Apps for Menstrual Cycle Tracking and Syncing
[Content acknowledgement: cis-female oriented language and centering]
For many women nowadays, tracking their menstrual cycle is a must. Maybe for the majority it’s to prevent or plan for pregnancy using the Fertility Awareness Method (FAM). For a small, but hopefully growing, portion of women, tracking their menstrual cycle is more about cycle syncing, a method that helps optimize a woman’s life in all areas based on where she is at in her cycle.
Over the past two years, I’ve heard of many downloadable apps for this purpose precisely. There are countless to choose from, but the two that I’ve selected to discuss are the ones I personally use because of their cycle syncing features. The other apps do not necessarily tell you how your body changes during the four different phases of a menstrual cycle, let alone tell you how to adjust what you eat, how you move, or how you can shift your focus or energy. So let’s get to introducing the two apps and why I think they are the best ones out there for period tracking and cycle syncing.
MYFLO
Why I love this app: This is the app that started it all when it comes to cycle syncing. It was created by Alisa Vitti, author of WomanCode, and gives you the gist of the elements of cycle syncing for balance in all areas of your life. It even gives you natural remedies to symptoms like back pain, blemishes, or bloating that you can record on the app.
Unique features: The most unique feature to date I think is the ability to sync YOUR PARTNER to your Flo. The app will push a weekly email to your partner, so they can stay in the loop with where you’re at in your cycle and how best to love on you. So there’s no more mind-reading or guessing involved!
Cost: One time payment of $1.99. Cheaper than coffee, friends.
FITRWOMAN (AND FITRCOACH)
Why I love this app: This app combines the genius of exercise physiology and hormone tracking to train smarter and fuel your performance. Especially made for the active female, this app is PERFECT for athletes training for whatever goal you have in mind. Created by two women leading in science and tech, this is THE app that the US Women’s National Soccer Team uses to track and train for World Cup titles like the one they won in summer 2019.
Unique features: FitrCoach, a sister app, is the perfect tool for coaches who have multiple players to keep track of and help train. You are able to see exactly where your athletes are in their cycle, and using that knowledge with the support of the app, you can adjust your players’ workout routine/training session to optimize their performance as well as their recovery. It makes it so easy!
Cost: Absolutely FREE.
I encourage women everywhere to try these applications, along with paper/tangible tracking for fertility awareness. And if you happen to use a different one, tell me why you love it! I hope this was helpful and eye-opening. I think there are huge strides to be made here, and cycle tracking is just the start.
