Why We’re Obsessed With Period Tracking Right Now

This is a love letter and a review of my favourite period tracking app of all time - Stardust.app. I have been using it for years, and I want fellow modern witches to finally understand their bodies, too!

I vividly remember the first time I went to the gyno on my own (at the ripe age of 24, like the adult I was). She asked me my last cycle date, and I stared at her, mind blank. “When did your last cycle begin?” - I must have looked a bit puzzled because the next question she asked was “DO YOU NOT KNOW WHEN YOUR LAST CYCLE STARTED?”. I said no with my eyes tearing up. I hid behind a lie, telling myself I was just naive, and admittedly a bit irresponsible. Month after month, I would take out a pad when I would see that first blood stain in my pants.

This interaction shocked me into starting to mark my calendar on that damn first day of my period for a few months. Until I realised going digital was smarter and more in line with the times. And let me tell you, after much trial and error, and migrating my data from one app to another, Stardust has won my heart.

What Is Stardust? A Cycle Tracking App Where Astrology Meets Science

Things might be different now, but I’m in my thirties, and I grew up knowing nothing about my period. Except for the fact that it comes once a month when you’re in good health. It’s not something we were taught about in school.

It’s only thanks to Stardust that I now understand the relationship between my period and my mind and body. It's incredible how it influences my mood and feelings, and ultimately drives my life!

Before Stardust, I used a bunch of different period tracking apps, from the iPhone built-in Health App to all the other well-known names (except Flo, which is men-owned, and how would a man be able to understand my period?). They all made me feel like logging my period was a chore. To be fair, they weren’t providing any advice. They were simply sending me a notification 7 days before my next period, which is a lot of wasted pads.

I found out about Stardust on social media. I watched a video highlighting how fun their daily notifications were. And despite being someone who can’t stand a pointless notification, I’ve never turned them off since the day I got the app. Stardust isn’t just another period tracking app made for women by women. It’s the perfect blend between science and mysticism.

Think whimsical, but scientifically accurate. Their team is a mix of gynaecologists, midwives, and sexual health experts, as well as holistic wellness coaches. They came together on a mission to bring together and break down their collective knowledge about hormones and female sexual health. After all, it has been observed since ancient times that there is a close cultural relationship between periods and the moon cycle (28 days). I personally love the cosmic design and how it doesn’t feel like just another clinical, all-pink cycle tracking app.

Why I Love It: More Than Just Period Predictions

Obviously, the fact that it predicts my period super accurately, getting my exact period start date 99% of the time, is an incredible benefit - no more stained panties, yay! But Stardust goes way beyond that, with a wide array of free features that have won my heart and that of thousands of other people with uteruses worldwide. I want to list here my personal favourites, but just know that when you download the app, you will find many more.

Seamless data migration from your current period tracking app: When you download Stardust, the onboarding process will guide you through how to migrate your data from the app you’re currently using, without losing anything and plugging it into their algorithm for a seamless transition.
Menstrual phase and hormone levels descriptions: Did you know that you can only get pregnant during your ovulation phase (aka, about 6 days a month)? Did you know that your body feels sad during your luteal phase because your egg didn’t get fertilised? I’ve learned this and more by reading the nuggets on my Stardust calendar.
Sexual health goal: You can pick among a few different “Journeys”, so that Stardust personalises your experience. Are you currently pregnant or trying to get pregnant? Simply tracking your cycle? Or following your partner? (More on Partner Mode below)
Partner mode: Share your period data with a partner so they can follow your journey, understand your symptoms and feelings, and if you feel it’s awkward to discuss with them when you’re on your period, you can skip the talk and let Stardust notify them.
Notifications: This is the feature that I knew Stardust for! The fun daily notifications make talking about periods more lighthearted and relatable - who doesn’t feel peckish when they are PMSing? No shame in eating an entire bar of chocolate if you know you’re not the only one who gets cravings before getting their period! You can opt out of notifications if not your thing.

I have had Stardust for a couple of years now, and they managed to somehow turn a tedious, clinical chore into a fun, playful ritual. Stardust is for you if:

You are an astrology lover and ritually read about how the different planets affect your daily life (Mercury in retrograde, I’m looking at you!)
When it comes to periods and menstrual cycles, you understand the importance of scientific accuracy, but you’re equally appreciative of beautiful design and playful copy.
You are trying to conceive or NOT to conceive, and want to have a clear understanding of how your predicted hormone levels affect your fertility window.
You need to track your mood, feelings, cravings, birth control or period-related medical symptoms like cramps, breast tenderness, cervical mucus characteristics and many more.

Let’s Talk About Stardust’s Health Data Policy and Privacy

If you’re anything like me, and always “Deny all cookies” because you care about your privacy, you will appreciate this little extra feature that the Stardust team thoughtfully created to protect their users. Stardust makes a big deal of privacy: not only do they encrypt your health data, but they also do not sell it to any third party either.

This is especially important for US users who suffered the consequences of the Roe v. Wade overturn in 2022, but any user in the world profits from protecting bodily autonomy in a tech-heavy world.

Final Thoughts: A Period Tracking App That Feels Like a Ritual

Stardust App has transformed period tracking from a chore to a ritual that naturally fits into my life. I regularly track my mood, cycle and sexual activity on Stardust because it feels fun and lighthearted, not clinical and overly pink. Its magic-meets-science approach really speaks to me.

I recommend switching to Stardust to anyone who is simultaneously interested in health and astrology, and wants to accurately keep their sexual health in check in a bit of a whimsical way.

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Ilaria Pellegrini is an SEO consultant and blog writer at maars marketing, based in London, UK. With 8+ years of brand and digital marketing expertise, since 2023, she has started working with wellness and coaching businesses to strengthen their online visibility and increase their chances of discoverability through SEO and Digital Marketing.

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