Rate your mood every day for at least two full cycles and mark the days of your period. Note the symptoms that bother you most. Take the record to your doctor, who may also ask you to fill in a form like the DRSP.

Can I use Pixy as a period mood tracker?

Yes, with a tag. Pixy has no cycle tracking, but you can add a "period" tag on the days you bleed. The calendar filter then shows how your mood lines up with your cycle.

How many cycles should I track for PMDD?

At least two. Doctors confirm PMDD with daily ratings across at least two symptomatic cycles, because symptoms can vary from cycle to cycle.

Is a mood tracker the same as the DRSP?

No. The DRSP is a standard daily form with specific symptoms and severity ratings. A mood tracker gives a simpler daily rating. You can use both.

Mood tracking guide

PMDD mood tracker: rate every day for two cycles

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is diagnosed from daily ratings, not memory. Doctors ask for at least two cycles of them. Pixy is a mood tracker, not a period tracker, but a daily rating plus a "period" tag shows the pattern. This guide explains how.

Last reviewed October 18, 2026 by the Pixy team. Not medically reviewed. 5 sources.

Pixy is not a replacement for professional care

Pixy is a self-tracking tool, not a medical device or therapy. It cannot diagnose, treat, or monitor any condition. Talk to a doctor or therapist about your symptoms and your care.

If you are in crisis or thinking about suicide, get help now. In the US, call or text 988 (988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline). In the UK, call Samaritans on 116 123. Elsewhere, find a free helpline at findahelpline.com or call your local emergency number.

What PMDD looks like over time

PMDD symptoms show up in the final week before your period. They start to improve within a few days after it starts, and are minimal or gone in the week after.^[1]

Symptoms include mood swings, irritability, depressed mood, and anxiety, along with physical symptoms. PMDD affects about 2 to 5% of people who menstruate.^[2]

Doctors confirm PMDD with daily ratings over at least two symptomatic cycles.^[1] Symptoms can vary from one cycle to the next.^[2]

Why PMDD is hard to pin down

Memory is not enough

Looking back, it is easy to blame bad days on your cycle, or miss that they line up. Reporting from memory leads to more false positives.^[1]

It takes months of data

Two cycles means about two months of daily ratings before an appointment. Without a reminder, gaps creep in.

Two apps, two records

Logging your period in one app and your mood in another makes it hard to line them up. One record with both is easier to read.

Being heard

Patient groups recommend bringing completed charts to appointments.^[3] A clear chart makes the pattern hard to dismiss.

What to track for PMDD, and why

Mood every day: Daily ratings over at least two cycles are what doctors ask for.^[1]
Period days: Lets you line up low days with the start of your period.
Symptoms that matter to you: Irritability, anxiety, sleep, cravings, cramps. Tags or emotions can mark them.
Impact on your day: Missing work or avoiding people. A short note works.

How clinicians use mood records

The NHS suggests keeping a diary of your symptoms for at least 2 menstrual cycles and taking it to your GP.^[4]

Many clinicians use a standard form called the Daily Record of Severity of Problems (DRSP). It is a reliable and valid measure of PMDD symptoms.^[5] IAPMD offers a tracker that includes it.^[3]

If your doctor gives you the DRSP, fill it in. A mood tracker with a period tag can sit next to it and show the pattern at a glance.

What tracking can look like: three cycles with PMDD

Three made-up months with a cycle of about 29 days. The week or so before each period is low, and mood lifts a few days after it starts.

Example data, not a real personIllustration, not a Pixy screen

Extremely badExtremely good

Example: how your entries can look as a trend

This chart is drawn from the made-up entries on this page, using Pixy's colors. Pixy's statistics show a mood chart of your own entries. Pixy does not draw this exact chart, the tag rows below it, or mark episodes. You spot the patterns yourself.

Mood per day across three cycles, with period days below. Each dip ends a few days into the period.

What you can spot in this example

The low stretch comes before the period, three cycles in a row.
Mood lifts within a few days of the period starting. This timing is what doctors look for.
Three cycles of daily data are more than the two cycles doctors ask for.

How Pixy can help you track PMDD

Pixy has no cycle tracking. It has no period predictions, no cycle day, and no fertility features. A "period" tag and a daily rating still show the PMDD pattern clearly.

Tags to create

periodAdd it on each day you bleed. The first tagged day is day 1.
irritableOr pick the emotion "Irritated" in the check-in.
crampsOr any physical symptom you want to follow.
bad sleepPixy has no sleep log. A tag marks the rough nights.
missed workDays the symptoms got in the way.

Setup and routine

1Create the tags above in Settings, Tags.
2Turn on the daily reminder and pick a time you are usually free, such as after dinner.
3Rate your mood every day for at least two full cycles, including the good days.
4Tag "period" on each day you bleed.
5Filter the calendar by "period" to line up your low days with each period.
6Before an appointment, open the monthly report or Year in Pixels and show it on your phone, or take screenshots. Pixy has no printable report.
7Export your data now and then. Entries live only on your phone, with no cloud backup. The export is a JSON file, useful as a backup or for moving to a new phone.

What Pixy cannot do

Pixy is not a period tracker. It does not predict periods or count cycle days.
Pixy is not the DRSP and has no symptom severity scales. Use the DRSP if your doctor asks for it.
Pixy cannot tell PMDD apart from PMS or other conditions. Only a doctor can.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions