The survey shows increased use of fertility apps following the Dobbs decision

The survey shows increased use of fertility apps following the Dobbs decision

Use of fertility tracking technology increased in some states after the U.S. Supreme Court overturnedRoe v. calfDespite warnings that reproduction-related data may not be safe, a new study has found.

Data from polls in Arizona, Iowa, New Jersey, Ohio and Wisconsin showed that ahead of the 2022 decision in 2022Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health OrganizationOver a third of women in these states reported using apps or websites to track their menstrual cycles and sexual activity. In the year following the decision, the proportion of survey respondents using fertility trackers grew to nearly half.

The survey devices consisted of different groups of people, so this result does not rule out the possibility that some users left the apps to protect their personal data. The findings likely reflect a rise in the use of technologies aimed at improving women's health - known as "femtech" - in general, said Emily Neiman, a clinical instructor of practice in the College of Nursing at The Ohio State University.

While there are still uncertainties about privacy policies surrounding time tracking, the findings may have a broader impact: the need for users to consider whether they can trust the technology to accurately predict or prevent pregnancy. The survey found that fewer users were tracking fertility to get pregnant.Dobbs– This could indicate that they are more likely to rely on pregnancy prevention apps.

I think the layman's management of what information an app gives you and the reliability of that information isn't great. I think there are a lot of people who record when they have their period and rely on an app to tell them they're not fertile. So it's OK to have unprotected sex - and they don't want to be pregnant. And that wouldn't be my advice. “

Emily Neiman, Clinical Practice Instructor, College of Nursing, The Ohio State University

The research was published in the journal earlier this monthcontraception.

The use of apps and websites to track periods and fertility is common: As of 2019, nearly a third of people with the ability to become pregnant have done so, according to the National Survey.

But technology offerings vary widely, and the free versions of the most popular apps probably won't help chart things like cervical mucus, basal body temperature, the position of the cervix or hormone levels that indicate ovulation is imminent, said Neiman, Neiman, also a certified nurse midwife. Technologies that improve the accuracy of fertility awareness are typically expensive and time-consuming to use.

Neiman pursued the research question after following news coverage and social media postsDobbsWarn users they should delete their period trackers to avoid the possibility that their personal information could be used against them.

“I wanted to see if that actually happened,” she said. "I thought people would be more concerned about privacy and we might see a reduction in use. I was kind of surprised to see that it had increased.

"It doesn't seem like people have heeded the advice to stop using fertility trackers, and there could be a number of reasons for this. This may allow them to seek prenatal care early, but there may be fewer people planning pregnancy because of these restrictions in place around abortion."

Neiman and colleagues used data from women's surveys that asked women ages 18 to 44 about reproductive health in the five states. The analysis compared the prevalence of use of time or fertility locking technologies and reasons for their use before and after June 24, 2022, in which the court rules that the Constitution does not confer a right to abortion.

The study samples ranged from 2,077 to 2,521 before the decision and 2,145-2,448 after.Dobbs. The results showed that the prevalence of users overall and in all states, but in Wisconsin, where the prevalence was unchanged. The only change in participants' reasons for using the technology was that fewer reported that they tracked fertility to improve the chances that they would become pregnant.

Assuming that period trackers become increasingly popular, it is important for users to fully understand potential limitations of app fertility predictions and for clinicians to frame the topic of using femtech in conversations with patients.

"I would say that most users use the free versions of apps that are most easily accessible, "I'll Start Your Period," she said.

"I don't think these technologies can help people who are trying to prevent unwanted pregnancies."

This study was supported by grants to several research centers from an anonymous donor.

Co-authors include Abigail Norris Turner and Maria Gallo (now at the University of North Carolina) of Ohio State; Marta Bornstein of the University of South Carolina; and Megan Kavanaugh of the Guttmacher Institute.

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