Apple's Health app can now tell you if you're in perimenopause

June 9, 2026 - 01:09

Apple has updated its Health app with a new capability that alerts women when their menstrual cycle patterns may indicate perimenopause. The cycle tracker now analyzes logged data and sends notifications if it detects changes suggestive of the transition phase leading up to menopause.

The feature uses the same cycle tracking data that users already enter, such as period dates and flow levels, to identify shifts in cycle length or regularity. When the app detects prolonged gaps between periods or other common perimenopausal patterns, it will flag the change and suggest the user consider discussing it with a healthcare provider.

This update builds on the existing cycle tracking tools Apple introduced in 2019, which already allowed users to log symptoms and predict fertile windows. The new perimenopause detection aims to help women recognize a stage that often goes unnoticed or misunderstood. Many women experience irregular cycles, hot flashes, or sleep disturbances for years before menopause officially begins, but they may not connect these symptoms to hormonal changes.

Apple emphasized that the feature is not a diagnostic tool. It simply provides an alert based on the user's own data, encouraging them to seek professional advice if they notice persistent changes. The company also noted that all health data remains encrypted and private on the device.

The update is available in the latest version of iOS and requires users to opt in to cycle tracking. Early reviews from health experts have been mixed, with some praising the increased awareness while others caution that cycle irregularities can have many causes beyond perimenopause. Still, the feature marks another step in consumer health technology moving beyond basic step counting into more nuanced reproductive health support.