7 best menstrual trackers to monitor your cycle more efficiently
I can't imagine my life without menstrual trackers. Since they've entered our lives, they've played a crucial role in helping millions of women closely monitor their cycles, logging menstrual pain and tracking any changes to menstrual patterns. And in doing so, menstrual trackers have inevitably helped us keep a closer eye on our reproductive health while also tracking anything that could potentially be worth flagging to our gynaecologists during an upcoming routine appointment.
Luckily, thanks to all the latest innovations in the tech space, we're now seeing a growing variety of gadgets and apps dedicated to menstrual tracking. So, whether you’re on the lookout for a versatile smartwatch, a fitness tracker or an app that can monitor your overall health and help predict the duration and timing of your next period, we’ve got you covered.
Best menstrual trackers at a glance:
1. Best menstrual tracker overall: Garmin vivoactive 5, £259.99, John Lewis
2. Best premium menstrual tracker: Garmin Venu 3S, £449.99, John Lewis
3. Best affordable menstrual tracker: Fitbit Inspire 3, WAS £84.99 NOW £69, Amazon
4. Best menstrual tracking app: Flo
As someone who’s had fairly painful and irregular periods due to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), I can’t thank menstrual trackers enough for all the times they’ve helped me remind myself of the length of my previous cycle or predict my next ovulation. They’ve also helped me log everything from my moods, discharge and basal body temperature to my pain levels, as well as other period symptoms. This meant that whenever I had a routine checkup coming up, I was always armed and ready with all the information I had collected beforehand.
To help you find the best solution for you, we’ve put together a list of menstrual trackers below, tailored to fit any lifestyle, preference or budget. But please keep in mind that although the latest trackers can help estimate your ovulation cycle based on your personal data, these predictions are never 100% accurate and should not be used as a sole contraceptive. And if you have any pressing questions regarding your birth control, period pains or other health concerns, be sure to speak to a licensed health professional.
Note: this article is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you have any concerns regarding your menstrual cycle, we strongly recommend that you speak to a doctor.
Looking for more health and wellness content? Check out our guides for the best sleep trackers, best multivitamins, best probiotics for women, best iron supplements and the best vitamin D supplements. For more beauty content from Glamour UK Commerce Writer Denise Primbet, follow her on Twitter @deniseprimbet and Instagram @deniseprimbet.
Scroll for our edit of the best menstrual trackers, including watches, rings, apps and more…
Why we love it: This tidy GPS smartwatch from Garmin comes with a bright AMOLED display, a stylish choice of bands and an impressive battery life of up to 11 days. The best part is that it’s designed to help track your menstrual cycle as well as other metrics like sleep patterns, heart rate and even stress.
Save ££ when considering menstrual trackers using these John Lewis discount codes.
Why we love it: Flo is another popular period tracker app that’s currently available to download using the App Store and Google Play. In addition to providing plenty of healthcare articles containing the most up-to-date information on female health, it can also be used for cycle tracking and predicting your next period (and with fairly spot on symptom predictions too). Oh, and all user data is completely secure too, as Flo doesn’t share any details with any third-party companies.
Why we love it: Not everyone is a fan of smartwatches – and that’s absolutely fine. The Oura Ring is the perfect high-tech option, providing a sleek design that’s available in silver, black, stealth grey or gold to help match other jewellery. Each ring has a battery life of up to 7 days and offers 1 month of Oura membership included – the latter provides personalised health insights, which includes menstrual tracking and period prediction.
Why we love it: Apple’s latest smartwatch often tends to be the first thing that comes to our minds when we think of fitness trackers, but did you know that it’s also great for monitoring your reproductive health? Thanks to its built-in Apple Health app, you can sync all your personal data to your iPhone and keep a close eye on PMS symptoms, as well as your menstruation and fertile window. Plus, Apple takes its data privacy very seriously, so you can rest assured knowing that your data is safe and sound.
Save ££ when considering menstrual trackers using these Amazon discount codes.
Why we love it: Now that we’ve covered off all the best wearables, it’s time to look at one of the best period tracking apps around – Clue. It’s incredibly detailed and so much more than just a regular period calendar. For instance, it allows you to track everything when it comes to women’s health, starting from your sex life, birth control and contraception use to your energy levels and spotting. It’s particularly useful for those of us with PCOS and/or irregular periods, as it can help you estimate when you can expect your next fertility days to be. Plus, the app also offers a Clue Plus premium subscription, which offers access to family planning as well as Perimenopause, a feature that can help women navigate menopause.
Why we love it: The Garmin Venu 3S may be pricier compared to other options on this list, but it’s definitely worth the investment if you’re looking for a comprehensive period tracker with plenty of functionality. It can collect and analyse quite a bit of health data, including your basal body temperature, stress levels and breathing patterns. Plus, it can even send you notifications throughout the day to drink more water.
Save ££ when considering menstrual trackers using these John Lewis discount codes.
Why we love it: Fitbit often provides a more sensible and affordable option when it comes to choosing a good, reliable wearable to monitor your overall wellbeing. Compatible with both iOS and Android devices, this health tracker can be used to log your period symptoms to better estimate your next ovulation window. One of the best period trackers in terms of value.
Make sure to bookmark these Amazon discount codes to save ££.
