--- title: Can wearable devices like Fitbit track changes in heart rate and activity across the menstrual cycle? description: Yes. The study found that heart rate and physical activity did change across the cycle. Women with severe PMS walked substantially fewer steps during the lute url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/feasibility-study-on-menstrual-cycles-with-fitbit-device-femfit-prospective-2024/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Can wearable devices like Fitbit track changes in heart rate and activity across the menstrual cycle? Cohort study, 2024 # Can wearable devices like Fitbit track changes in heart rate and activity across the menstrual cycle? Yes. The study found that heart rate and physical activity did change across the cycle. Women with severe PMS walked substantially fewer steps during the luteal phase and menses. However, many women dropped out early. Early or limited evidence 42 women in Berlin, Germany (33 completed the study) ## What they did 42 women in Berlin, Germany used a Fitbit Inspire 2 device and a study app for 12 weeks to track their menstrual cycle. They reported symptoms daily through the app, and the Fitbit measured their heart rate and number of steps. Researchers compared these measurements across different cycle phases. ## What they found 33 women had at least partial data and 50 cycles had complete data. Nine women dropped out in the first 2 weeks. Heart rate was higher in the mid and late luteal phase compared to menses. Women with severe PMS walked significantly fewer steps during the luteal phase and menses (average 10,283 steps) compared to women with no or low PMS (average 11,694 steps). ## What it means for you Wearable devices can provide real data about how the menstrual cycle affects daily activity and heart rate, especially in women with severe PMS. This could help women understand their patterns and help doctors identify PMS. However, high dropout rates mean engagement needs improvement for larger studies. 42 Women enrolled 10,283 vs 11,694 Average daily steps: severe PMS vs none/low 12 Weeks of tracking ## About the study Original title Feasibility Study on Menstrual Cycles With Fitbit Device (FEMFIT): Prospective Observational Cohort Study Authors Lang AL, Bruhn RL, Fehling M et al. Journal JMIR mHealth and uHealth Year 2024 Study design Cohort study Participants 42 What was tested Fitbit Inspire 2 device with daily symptom questionnaires for 12 weeks Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.2196/50135](https://doi.org/10.2196/50135) Original abstract Background: Despite its importance to women's reproductive health and its impact on women's daily lives, the menstrual cycle, its regulation, and its impact on health remain poorly understood. As conventional clinical trials rely on infrequent in-person assessments, digital studies with wearable devices enable the collection of longitudinal subjective and objective measures. Objective: The study aims to explore the technical feasibility of collecting combined wearable and digital questionnaire data and its potential for gaining biological insights into the menstrual cycle. Methods: This prospective observational cohort study was conducted online over 12 weeks. A total of 42 cisgender women were recruited by their local gynecologist in Berlin, Germany, and given a Fitbit Inspire 2 device and access to a study app with digital questionnaires. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics on user behavior and retention, as well as a comparative analysis of symptoms from the digital questionnaires with metrics from the sensor devices at different phases of the menstrual cycle. Results: The average time spent in the study was 63.3 (SD 33.0) days with 9 of the 42 individuals dropping out within 2 weeks of the start of the study. We collected partial data from 114 ovulatory cycles, encompassing 33 participants, and obtained complete data from a total of 50 cycles. Participants reported a total of 2468 symptoms in the daily questionnaires administered during the luteal phase and menses. Despite difficulties with data completeness, the combined questionnaire and sensor data collection was technically feasible and provided interesting biological insights. We observed an increased heart rate in the mid and end luteal phase compared with menses and participants with severe premenstrual syndrome walked substantially fewer steps (average daily steps 10,283, SD 6277) during the luteal phase and menses compared with participants with no or low premenstrual syndrome (mean 11,694, SD 6458). Conclusions: We demonstrate the feasibility of using an app-based approach to collect combined wearable device and questionnaire data on menstrual cycles. Dropouts in the early weeks of the study indicated that engagement efforts would need to be improved for larger studies. Despite the challenges of collecting wearable data on consecutive days, the data collected provided valuable biological insights, suggesting that the use of questionnaires in conjunction with wearable data may provide a more complete understanding of the menstrual cycle and its impact on daily life. The biological findings should motivate further research into understanding the relationship between the menstrual cycle and objective physiological measurements from sensor devices. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Irritability and anger](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-irritability-anger/)[Apps and digital interventions](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-digital-health/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Survey study, 2016 Does the menstrual cycle affect daily mood, and does anxiety or rumination change this effect? Survey study, 2023 Does online exercise improve PMS symptoms? Randomised trial, 2023 Does a smartphone app for heart rate variability biofeedback reduce premenstrual and depressive symptoms? Randomised trial, 2026 Does calcium and vitamin D supplementation reduce PMS symptoms? Systematic review, 2026 Do psychological treatments help PMS? 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