Whether you want to keep an eye on your menstrual health, know when you’re ovulating or to avoid getting pregnant – period trackers are a great way of keeping track of your cycle. Over the past couple of years, there’s been a variety of period tracker apps that have become available on smartphones. So if you’re looking to get one, here is what you need to know.

Each app is different

Before deciding on one particular app to keep track of your cycle, you should test some out first. This is because most of these apps are different from each other. Some apps will just have simple calendars, while others can be more complex by tracking your cervical mucus and body temperature to estimate when you are ovulating. So depending on what you want from your period tracker, you should do some research to find out which one meets your needs.

Not all trackers are accurate

If you have an irregular cycle, then you’ll probably find that some apps aren’t that accurate in predicting your cycle. Many of these apps don’t allow users to make any sort of corrections or to type in an explanation as to why their period has arrived late. This lack of accuracy makes it challenging to use, especially if you are looking for fertility predictions. So if you want more predictable information, make sure to find an app that allows you to make these sort of changes.

Assuming that all users are female

The thing about these apps is that most of them are targeted towards women, which is made pretty obvious by their pink and flowery designs. Most of them also assume that their users are heterosexual, as they assume that your partner is male. This actually ends up excluding people who are in same-sex relationships, transgender or who have non-binary gender identities. But, there are some apps that cater for non-binary gender identities, so don’t be disheartened if it takes a while to find them.

Don’t use it to replace contraception

While most of these apps can tell you when you are ovulating, this doesn’t mean that you should rely on them as a form of contraception. This is because they don’t take into account certain factors related to your sexual health, such as if your partner is cheating on you or not knowing their complete sexual history.

It will also only be reliable if you have a completely regular cycle, if you know when the fixed interval between ovulation and menstruation will be and if you know exactly how long your cycle is. These factors can change from woman to woman over time, so it’s best to stick to contraception just to be on the safe side.

Period trackers are a great way to keep track of your menstrual cycle and, depending on your app, can also give you some great scientific information on your period. So if you are looking to use a period tracker, make sure that you do some research so that you can get exactly what you want.