Hey ladies, ever thought of using an app to track your menstrual cycle? Fortunately for you, you’ve come to the right place.
Why use a period-tracking app?
In short, it helps to track your period. Unless you’re incredibly weird, you probably don’t enjoy when Aunt Flo pays you a visit. While some women may be lucky to have a textbook 28-day cycle, others have a less predictable time of it.
Making use of a period-tracking app helps you predict the day your period will start, based on the average number of days in your cycle. While they may not be 100% accurate, period-tracking apps give you a pretty good estimate of when to prepare yourself for your next period. They can also help you keep track of your PMS symptoms and some even calculate the day that you ovulate, as well as the days that you’re fertile (useful for those trying to start a family).
While it may seem like an odd thing to do, period-tracking apps do address one central issue, one which many women are reluctant to discuss: women’s health. Tracking your period gives you a way to document your body’s processes, keep an eye on what’s normal for you, and notify your doctor if anything seems out of the ordinary.
Also read: That time of the month again? PS Love is a better way to experience your period!
Below are two period-tracking apps that have proved popular with the women of Vulcan Post, and you can now download them to your ever-by-your-side smartphone.
1. Period Tracker (Free!)
This is a free (!) period-tracking app available for both iOS and Android. Don’t say we pick and choose sides, now. Period Tracker allows you to keep a record of your moods, PMS symptoms, and when you’re intimate.
Upon download, you can choose to have the app icon on your homescreen, where it cleverly masquerades as any other app, bearing the discreet title “P-Tracker”. Every month, just tap a button at the start of your period, and Period Tracker begins logging your data. Using the average of your past three cycles, it also predicts your upcoming periods, ovulation, and fertile days. For the girly-girl, the flower motifs and cheerful colours should help (even a little) to brighten up your day.
2. WomanLog Calendar (Free!)
Yet another free app that serves as a menstrual calendar and fertility forecast for women. WomanLog predicts your future periods by taking an average cycle length of all your cycles ever recorded. Just rotate your phone and a 3-month summary appears; tap the sidebar and a graph of your monthly periods appears along with a summary of your weight. Better yet, it sends you a notification a few days before your period is scheduled to start, giving you plenty of time to put pizza delivery on speed dial.
While there is a paid Pro version of the app, we’re doing just fine with the basic version and its many, many features.
So, would you use an app to track your period? What features would you like to see in a period-tracking app?
Also read: 80% of Asian women increase their Internet usage once they become mums