A period app can be a great tool for cycle tracking. Technology is amazing! Nowadays, there are many apps in the market, and they’re becoming more and more intelligent. For me, the main benefit of a period app is practicality. Compared to a journal or a pen & paper chart, it’s easier to record and access my info on my phone, since I have it with me almost all the time.
However, there are two key things to consider when choosing a period app:
1) Your period app works based on predictions
Most apps work with algorithms that make predictions based on your past cycles. In other words, they estimate the date of your next ovulation (and therefore your next period) based on the ovulation day in your past cycles.
However, it’s crucial to remember that ovulation CANNOT BE PREDICTED. By charting your fertility signs, you can CONFIRM when it has occurred, but it’s impossible to predict when you will ovulate in the next cycle. This is especially important if you’re trying to avoid or achieve pregnancy.
Keep in mind that ovulation is quite sensitive. Stress and other factors can delay it (and therefore delay your period), and these are things your app can’t anticipate.
What to do about it:
- In some apps, you may have the option to disable ovulation, fertility window, and next period predictions. Check the settings, and if it’s possible, disable these options. Even better, consider choosing an app that doesn’t make predictions at all! Read your body is a great choice.
- Learn to identify your fertility signs to confirm when you have ovulated. Confirming ovulation will help you determine which phase of your cycle you are in and make an objective estimate of the date of your next period. Empower yourself with this knowledge!
2) Your data is yours (or it should be)
Period apps collect millions of sensitive and private data from thousands of people worldwide, including fertility biomarkers, details about sexual life, sleep routines, and our most vulnerable moments in the cycle.
The use of this information isn’t properly regulated yet. In 2020, a study by Privacy International brought to light how some period apps sell this information to third parties for marketing purposes.
What to do about it:
Read the privacy policy: Ensure the privacy policy is clear and explicitly outlines where your data is stored and how it’s managed.
Check your phone and app’s privacy settings: Take a look at your phone and app’s privacy settings and block access to specific data. In certain apps, you may also have the option to opt out of receiving customised advertising.
If you choose to use a period app, that’s great; just please don’t rely on it 100%. Instead, I encourage to learn to read your cycle biomarkers! Not only will that provide you with objective information about what’s happening in your cycle, but it will also help you feel more connected to your body and yourself.
New to Menstrual Cycle Awareness and not sure where to start?
Download your free guide: The Four Phases of the Cycle
🌱Learn about the hormonal changes, strengths & challenges you may experience in each phase of your cycle.
🌱Discover the parallels between the four phases and the seasons of the year.
🌱Learn how tracking your cycle can help you unlock your superpowers in each phase, become more mindful of your vulnerable moments, and identify what’s normal and not for you.
