On Monday, Apple announced that the Health app and HealthKit framework on iOS 9 would include reproductive health tracking. Translation: you’ll be able to track your period on Apple's app on your iPhone once iOS 9 is available this fall. The feature is welcome news after Apple took criticism for not including the feature on the first version of the app.

Period tracking isn't new. Just as there are apps that track your sleep and fitness, there are several available for tracking a woman's menstrual cycle. We don't know much about the updated Health app, but the expectation is that it will incorporate data from third-party apps while also allowing women to manually enter in information about their cycle. You can currently enter some data points into the Health app, such as how many milligrams of caffeine you consume or how many miles you run, without connecting to outside sources.

Glancing at all that data in one spot will make it easier for people like me who regularly use period-tracking apps. I started using period-traking apps on my iPhone a year and a half ago. Initially, I downloaded the first free app that appeared on the App Store: the aptly named Period Tracker. Like most health apps, its usefulness is dependent on how much personal data you enter. In exchange for that data, the app offered me a sometimes-accurate glimpse into the future. For most of the time I have used the app, its predictions on when I will get my period have been completely accurate, or only one to two days off. That's pretty useful information if you're planning a vacation or want to know when to avoid light-colored clothing.

Recently, I downloaded another period-tracking app after reading about Alissa Walker’s experience with it on Gizmodo. Glow offers detailed metrics for women who are looking to get pregnant or for those who simply want to track their monthly cycles (you can even send your data to your partner). I like trying out several apps that serve the same purpose to find out which one I like best, but it would be easier to view all my health data in one spot.

Ideally, the Health app on iOS 9 will allow users to incorporate data from multiple period-tracking apps so they don't have to open and close separate apps to view something as simple as a date on a calendar.