Tracking your menstrual cycle can give you a fuller picture of your health. While some period tracker apps can be overcomplicated and time-consuming to use, Apple offers a simplified means of tracking in the form of its Cycle Tracking app. Available with watchOS 6 and later, the Cycle Tracking app for Apple Watch makes it highly convenient to track your menstrual cycle wherever you are and within just a few steps.
Here, we explain what Cycle Tracking is, including its features and functions, and help you learn how to track your menstrual cycle on your Apple Watch.
What Is Cycle Tracking on Apple Watch?
Cycle Tracking is a native app designed by Apple and available on iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. You can use the Cycle Tracking app to log symptoms and details about your menstrual cycle on the go. Cycle Tracking uses the information you log to provide predictions for your next period, the date you’re most likely to be fertile, and retrospective ovulation estimates.
Unlike otherhealth apps that might be selling your data, Apple’s native Cycle Tracking and Health apps are designed to protect your personal information and give you control over what data you share.
How to Set Up Cycle Tracking
You’ll need your iPhone or iPad to set up Cycle Tracking on your Apple Watch. Grab your preferred Apple device and follow these steps:
Follow the onscreen prompts to complete the setup of Cycle Tracking in Apple Health.
How to Track Your Menstrual Cycle on Your Apple Watch
Once you have set up Cycle Tracking in Apple Health, you’re able to track your menstrual on your Apple Watch by following these steps:
Continue to select dates, symptoms, and features to provide a full tracking history of your menstrual cycle on your Apple Watch. To view your predictions and other information in Cycle Tracking on your Apple Watch, tap theinformation(i) icon to open the Summary screen.
To log additional features that could impact your cycle, such as pregnancy, lactation, and contraceptive use,use the Health app on your iPhone for full menstrual symptoms.
How to Add Cycle Tracking to Your Apple Watch Face Display
One of the attractions of watchOS is that you cancustomize your Apple Watch faces. Personalizing your Apple Watch face ensures it looks the way you want it to while providing the most useful functions for your needs.
To add Cycle Tracking to your Apple Watch face, follow these steps:
Learn to customize your Apple Watch faces with complicationsin our expert guide.
How to Receive Retrospective Ovulation Estimates With Cycle Tracking
If you own an Apple Watch Series 8 or later, Cycle Tracking can use your wrist temperature to help estimate the likely day of your ovulation the day after it has occurred. This retrospective estimation can help you learn more about your cycle and your potential fertile window, essentially helping you avoid or prepare for conception.
To receive retrospective ovulation estimates, make sure you’ve followed the above steps to set up Cycle Tracking. You also need to haveTrack Sleep with Apple Watch set upand Sleep Focus enabled on your Apple Watch.
To view your ovulation estimates, your Apple Watch will send you a notification. Open the Cycle Tracking app on your Apple Watch and look for a light purple oval—this indicates your fertile window.
Cycle Tracking on Your Apple Watch Makes Period Tracking Easy
The ability to log your menstrual cycle symptoms on your Apple Watch is highly convenient. Where other period trackers can be time-consuming, the Cycle Tracking app on your Apple Watch allows you to track details with just a few taps.
