Track your period flow
Changes in menstrual flow can indicate hormonal shifts, stress, or underlying health changes. Beyond just timing, the consistency of your flow provides deep insights into your overall health.
Why track this symptom?
- Track the number of heavy vs. light days in each cycle.
- See which symptoms come back at the same point of each cycle: before your period, as it starts or around ovulation.
- Provide high-fidelity data to your OBGYN during annual exams.
How Trace Health helps
Trace Health logs your period in one tap, like any symptom, and follows your cycle from it: your cycle day, your usual cycle and period length, your next period and fertile window, on a Cycle Calendar. After a few cycles it shows which of your symptoms get worse the week before your period, as it starts or around ovulation, and tells you what to expect in the days ahead. Periods logged in Apple Health or another period app can be imported too.
Common causes
Normal menstrual flow variations are typically caused by hormonal fluctuations related to stress, weight changes, or life transitions like puberty and perimenopause. Birth control methods significantly affect flow patterns, with hormonal contraceptives usually lightening flow and IUDs potentially causing heavier periods initially. Underlying conditions like thyroid disorders, PCOS, or uterine fibroids can cause persistent changes in flow heaviness or timing. Certain medications, including blood thinners and anti-inflammatories, may also alter menstrual patterns.
When to see a doctor
Seek immediate care if you soak through a pad or tampon every hour for several consecutive hours, or if you experience dizziness and fatigue suggesting significant blood loss. Also see a doctor promptly if you pass clots larger than a quarter or experience bleeding with severe cramping outside your normal cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I track about my period?
Log start and end dates, flow heaviness each day (light, moderate, heavy), color, clot presence, associated symptoms like cramps or mood changes, and any spotting between periods. This builds a clear cycle history.
How does period tracking help my gynecologist?
Cycle data helps your gynecologist identify irregularities, diagnose conditions like PCOS or endometriosis, and evaluate whether treatment is needed. Having months of data makes appointments much more productive than relying on memory.
When should I see a doctor about my period?
See a doctor if periods are very heavy (soaking through protection hourly), last longer than 7 days, occur more frequently than every 21 days, stop for 3+ months (if not pregnant), or come with severe pain. Bring your tracking history.
Can Trace Health predict my next period and tell me what to expect?
Yes. After 3 regular cycles it estimates your next period with a range of dates and your fertile window, shown on the Cycle Calendar. Once your symptoms show a pattern across cycles, the What to expect card lists the ones likely to come today, in 1 to 3 days and within the week. These are estimates from your own logs, never a method of contraception.
How many cycles should I track before I can identify my normal pattern?
Track at least 3-6 cycles to establish your baseline pattern, as individual cycles can vary due to stress or other factors. After 6 months of data, you'll have a clear picture of your normal cycle length, flow patterns, and any seasonal variations. This baseline makes it easier to spot significant changes that warrant medical attention.
Your health data stays on your iPhone.
No account. Private. No personal information is ever requested. Your health data stays on your iPhone by default. A backup option to your private iCloud is available. Trace Health never collects or sells your health data.
What people say
Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 62+ ratings on the App Store.
- “Out of all the symptom tracker apps, I found this to be the easiest and most straightforward. It “writes” to the health app, which is exactly what I wanted. All the others only “read” parts of the health app data, and didn’t truly write any data back. This helps me visualize my chronic symptoms soooo well.” (EB1700, United States)
- “I’m not really into tracking mood and habits but this app has shown me the benefit of doing so and has helped me reflect on my day to help find the positives and see where I can improve.” (GavinLanoe, United Kingdom)
Read the complete guide: How to Track Period Flow: A Complete Guide →