Pocket Cycle for iPhone and iPad review

Pocket Cycle for iPhone and iPad is an app designed to help women track their menstrual cycles and sync the information with their partner's device. It features a very simple interface that displays all the important dates related to your cycle in a simple color-coded dial.

The main screen screen of Pocket Cycle is a dial with 28 colored dots (unless you changed your cycle length to something other than 28 days). Each dot represents a day in your cycle with the dot at the top center representing day 1. Red dots are period days, green dots are fertile days, the blue dot is ovulation day, and gray dots are "normal" days. The large dot represents the day you're currently at.

If you need to adjust what day you are in your cycle , just spin the dial to the correct dot and tap save. You can also tap the button in the center of the dial to recalibrate. I really like the idea of simply turning the dial, however, this causes previous months to change to match the cycle length you've assigned. This is a huge flaw that needs to be addressed since most women don't have perfectly regular cycles. Past cycles need to be remained unchanged.

Pocket Cycle includes a calendar that predicts your future cycles. This can be helpful for planning vacations and events if you want to avoid certain activities while on your period.

Pocket Cycle also includes alarms for when your period and fertile days are expected to start and end, as well as reminders to take birth control. Pocket Cycle includes discrete text with these reminders, but you can also edit them to say anything you want. Pocket Cycle also allows you to add custom alarms.

When syncing with a partner, Pocket Cycle doesn't simply keep the apps identical; it only keeps the dials in sync. Reminders are kept separate and a partner is not allowed to change a dial and recalibrate cycles; he can only view it.

The good

• Simple, easy to use design
• Period days in red, fertile days in green, ovulation day in blue
• Simply turn dial to recalibrate if early or late
• View upcoming cycles on calendar
• Receive reminders when for period start and end dates, fertile days, to take birth control, or any custom alert you wish
• Edit the text of reminders
• Partner doesn't share reminders with you, but can create his own
• Partner can't edit cycle
• Optional 4 digit passcode

The bad

• Doesn't keep track of past cycles

The bottom line

If you're looking for a simple, visual way to share your cycle information with a partner, Pocket Cycle is a great choice. It's easy to use, looks nice, and saves you from having awkward conversations about where you are in your cycle.

• $0.99 - Download now