Surprised by Your Period…There’s an App for That

A new application, iPeriod, developed by Winkpass Creations allows users to predict ovulation and fertility, receive alerts when periods are late or expected, record symptoms or moods, and much more. The results can be graphically displayed and a calendar will be generated with different colors to show you when you are expected to be fertile, having your period, and when you are ovulating.

While this app may give some women more control over their health and sexual lives, some are skeptical about the app’s capabilities. Bitch magazine comments on how in order for the application to be most accurate, a woman must know how long her menstrual cycle and luteal phases are. Since the luteal phase is not easily ascertainable, the app uses the average length of 14 days which lessens the accuracy of the apps predictions. But on the other hand, this technology could facilitate more meaningful conversations with significant others and doctors by providing an easy way to compile and track information about a woman’s menstrual cycle.

Of course this isn’t the only app out there like this. Similar applications include, iMensies, iPregnancy, Menstrometer, PMS Buddy, and FemDays. I guess it’s a good thing that there is such an interest in gathering information about women’s body’s, but absent a trained professionals interpretation, the accuracy of these apps conclusions should be taken with a grain of salt.