project of Converge, a Mississippi-based nonprofit organization focused on expanding access to reproductive health resources in our state. Click here to learn more!

Getting the Facts? Very Demure.

You see how we get the facts straight from healthcare professionals? Very demure.

We partner with the Mississippi State Department of Health and use verifiable sources (think CDC and the MayoClinic) to deliver the facts.

When looking for credible sources online, here are a few tips (based on recommendations from the National Institute on Aging):

Look for websites sponsored by the federal government, health institutions, hospitals, or universities.
What’s the URL?
- “.gov” means the site is from a government agency
- “.edu” means the site is from a university or college
- “.org” usually means the site is from a nonprofit organization, but could also reference medical societies or groups
- “.com” means the site is commercial
Do a little investigating on who is sponsoring the website or writing the content. What is the writer’s background? Are products being sold?
Check the article date. Outdated health info can be inaccurate.
Remember you can always ask your doctor for resources!

In addition to getting the facts, FNF helps you check important health to-dos off the list, like scheduling your annual checkup. Use our clinic finder to locate a provider near you (especially if you’ve moved for school!).