Utilizing Resting Heart Rate to customize menstrual cycles

[mamamcc]

Are there any thoughts to using the RHR already collected by Fitbit to dial in the cycle stages for each user? There was a paper published in 2017 (found here https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-01433-9#Tab1 ) that showed a cyclical nature to RHR during a woman's cycle. Lowest RHR during the period and climbing to a peak mid-luteal phase with ovulation occuring between the two. Looking back through my own cycles and RHR history (I've recorded both independently for 3 years), and there does appear to be a strong correlation. 

[SantiR]

Nice suggestion, thanks for sharing. We look forward to hearing what other community members think.

[marmitecake]

Oh wow yeah I've noticed that too!

[Cccm]

The relationship between resting heart rate and cycle is very clear to me and I use this sign. However, Fitbit only shows monthly testing heart rate charts be calendar month and I can’t adjust to cycle time frame, which would be way more useful.

[CraftyCat96]

A females resting heart rate varies across her menstrual cycle, which has been even shown using Fitbit trackers (https://helloclue.com/articles/cycle-a-z/resting-heart-rate-during-menstrual-cycle-clue-pilot-study-...). Because of this my health score estimation- which is estimated based on my resting heart rate and weight- varies across the month. This monthly variation due to my cycle is far more than any actual improvement in my fitness, making it hard to identify true improvements. If this correlation was used in the fitness score estimation algorithm to remove the monthly variation it would be much more accurate. A second way this correlation between cycle and heart rate could be used would be to use a females resting heart rate to better predict days of menstruation and fertility. This would be particularly useful for females who have irregular cycles, where taking the average cycle length for these predictions isn't very accurate. 

[YojanaFitbit]

Hi @CraftyCat96, thanks for taking the time to share your suggestion with us! I've moved it into a similar suggestion. We rely on feedback like yours to help us develop products and features that we know our community wants to see. If your suggestion receives votes from other customers and gains popularity, it will be shared internally with various teams at Fitbit. To learn more about how Fitbit decides which suggestions get developed, visit our FAQs.

Watch this space for status updates! In the meantime, try visiting our Lifestyle Discussion Forum to talk with other members about all things health and fitness.

[Javic]

I would like to be able to see my period and ovulation dates on a chart with my resting heart rate as the menstrual cycle affects resting heart rate. 

[YojanaFitbit]

Hi @Javic! Great suggestion, thanks for sharing your feedback about using the resting heart rate to get better information about ovulation days. I've moved it into a similar request. Post a comment or click on the thumbs-up to show your support.

[zimme23]

The cardio fitness feature depends on your RHR. However, a woman's RHR changes within different stages of her menstrual cycle (this has been proven in multiple studies). This means that in some cycle stages, the app shows you are more/less fit than you actually are. I think that the RHR and cardio fitness feature should sync to your current cycle stage.

At a minimum, this way women can see how their cycle affects their heart rate, which eventually affects their workouts and such.

[YojanaFitbit]

Hi @zimme23, thanks for explaining why you would like to have see on the Fitbit app how a woman's heart rate changes within different stages of her menstrual cycle. Thanks for sharing your feedback. I've moved it into a similar request.  A lot of users are asking for this option, I hope we receive updates soon.

[Silverrose29]

Every month I notice that as I head towards my period, my resting heart rate rapidly increases and then will drop back down after my period has ended. If the women's health calender and the resting heart rate could be viewed on one calendar it could help women track when their period is due

[EdsonFitbit]

Hi @Silverrose29, thanks for taking the time to share your feedback about linking menstrual cycle tracking with resting heart rate, this feature suggestion already exists so I’ve moved your post here to keep this board organized.

[Veeeeeee]

It would be great to have a graph that shows our RHR on each day of our menstrual cycle.

[EdsonFitbit]

Hi @Veeeeeee, thanks for taking the time to share your feedback about having a graph that shows Resting Heart Rate on each day of the menstrual cycle.

This feature suggestion already exists so I’ve moved your post here to keep this board organized.