Update: see new post

Are you interested in a copy?

I’m asking to gage if there’s enough interest before I put in the effort of altering my medical data into sample data, research about removing personal identifying meta-data or author data (whatever it’s called that can ID me) from the document, and add instructions as though the user has never used a spreadsheet before.

Also, If there’s enough interest, I’ll check this week if the spreadsheet works in Google spreadsheet and Microsoft Excel. It’s only been tested in LibreCalc (free open source spreadsheet software).

Details (what does it do exactly?):

• Bonus: calculates your probable SAFE date for the next 10 future cycles. This number is set by the user. It’s the number of days after your period begins that you feel safe scheduling for an event, either due to physical, mental, or emotional reasons. E.g. you know you’re in peak energetic condition to perform mentally X days after your cycle begins. Set safe date to X days to see if your competition or presentation falls near that time.

• Calculates a range for your predicted period start dates for the next 10 cycles (I figured it would be useless to go even further into the future because the calculations are less accurate the more forward you go).

• calculates the length of each individual cycle

• calculates the average length of your cycle

• calculates the variance (in days) in your cycle, so it gives you a predicted RANGE of dates for when you can expect your cycle to begin.

What does the user need to do?

• Column A: input at least the last 6 start dates of your period (more data would be better for accuracy, like a year or more of start dates, especially if you’re not like clockwork).

• Column B: click and drag the cell calculation to your most recently inputted date to update the predictions. (I’ll add instructions, but it’s super simple.)

• that’s it.

Specifications:

• created in LibreCalc (free open source spreadsheet)

• Needs a computer. Does not need the internet to operate. Might work on an iPad (if iPad spreadsheet program has same library of functions).

• As for using a mobile or Chromebook, I’m not sure that Google spreadsheet has the sufficient library of functions to handle the calculations. I did not check.

• I did not check if the library of function names I used match those in Microsoft office excel (but i KNOW MS office has the resources to do these same calculations, some under different function names if they don’t match).

• regarding why I didn’t use MS office to create the spreadsheet. Even though I currently have access to it, I didn’t want to potentially run into a problem into the future where I lost access to proprietary software.

Why did I do this?

I’ve used a mobile period tracker app before. Nothing motivates you like the app malfunctioning and telling you your account doesn’t exist. I lost years of data. Infuriating. I’m never relying on an app I have no control over ever again.

why not just use a paper (or digital) calendar like the olden days?

Works for some people. Inconvenient for me. I’m not like clockwork. I need a program to account for the variance in my cycle for future dates, and bonus, I can just look up the list of safe dates for the next ten cycles to plan my vacations and fun events. Too much brain power to do this on a paper calendar.