Smart phone applications for self-monitoring of the menstrual cycle: a review and content analysis

Background: In last years, a spread of smart phone applications (apps) for the self-monitoring of individual health has been recorded, especially among young people. A broad number of healthcare apps is designed for women, encouraging the self-responsibility in the surveillance of their menstrual cycle. Aim of the present study was to provide a review and features analysis of the apps for the self-monitoring of the menstrual cycle available on the major official mobile-phone application platforms. Materials and Methods: A systematic search in Google Play Store and iTunes was performed from January to December 2017. The most popular apps for the monitoring of the menstrual cycle were downloaded and their functions and features were evaluated and compared. Results: The authors found a considerable difference between applications in the number of tracking functions. While some apps are more sophisticated and combine almost all possible functions for tracking the menstrual cycle (Clue, Life, and Period Tracker Lite), some others are simpler, and their purpose is merely to record menstrual days, without any precise calculation of the fertile days (Cycles). With iPeriod, the tracking of menstrual cycle and the received drugs can be recorded. Conclusions: All the studied apps are excellent in providing awareness of the menstrual cycle. Some of them record valuable information for the self-monitoring of the menstrual cycle. Which app to be used mainly depends on the data wanted to be gathered from the monitoring. Although most of the devices and apps are excellent in providing direct information to the user, some improvements are still possible. A future challenge will be how data would be gathered through smart phone apps and how could be used in clinical practice