How to track your menstrual cycle with an Apple Watch

With a wealth of different sensors built in, the Apple Watch can help women track a range of different health data. As part of Apple’s first-party Health app, Cycle Tracking’s capabilities range from sending an alert when your period is predicted to start to exporting data to share with your doctor.

Any Apple Watch with WatchOS 6 or later can track menstrual cycles. In fact, you don’t even need an Apple Watch, as you can also log data inside the Health app on an iPhone. However, certain models will offer more functionality than others. The temperature sensors inside the Series 8, Series 9, and Ultra smartwatches, for example, can hep predict periods and ovulation. Here’s how to set up and use Cycle Tracking on Apple Watch and iPhone.

How to set up Cycle Tracking on the Health app

Use your iPhone before you start tracking your cycle from the Apple Watch

Before you can start tracking your menstrual cycle on the Apple Watch, you need to turn on Cycle Tracking and set up the basic information. While you can log and track data from your Apple Watch, you’ll need to set up Cycle Tracking from your iPhone first. Here’s how.

1. Open the Health app on your iPhone.
2. Tap the Browse icon in the bottom right corner.
3. Under Health Categories, select Cycle Tracking.
4. Tap Get Started.
5. Follow the on screen instructions. The app will ask you questions like the date of your last period, typical cycle length, and whether or not you are pregnant, nursing, or using contraceptives.
6. On the Period tracking page, choose what details you want to monitor. Period predictions will estimate your next cycle, while deviation detection will notify you if something is out of the ordinary and notifications will send you push notifications about upcoming periods.
7. On the Fertile Window Estimates screen, select which fertility data you want to track. You can choose to see predicted fertile windows, add data like ovulation tests, or log your sexual activity.
8. At the end of the set-up instructions, the app will walk you through how to read the period log, which includes predictions, cycle dates, and log data.
9. Tap Done.

How to log a menstrual cycle from your Apple Watch

Cycles can be tracked from an Apple Watch, iPhone, or iPad

If it’s easier to use a larger screen, you can also log period details on the Health app on an iPhone by going to Health > Browse > Cycle Tracking. You can also log your period data right from your wrist.

1. Tap the crown button to view all your Apple Watch Apps.
2. Tap the Cycle Tracking icon.
3. On the dates, tap to add your cycle to the calendar. Predicted period dates are red with stripes while confirmed dates are red. If you turned on fertility tracking, you’ll see blue on your predicted fertile window and purple on your predicted ovulation day. Small purple dots indicate that you logged symptoms on that day. If necessary, tap the arrows to move forward or backward to different dates on the calendar.
4. Underneath the calendar, tap the plus icons to track symptoms:
   • Period: Adjust data on your flow levels, which can be helpful for predicting the heaviest days on future cycles.
   • Symptoms: Tap to add the symptoms that come along on that day, which can help you recognize patterns such as which days come with the biggest headaches and cramps.
   • Spotting: Use this to track light bleeding that is not part of your period. For example, an infection or pap smear can cause irregular spotting.
5. Close out of the app by pressing the digital crown again.

How to adjust Cycle Tracking notifications

Keep your information up-to-date for the most accurate predictions

Cycle Tracking notifications, as well as what data is tracked, can be adjusted at any time. To access what data is being tracked or disable period notifications:

1. Open the Health app on an iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap Browse (on iPad, you’ll tap the sidebar button first).
3. Select Cycle Tracking.
4. Scroll to the bottom of the page and select Options.
5. Use the toggles to adjust the information that you’d like to track or to turn off notifications. Here, you can also toggle on and off whether your watch uses your heart rate and temperature in the predictions.

How to export cycle history for a healthcare provider

Cycle Tracking includes the option to export your data

One of the benefits of using Cycle Tracking is that it eliminates that awkward fumbling to remember the date of your last period when at the OBGYN. You can also export all the data that you log as a PDF in order to share with a healthcare provider.

1. Open the Health app on an iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap the Browse icon (on an iPad, you’ll need to open the sidebar first by tapping the sidebar icon).
3. Select Cycle Tracking.
4. Scroll down to Your Cycles, then tap Cycle History.
5. Tap on the cycle that you would like to export.
6. Select edit if you would like to remove any data from the printout.
7. Tap Export PDF.

FAQ

Q: Can Apple Watch take my basal body temperature?

Taking your temperature on a regular basis can help predict ovulation by looking for changes. Apple Watch models that have a built-in temperature sensor can take your basal body temperature for you; this lists includes the Apple Watch Series 8 and later models, as well as all Apple Watch Ultra models. To measure basal body temperature, you’ll need to wear the watch while you sleep. You’ll need to wear the watch for at least five nights in a row to take a baseline temperature. After that point, your Apple Watch can help look for changes if you continue to wear it at night.

Q: Which Apple Watch can track your cycle?

All Apple Watches with watchOS 6 or later have the Cycle Tracking app, which means even budget models like the Apple Watch SE can be used to track your period. However, models with a temperature sensor include the Series 8 or later models and all Ultra models also have temperature sensing, which can be used to improve period and fertile window predictions.