Menstrual Cycle Calculator in Sheets
Formula
The API generates detailed cycle calendars with phase information including menstruation, follicular, ovulation, and luteal phases for multiple upcoming cycles.
=VERVE("menstrualcycle", A2)=VERVE.CALL("menstrualcycle", A2)A2 holds the last_period you're looking up. Drag the formula down and each row resolves on its own.
With literal values
Nothing has to come from a cell — typed values work the same way.
=VERVE("menstrualcycle", "2024-01-01")Inputs
Required inputs are positional, in the order below. Everything else is passed as a "name", value pair after them — the same shape as SUMIFS.
| Input | Type | Where it goes | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
last_periodRequired | string | argument 2 | First day of last menstrual period (YYYY-MM-DD) (e.g. 2024-01-01) |
cycle_length | integer | "cycle_length", value | Average cycle length in days (e.g. 28) |
period_length | integer | "period_length", value | Average period duration in days (e.g. 5) |
cycles | integer | "cycles", value | Number of future cycles to calculate (e.g. 3) |
Passing an option
=VERVE("menstrualcycle", A2, "cycle_length", "28")What lands in your sheet
With no "field" pair the formula spills the whole response as two columns — field name on the left, value on the right — starting at the cell you typed in. Make sure the cells below and to the right are empty.
Pulling one value
Add a "field" pair to get a single cell back instead of a table. The field name is the dot-path from the table below.
=VERVE("menstrualcycle", A2, "field", "last_period_date")=VERVE.CALL("menstrualcycle", A2, "field", "last_period_date")Available fields
#PREMIUM(field) rather than a value, so a locked field never looks like a real answer.| Use as "field" | Type | Example cell value | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
last_period_date | string | 2024-01-01 | First day of last menstrual period |
cycle_length | number | 28 | Average menstrual cycle length in days |
period_length | number | 5 | Average menstrual period duration in days |
cycles_calculated | number | 3 | Total number of cycles calculated |
cycles | array[3] | list of rows | Array of calculated menstrual cycles with details |
cycles.0.cycle_number | number | 1 | |
cycles.0.period | object | {…} | |
cycles.0.period.start_date | string | 2024-01-01 | |
cycles.0.period.end_date | string | 2024-01-05 | |
cycles.0.period.duration_days | number | 5 | |
cycles.0.ovulation | object | {…} | |
cycles.0.ovulation.date | string | 2024-01-15 | |
cycles.0.ovulation.day_of_cycle | number | 14 | |
cycles.0.fertile_window | object | {…} | |
cycles.0.fertile_window.start_date | string | 2024-01-10 | |
cycles.0.fertile_window.end_date | string | 2024-01-15 | |
cycles.0.fertile_window.duration_days | number | 6 | |
cycles.0.pms_phase | object | {…} | |
cycles.0.pms_phase.start_date | string | 2023-12-21 | |
cycles.0.pms_phase.end_date | string | 2023-12-31 | |
cycles.0.cycle_phases | object | {…} | |
cycles.0.cycle_phases.menstrual | object | {…} | |
cycles.0.cycle_phases.menstrual.start | string | 2024-01-01 | |
cycles.0.cycle_phases.menstrual.end | string | 2024-01-05 | |
cycles.0.cycle_phases.menstrual.description | string | Menstruation | |
cycles.0.cycle_phases.follicular | object | {…} | |
cycles.0.cycle_phases.follicular.start | string | 2024-01-06 | |
cycles.0.cycle_phases.follicular.end | string | 2024-01-14 | |
cycles.0.cycle_phases.follicular.description | string | Follicular phase - preparing for ovulation | |
cycles.0.cycle_phases.ovulation | object | {…} | |
cycles.0.cycle_phases.ovulation.date | string | 2024-01-15 | |
cycles.0.cycle_phases.ovulation.description | string | Ovulation - most fertile day | |
cycles.0.cycle_phases.luteal | object | {…} | |
cycles.0.cycle_phases.luteal.start | string | 2024-01-16 | |
cycles.0.cycle_phases.luteal.end | string | 2024-01-28 | |
cycles.0.cycle_phases.luteal.description | string | Luteal phase - preparing for next period | |
cycles.0.status | string | past | |
cycles.0.days_until | object | null | |
cycles.0.days_ago | number | 715 | |
current_status | object | {…} | Which phase today falls in and when the next period is due |
current_status.phasePremium | string | Unknown | Current menstrual cycle phase name |
current_status.descriptionPremium | string | | Description of current cycle phase |
current_status.next_periodPremium | object | null | Date of next expected menstrual period |
current_status.days_until_next_periodPremium | object | null | Days until next menstrual period starts |
averages | object | {…} | Average cycle length, period duration and gap between periods |
averages.cycle_lengthPremium | number | 28 | Average menstrual cycle length across periods |
averages.period_durationPremium | number | 5 | Average menstrual period duration across cycles |
averages.days_between_periodsPremium | number | 28 | Average days between menstrual period starts |
disclaimer | string | This calculator provides estimates only. Actual cycles may vary. Consult a healthcare provider for medical advice. | Legal disclaimer about calculation accuracy |
Filling a whole column
Hand the first argument a range instead of a cell and the add-in makes one batched call for the lot, then spills the answers down. That is faster than dragging the formula and costs the same credits — one per row looked up.
=VERVE("menstrualcycle", A2:A100, "field", "last_period_date")=VERVE.CALL("menstrualcycle", A2:A100, "field", "last_period_date")A2:A100 is the column of last_period values. The result spills down alongside it, one row per input, blanks skipped.
When a cell doesn't fill
A failed lookup returns readable text starting with #ERR rather than a spreadsheet error, because Excel cannot show a custom message on a real error — you would get a bare #VALUE! with no reason. The trade-off is that IFERROR() won't catch it; test with LEFT(cell, 4) = "#ERR" instead.
| Cell reads | What happened |
|---|---|
#ERR Not connected | No API key saved. Open the side panel and connect your account. |
#ERR Replace <name> with a cell or value | The preview formula was copied as-is. Swap the placeholder for a cell reference. |
#ERR No "x" in menstrualcycle | An option name that this source doesn't take. The message lists the ones it does. |
#ERR No data point "…" | The "field" path isn't in the response. Check the dot-path against the table above. |
#PREMIUM(field) | The field exists but your plan doesn't include it. |
#ERR Out of credits | The month's credits are spent. Usage resets on your billing date. |
Before the formula works
The add-in reads the API key you saved once in the side panel — the key never goes in the formula, so a shared sheet doesn't leak it and a collaborator without access simply sees the last calculated values.
- Install the add-in for Google Sheets or Excel.
- Open the side panel and sign in, or paste a key from your dashboard.
- Type the formula above into any cell.
Other ways to use Menstrual Cycle Calculator in Sheets
Set up Menstrual Cycle Calculator in Sheets on VerveSheets, or reach the same source a different way. Your VerveSheets account and credits work on all of them — one key, one balance.
Frequently asked questions
Does Menstrual Cycle Calculator in Sheets work in both Google Sheets and Excel?
Yes — the same source, the same arguments. Sheets calls it =VERVE("menstrualcycle", …) and Excel calls it =VERVE.CALL("menstrualcycle", …); that function name is the only difference.
Do the cells recalculate on their own?
They recalculate when the sheet does — on edit, on open, or on a manual recalc. Each recalculation is a fresh call and spends credits, so for a large static column it's worth copying the results and pasting them as values.
How many credits does a filled column cost?
1 credit per row looked up, whether you drag the formula or pass a range. The range form is one HTTP call instead of many, but the credit count is the same.
Can I share the sheet without sharing my key?
Yes. The key is stored against your account, not in the file. Collaborators see the values already in the cells; formulas only recalculate for someone who has connected their own account.
Why is a cell showing #ERR instead of an error?
So you can read the reason. Excel can't display a custom message on a real spreadsheet error, so the add-in returns the explanation as text on both platforms instead.