Turtle data
Cramps, tiredness and bloating: the period symptoms women log most
Key findings
Of more than 500 Turtle members logging cycle symptoms (January 2025 to October 2026), 62% logged cramps, 46% tiredness and 44% bloating. Women in perimenopause or menopause logged water retention more often (29% against 18% of women under 45). Source: Turtle Method member data, turtlemethod.com/data/period-symptoms/.
of members logging cycle symptoms logged cramps, the most common symptom
Cramps, tiredness and bloating are the period symptoms women log most in Turtle. Of more than 500 members who logged at least one cycle symptom between January 2025 and October 2026, 62% logged cramps at some point, 46% tiredness and 44% bloating. Headaches (40%), cravings (30%) and backache (30%) came next.
Share of members logging any symptom who logged each one at least once, Jan 2025 to Oct 2026
Source: Turtle Method member data · CC BY 4.0
Moods are logged too
Women can log a mood alongside their symptoms. Feeling irritable was the most common (43%), then feeling sad (28%), and a quarter logged feeling happy (26%) at some point: a period doesn't only bring bad days.
In perimenopause and menopause
Among more than 100 women who told us they're in perimenopause or menopause and still logged cycle symptoms, bloating (50%) and tiredness (50%) were logged a little more often than by women under 45, and water retention (29% against 18%) more so. The group is smaller, so read small gaps with care.
| Symptom or mood | All | Under 45 | Peri or menopause |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cramps | 62% | 62% | 61% |
| Tiredness | 46% | 45% | 50% |
| Bloating | 44% | 43% | 50% |
| Headache | 40% | 38% | 47% |
| Cravings | 30% | 31% | 30% |
| Tender breasts | 28% | 26% | 39% |
| Water retention | 19% | 18% | 29% |
| Trouble sleeping | 13% | 13% | 20% |
| Feeling irritable | 43% | 42% | 49% |
| Feeling sad | 28% | 26% | 34% |
Shares are of members who logged any symptom, so they show what women chose to log, not how common each symptom is in all women. Each woman counts once per symptom, however often she logged it.
What the research says
The NHS lists mood swings, tiredness, bloating or cramping, breast tenderness, headaches and food cravings among the most common premenstrual symptoms, and suggests a symptom diary for at least 2 cycles.
NHS (2026). PMS (premenstrual syndrome). NHS website. www.nhs.uk/conditions/pre-menstrual-syndrome/
In 765 cycles of daily diaries, self-reported fluid retention was lowest mid-follicular and peaked on the first day of the period.
White CP, Hitchcock CL, Vigna YM, Prior JC (2011). Fluid retention over the menstrual cycle: 1-year data from the Prospective Ovulation Cohort. Obstetrics and Gynecology International. doi.org/10.1155/2011/138451
Questions people ask
What are the most common period symptoms?
In Turtle members' logs, cramps (62%), tiredness (46%) and bloating (44%) were logged most, then headaches and cravings. The NHS lists similar common symptoms.
When should I see a GP about period symptoms?
If your periods are very painful or heavy, symptoms affect your daily life, or you bleed between periods or after sex. This isn't medical advice: if something's worrying you, speak to your GP.
Method
Cycle symptoms and moods logged in the Turtle app between 1 January 2025 and 6 October 2026 by more than 500 women who logged at least one symptom. Each woman counts once per symptom. Life stage is what women told us when they joined (perimenopause or menopause, or their age). Women only, staff accounts excluded; every group shown has 50 or more women and sizes are rounded. This shows a pattern, not a cause. Full methodology.
Cite this
Free to use with credit and a link to the source page. The figures and chart on this page are licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Journalists: for another cut of the data (aggregates only, same rules), contact scott@turtlemethod.com. More data on the Turtle data hub.
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