I don’t want to say that my period controls my life, but… it kind of controls my life. I go through every phase of my cycle - menstrual, follicular, ovulation and luteal phase - seemingly to the max, which is why it's so nice to have a tracking app on my phone to keep track of it all.
Looks like I'm not alone. My friends are always messaging in our group chat about PMS, periods, cramps, and joking about our synchronized cycles. Talking about your period is no longer taboo, which is one of the reasons why there are so many period tracking apps on the market, such as Stardust, which has an average rating of 4.6 stars out of more than 28,000 reviews on the App Store.
Like many other options on the market, the Stardust app allows you to log your symptoms and the start of your cycle each month to predict your period, but it goes a step further. Not only does it give you information about your hormones and how they fluctuate through each phase, but it also allows you to add friends and/or partners to your account so they know how you're doing, too.
This is ideal if you experience intense highs and lows (such as major mood swings during the luteal phase) and want your loved ones to know what's going on. For astrology enthusiasts, the app also has some esoteric elements that might appeal to you. Here's what it was like to try Stardust, including my honest review.
quick overview
- Price: Free to download, $2.99 per week for all access, $3.99 per month, or $24.99 per year
- Best for: Period tracking, mood tracking
- My rating: 4/5
- What we like: Simple, easy to use, beautiful design
- What we don’t like: Get more in-depth information, especially about astronomy, with a free subscription
What is the Stardust app?
Stardust was founded by women and is currently run by women. It's billed as a free hormone health app that teaches you how to manage the various stages of your menstrual cycle. It combines science, astronomy, artificial intelligence, and ancient wisdom to "help you understand the magic of your cycles, track your experiences, clarify your goals, and make friends with your body."
It's a great app to track your period and PMS on your phone, discover upcoming ovulation windows, and understand your monthly ups and downs - like why you're on a random Wednesday I suddenly felt very tired in the afternoon.
There are five tabs in the app: one takes you to your cycle; One that shows you a monthly calendar, period and ovulation predictions, and moon phases; one where you can add symptoms; another that connects you with other users; and a tool that gives you hormonal and cycle insights. A new feature in the app also allows you to track your pregnancy.
my experience
There are many ways to track your period, including the built-in trackers that come standard with many phones, but in my opinion, it never hurts to try them all to see which one you like best. When I downloaded Stardust, one of the things I immediately appreciated was its user-friendly design. (I really like purple.)
When you first get the app, you first enter your last period and it gives you a calendar with predictions for the coming weeks. There's a monthly calendar to view, like a spinning wheel (shown above), that shows both the moon phase and the phase of your cycle.
There is another tab where you can add your method of birth control (if you have one) and flow (light, medium, heavy, etc.); information about cervical mucus (watery, creamy, thick, etc.); you feelings, cravings, sexual desire, and other physical symptoms (like cramps, bloating, increased appetite, etc.); activities (like meditating or running); changes in your state (whether you consume caffeine, alcohol, etc.); and finally, you Any cycle disruptions you may encounter such as travel, illness, stress, etc.
This has been very helpful for me to record my feelings and desires. I'm someone who will walk like a zombie to the corner store to buy a specific snack while wondering why I feel like I need sour cream and onion slices instead of something else. While there are many explanations, Stardust's motto is "Every symptom is a clue." It turns out that salt cravings are very common during the luteal phase.
Stardust also explains the role of your hormones in each phase of your cycle in the cutest way. During my follicular phase, the app told me that my hormones were "playing a jazz riff" and therefore, it indicated that I might be in the mood for some exercise, like a walk or one (1) push-up. guess what? I totally am.
While viewing the calendar, you can also scroll and click on various facts and information about hormones. Even though I feel like I know a lot about the menstrual cycle, it's still helpful to have a deeper understanding of what each hormone really does in the body, such as how estrogen rises during the follicular phase and increases serotonin levels.
Hormones really do make the world go round, probably more than you realize. That's why I think it's helpful, and even a little bit funny, that Stardust doesn't just talk about common problems like sugar cravings and fatigue, but it also explains why you might feel the urge to cut your hair, or why you May get into trouble. The mood of having a super deep chat with friends. Answer? Hormones, baby!
As I've been using the app, tracking my feelings and activities, and watching each phase come and go, I've noticed that the predictions and interpretations of each phase seem to be very accurate.
This app alleviates the mystery that often surrounds random bursts of energy or sudden urges to take a nap. While other external factors are always at play, it's reassuring to know that seemingly random mood swings, painful cramps, or increases in energy may be related to your follicular phase, ovulation, and more.
The last tab in the app takes you to cycle types, and here I learned that I'm a purple moon witch, which according to the app means I tend to menstruate during the waning moon. (You can also be a white witch, a pink witch, or a red witch.)
Purple Moon Witches are said to value self-discovery and deep introspection, so that might explain why I get stuck so often throughout this cycle.
It was also here that I learned that I, like 21 percent of the Stardust community, was born under a waning gibbous moon, which, according to the app, means I am particularly “self-aware, intelligent, and drawn to the occult realm. ""
As a Scorpio, this feels especially accurate, and it's got me thinking about how to take better care of myself throughout the cycle. Maybe I do need to snack when I need to, take naps when I need to, and appreciate all the emotional moments and insights.
takeout
This app has some great visuals. I love the monthly wheel and how it shows me exactly where I am in the cycle. It's nice to have a countdown to my period so I can prepare accordingly. And since I'm the worst at remembering my cycle phases, I like that this app is like a little cheat sheet with guidance and information.
Stardust covers your hormones, predictions, and cycles, but I would love it if it leaned more into astrology, perhaps by sharing how a full moon or other lunar event, like the recent solar eclipse, affects your cycles .
It's also fun to learn more about the witch genre and what it means without going beyond a paywall. The app promises to share astronomy and other similar ancient wisdom, so I hope future free updates will go deeper.
I would say Stardust is a great app for tracking your period and understanding your monthly hormonal changes and how they affect your energy levels, mood, etc. It also gets bonus points for its moody celestial imagery and simple, easy-to-use design.
Research reference:
Verma, P. (2005). Salt preference during different phases of the menstrual cycle. Indian Journal of Physiological Pharmacology. Phone number: 15881866.
