New Apps lets Women Track their Menstruation Cycles

Gone are the days when women had to leave the tracking of their menstrual cycles to guesswork and chance. Dr. David Ghozland, who offers gynecology services in the Los Angeles area, says popular new apps are making it easy for women of all ages to predict when their cycles will start and stop.

A number of free apps are available for iPhone and Android devices, including: Period Tracker, Fertility Friend, myPill, and Clue. The intuitive new platforms are said to accurately predict:

• When your period will begin
• How long your cycle will last
• When you’re most fertile
• Probable menstrual symptoms

But is a period app really necessary?  Dr. Ghozland asserts that when it comes to gynecological health, tracking your menstrual cycle can actually be very beneficial.
“Your menstrual cycle has a lot to do with your overall health, and when you are able to track the days between periods, PMS symptoms and menstrual pain patterns, it can help your doctor better address any questions you may have about your fertility and other health concerns.”

The apps works by having the user fill in a questionnaire that includes questions regarding:

• The length of your average cycle
• The date of your last period
• Your choice of birth control

The app then makes predictions based on your answers. For women who are hoping to get pregnant (or even those who want to avoid conceiving), the apps can also predict fertility windows. You can also input results of ovulation and pregnancy tests on the app – the more data you provide, the more accurate the end results.

The German app Clue has recently expanded its capabilities to include additional categories important to women’s health, such as sleep patterns, weight fluctuations, changes hair or skin, mood swings and energy levels.

Dr. Ghozland says, “My Los Angeles patients lead very busy lives, and any time technology can make managing your gynecological healthcare easier, I’m all for it.”