Apple Watch has continued to push the boundaries for health and fitness. While the rest of the industry still seems to be struggling to find a foothold, Apple’s smartwatch is dominating the market. One of the major reasons why the smartwatch has become such a big hit is the much-improved watchOS that packs a range of health-centric features like the newly launched Cycle Tracking feature. For those unfamiliar, it’s a women’s health tracking feature that makes it pretty easy to track the menstruation cycle and fertility window from Apple Watch and the companion iPhone. In this article, I walk you through the quick steps to set up and use Cycle Tracking in iOS 13 and watchOS 6.
Apart from letting you keep a track of your monthly cycle data, Cycle Tracking also allows you to monitor your daily symptoms and monthly activity either from the Health app or the standalone Cycle Tracking app from Apple Watch. Based on the data you have entered, it also offers period and fertility window predictions so that you can stay in the loop and plan accordingly.
- Now, choose the Cycle Tracking option listed under the Health Categories section and then tap on the Options located on the far right of Cycle Log.
Customize Cycle Tracking Using Health App
Now that you are all set, you can ideally customize cycle tracking to keep a track of periods with ease. For instance, you can include/exclude cycle log options depending on whether you want to conceive or simply track your periods.
- Sexual Activity to display logged sexual activity.
- Ovulation Test Results to show the logged ovulation test results.
- Cervical Mucus Quality to display the logged cervical mucus data.
- Basal Body Temperature to display logged temperature.
- Spotting to show logged activities of spotting.
Enable Period and Fertility Predictions
Probably the best part about Cycle Tracking is the ability to get the period and fertility predictions. Based on the data you enter, the app predicts your period and fertile window. Predictions kickstart once you have entered your last period in the Cycle Tracking app. Do note that just in case you have logged a period before it’s likely to start, you won’t receive a period notification for that specific cycle.
- Now, turn on the switches for Period Prediction and Fertility Prediction.
Log Period to Cycle Tracking in the Health App on iPhone
Now that you have set up cycle tracking in the Health app. Let’s see how you can log your periods in the app.
Log a Period in the Cycle Tracking App on Apple Watch
You can also log your period and track it right from your Apple Watch.
- Now, tap on Period located under the Menstruation section and then log the day’s menstruation flow. In end, be sure to tap on Done to confirm.
It’s quite easy to check the date of the next and last period.
- Launch Health app on your iPhone > Browse >Cycle Tracking.
- Now, scroll down to Predictions to view when your next period may start.
Don’t worry, you are not alone to have found the symbols and colors a little confusing. Well, let me tell you that they are quite simple to understand. And once you know what they mean, it becomes a lot straightforward to check period and fertile window.
- A Blue light oval: It marks your predicted six-day fertile window.
- Red stripes on circle mark: It indicates when your period is likely to start.
- Solid red circle: It marks your logged period days.
- Purple dots: It indicates days when you had logged information.
Add Cycle Tracking to Favorites in the Health App
To further simplify cycle tracking, you can choose to favorite the logs that you wish to keep an eye on. Once your mark it as favorite, they will be displayed in the Health dashboard summary along with other stats.
Track Your Menstrual Cycle and Fertility Window with Ease…
So, that’s how you can keep a track of your menstrual cycle and fertility window from your iPhone or Apple Watch. From what I can tell, this health feature works reliably. And more significantly, it’s going to give a strong competition to the third-party period and ovulation tracking apps. Do let me know your thoughts about Cycle Tracking and what makes it stand out of the rest.
