7 Period Tracker Apps We Use Every Day
A period tracker app can help you track your flow, understand when you're at your most fertile, and plan for the dreaded symptoms that may or may not come along with your period. But the app store gets more crowded daily; So you might be wondering, what's the best period tracker for me? Before you download 100 different apps onto your phone, here's what you need to know.
Disclaimer: We are not affiliated with any of the following period trackers. The following reviews were written by the Casco Cup staff based on our experience and do not serve as medical advice. If you have any questions or concerns about your flow or are trying to conceive, please speak with your doctor.
Why Use a Period Tracker or Calendar?
There is so much to know about your period. When should I expect which symptoms? Is spotting normal for me? How long does a period last? If I'm trying to conceive, what do I need to know about my cycle? What days do I have the heaviest flow, and which are lighter? The list goes on.
A great place to start, whether or not you're a menstrual cup user, is with a period tracker app. Most take the form of applications you download, often for free, on your phone.
According to the government, most women menstruate every 28 days, though this can vary between 24 and 38 days depending on the person and the month. The average menstruator gets their period for five days, but anywhere between three and eight days may be considered normal.
More often than not, people experience some irregularity. This can mean having Aunt Flo show up early, late or not at all. It can mean having a light flow one month and a heavier one the next, seemingly to make up for it. Without the data, it can be tough to know why your body is responding the way it is, and when you should seek medical assistance.
Please remember that we are not doctors. If you have any questions or concerns about your period, please contact your gynecologist.
What Affects Your Period?
There are so many factors that affect your flow -- and that your period tracker can help you manage. For starters, a menstruator's cycle changes as they age and can be divided into three stages:
- Menarche: The first period, sometimes extended to the few years that someone is menstruating. The average age of menarche is 12 years old, according to a scientific overview of this stage in the menstrual cycle. During the first few years of menstruation, people are prone to more irregular periods as the body may experience hormonal changes. This can mean shorter (less than 20 days) or longer (over 45 days) intervals between cycles, according to a study published by The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists .
- Adult: After the first few years, menstruation becomes more normal. This may mean more even intervals between a period and more predictable symptoms. However, there are a variety of factors that may still affect your flow on a monthly basis.
- Menopause or Pre-menopause: The time when a woman's menstrual cycle has stopped for 12 months, signaling that she can no longer become pregnant. Both stages may include hot flashes, sleep difficulties and vaginal dryness, which is another great reason to wear a menstrual cup.
Other factors that can affect your cycle (no matter your age), include dietary changes, exercise, genetics, stress levels, and health. Whether you're trying to manage your symptoms or conceive, your cycle can be a challenge to understand without a period tracker app.
Best Period Tracker Apps: 3 Factors We Considered
Search "period tracker" in the App Store or Google and you'll be inundated with suggestions. To help you sort through that massive pile, we've selected our 7 favorite applications based on a few factors. For starters, one app has been accused of sharing users' data with Facebook by Privacy International . Since the accusation, they have issued a statement that they do not share personal data, just the period tracker app's meta-data.
Most of our favorite period tracker apps work for both Apple and Android products and are available for free. And the following programs have received overwhelmingly positive reviews by users. Here are 7 of our favorite period tracker apps in 2020.
Eve
Pros: For women looking to track and learn about their sex lives, Eve could be the period tracker app for you. Not only does it offer all the standard features you'd expect from this sort of application (mood and symptom tracking, pregnancy and period predictions, Health App compatibility) but it also includes sex quizzes, and information on birth control and sex.
Cons: This app is big on sharing all sorts of information on sex, for reproduction and pleasure, so it may not be the best choice for young users or those worried about a little TMI.
Period Calendar
Pros: Not only does this option give you the opportunity to record intercourse, temperature, moods, cervical mucus, and more. It also features a pill reminder, great for everything from birth control to vitamins. Fully compatible with the Health application, Period Calendar integrates sleep, sexual activity and steps information.
Cons: Some users have experienced difficulty with the predictive aspect of this period calendar. More specifically, if you change the week of a past period, future predictions may not correct, so it's best to enter data correctly the first time.
Flo Period Tracker, Ovulation & Fertility Calendar
Pros: By their own estimations, Flo is the most downloaded application of its kind on the Apple Store. Not only does this unique program keep tabs on your period flow, but it offers weekly information on favorable contraception, predictions for your next menstrual cycle, and pregnancy tracking. The premium Flo even offers a medical report from a doctor.
Cons: Flo used to have a comments section where you could talk to other app users. This is no longer the case, and some users miss this feature.
My Calendar
Pros: A great period calendar for tracking and predicting symptoms including temperature, mood, blood flow and weight. This application offers easy-to-understand information about when its user may be fertile, ovulating, non-fertile and more. It also has an abstinence mode for younger users and those who are not tracking intercourse.
Cons: Though this app is great at storing and protecting your data with a unique code and backup system, they do not have an option to print your data to get a doctor's perspective.
Period Tracker (GP Apps)
Pros: This period tracker app offers all sorts of features, including charts that consider your weight, temperature, cycle and more. It also lets you take notes on daily spotting, bloating, and ache symptoms and will predict the date of your next menstruation (based on 3+ months of data).
Cons: Some reviewers have said that the information it provides on ovulation is not accurate compared to an ovulation test. It is advisable to seek medical help or use an ovulation test if you are trying to become pregnant.
Glow
Pros: Glow is focused on fertility tracking, though it offers insights into your menstrual cycle more broadly, too. More specifically, it tracks 40 different elements that may affect fertility and lots of resources on menstrual health, conception and so much more. Going to the doctor? You can PDF and print your information.
Cons: Though Glow is free, some users find that the promotion of Glow's premium option to be bothersome following the latest update.
Life - Period Tracker Calendar
Pros: Want reminders on your cycle and an easy to understand period calendar? Life may be the way to go. It also offers irregular cycle support (and will alert you if your cycle is irregular by their estimations) and allows you to track symptoms. This app also stresses data security: Per their App Store description, they will not sell your data without your consent.
Cons: Some of the features are only available on Premium, such as pill reminders and promote the Premium version frequently to free Life users.
Best Period Tracker Apps in 2020
For some menstruators, the best way to understand (and plan) for those PMS symptoms is to know when to expect them. Others want to learn more about their sexual wellness in addition to understanding when they're most fertile. Doing this could mean finding the right period tracker for you -- whether you check in with it every day or want a simple reminder that Aunt Flo is coming.
The above information is meant to empower and inform menstruators. It is not medical advice.