Four Months of Mwandamo’s USSD Menstrual Cycle Tracker: What We’re Learning!
Four months ago, we launched something small but powerful: Mwandamo’s USSD menstrual cycle tracking app. With a simple code and no need for internet or a smartphone, women and girls across Tanzania can now track their periods, spot patterns, receive gentle reminders about their cycles and menstrual health educational messages – all completely free.
Why does this matter?
Global research shows that menstrual cycle tracking helps people understand their bodies, recognise changes early, and make informed decisions about sex, fertility, pregnancy, and healthcare. Tracking cycles supports reproductive autonomy by helping individuals anticipate their periods, identify irregularities, and seek timely medical advice when something feels “off.” Menstrual patterns are increasingly recognised as an important health indicator linked to hormonal wellbeing, stress, nutrition, and broader reproductive health.
At the same time, many digital period-tracking apps rely on smartphones, data, and often share or monetise highly sensitive information. For women and girls in low-connectivity or high‑privacy‑risk settings, this makes digital tracking inaccessible or unsafe. Our USSD tool offers a different, more secure pathway: it works on any basic phone, requires no internet, stores no sensitive personal data, and is designed specifically for rural and underserved communities.
While USSD has been used globally for health hotlines and reproductive health information services, very few examples exist of free USSD menstrual tracking tools. This makes Mwandamo’s platform one of the first of its kind – helping bridge a major digital health equity gap.
In just four months, more than 1,000 users have subscribed. Each new user represents another woman gaining clearer insight into their body and greater confidence in their reproductive choices.
The message is simple: when we remove barriers – whether financial, digital, or technological – menstrual health knowledge becomes accessible to everyone. And that is transformative.
CHO Naomi helping women to sign up to the app in Oltukai Village.