Year-End Women’s Health Review: 12 Metrics Worth Tracking

Topic: Annual review

As the year winds down, we review our finances, our career goals, and our Spotify Wrapped. But we rarely review our biological data unless something went wrong.

Preventive health is about spotting trends before they become diagnoses. Instead of vague resolutions like “get healthy,” use this checklist to conduct a personal health audit of the past 12 months.

The Cycle Metrics

1. Average Cycle Length: Was it consistent (26-32 days)? Did it drift longer (35+ days)? A drifting cycle suggests creeping insulin resistance or stress.
2. Pain Days: How many days did you need painkillers? >2 days per cycle is a red flag for Endometriosis.
3. PMS Window: How many days before your period did mood symptoms start? 1-2 days is normal. 7-10 days suggests PMDD or low progesterone.

The Metabolic Metrics

4. Morning Energy: On a scale of 1-10, how easy was it to wake up? (Tests adrenal/cortisol function).
5. 3 PM Crash: Do you consistently need sugar or caffeine mid-afternoon? (Tests blood sugar stability).
6. Waist-to-Hip Ratio: Has weight shifted specifically to the belly? (Sign of cortisol/insulin dominance).

The Lab Data (If You Have Them)

7. vitamin D: Are you above 40 ng/mL? Most women hover at 15-20, which causes fatigue and bone loss.
8. Ferritin (Iron Storage): Are you above 50? Hair loss happens below 50. Fatigue happens below 30.
9. HbA1c: Is it below 5.7%? Even a creep from 5.4 to 5.6 is worth noting.

The Life Metrics

10. Movement Frequency: How many weeks did you hit the minimum (150 mins zone 2 cardio + 2 strength sessions)? Be honest.
11. Antibiotic Rounds: How many courses did you take? This guides your need for gut repair (probiotics/prebiotics) in the new year.
12. Sleep Consistency: Did you wake up at the same time on weekends vs. weekdays? Social jetlag disrupts hormones.

Assessing the Data

• Green Light: Metrics are stable or improving. Keep doing what you are doing.
• Yellow Light: Small shifts (cycle got 2 days longer, energy is slightly lower). Action: Tighten up sleep and nutrition.
• Red Light: New symptoms appeared (acne, hair loss, skipping periods). Action: Book a doctor’s appointment for January. Do not wait.

You are the CEO of your body. These are your quarterly reports. Use them to set a strategy for 2024 that is based on your biology, not Instagram trends.