The new Cycle Tracking app will help users track key aspects of their menstrual cycle and fertility
Apple this week announced plans to launch a new period-tracking app that will allow users to record their menstrual cycles and receive notifications when they are fertile.
Known as Cycle Tracking, the app will be available on the iPhone, within the Health app, and on the Apple Watch as a standalone app.
This information will then be used to provide fertile window predictions, so users are better informed about their chances of getting pregnant.
“Knowing more about your menstrual cycle gives you a window into your health – from simply ensuring that you’re prepared to understanding your personal patterns and irregularities,” said Apple’s VP od Health, Dr Sumbul Desai.
“As a physician I know that understanding what’s normal for you is critical when making informed clinical decisions, and can really enrich your conversations with your doctor.”
Here’s everything you need to know about the new Cycle Tracking app:
What will it look like?
The Cycle Tracking feature is contained within the Health app on iPhone and Apple Watch.
It presents a visual representation of your cycle, with period days indicated with a solid red dot, and fertile days represented with a blue dot.
If you have an irregular period, there will be a few days either side of the period window that are lightly shaded red, to indicate possible period days.
There will be a calendar view, so users will be able to see predictions for the their next two periods, based on data they have logged historically.
There is also a statistics page that summarises your typical period length, along with any cycle variations.
How will it predict my period?
Period predictions are based on data you have logged historically. This could include data you have exported over from another app.
If you have a fairly regular cycle, the app will be able to accurately predict when your period is likely to start, based on the timing and length of your last few periods.
If you are more irregular, it will also offer a prediction based on the length of your average cycle, but will also take into account any other data you submit, such as flow level, symptoms and whether or not you’re experiencing spotting.
It will also use any variations in your cycle to indicate possible period days either end of your period window.
If you are trying to get pregnant, the Cycle Tracking app could help you identify your fertile window.
The app will suggest a six-day window, based on the length of your cycle, as well as any other information you choose to enter, like ovulation test results or basal body temperature.
If you have a Bluetooth-connected thermometer, you can link it to your iPhone or Apple Watch to add this information to the app automatically.
Although Apple will attempt to identify the most likely fertile days in your cycle, this does not mean you won’t be fertile at other times, and the company cautions against using the app as a form of birth control.
What if I have fertility issues?
The Cycle Tracking app won’t offer any sort of diagnosis for fertility issues such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) or Endometriosis.
However, users can provide the data collected by the app to their doctor, to help them determine which tests need to be carried out in order to make a diagnosis.
If you have a fertility issue and are trying to get pregnant, the app could also help you calculate your fertile window – particularly if you regularly enter ovulation test results.
The Apple Watch version of the app does not offer any additional functionality, but Apple claims it offers a more “discreet way to visualise your cycle”.
Users can log their symptoms directly on the watch, and also get notifications about when their period or fertile window is about to start right on their wrists.
Is it better than existing period-tracking apps?
There are already plenty of period-tracking apps on the market, including Natural Cycles, Clue, Flo, Eve, Ava, Glow, Kindara, Ovia and many more.
Some of these are free, while others are paid for, and some work in conjunction with Bluetooth-connected devices, such as thermometers and wristbands, to help you record symptoms.
The advantage of Apple’s Cycle Tracking feature is it is built into the Health app, so will be free and available on every Apple device from the autumn.
It doesn’t come with any dedicated hardware, but users can choose to buy these devices separately and – as long as they are compatible with Apple Health Kit – connect them with the app.
Apple advises against using Cycle Tracking to track your partner’s menstrual cycle, as the Health app is designed to be used for your own personal health data.
However, if you and your partner are trying to get pregnant, you could use a third party app fertility app that integrates with the Health app to draw data that has been logged using Cycle Tracking.
When will it be available?
The new Cycle Tracking feature will be released as part of watchOS 6 later this year, and will also be available in the Health app on iPhone with iOS 13.
Apple has not yet given a specific date, but it is likely to launch around the same time as the new iPhone in September.
Source: Mirror
