Period regulation

So I'm 16 and the first time I got my period, was the summer before I started fifth grade. I've never been able to track my period and they're usually really short but also really painful. The last one that I got was back in January and it's now April. Is there anyway someone knows about how I could keep track of my period. My mother has talked about birth control, but I just want to make sure if there are any other way.