Fertility awareness applications (apps) are a hot topic and will continue to grow in popularity, making it essential to assess their effectiveness, accuracy, and ease of use. This is a review of research published in 2018 in the International Journal of Gynaecology and Obstetrics titled, “Acceptability of a text message-based fertility awareness application for family planning in Lucknow, India.”
During National Endometriosis Awareness Month, we write about two patients whose diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis was expedited by the use of charting and fertility awareness based methods (FABMs). Kylie Knoles-Barnett, a second year medical student, conducted this interview which illustrates the roadblocks some women encounter as they seek help. Medical professionals with expertise in FABMs have an expanded toolbox to support these women.
This research review details a report published in 2018 titled, “Modern fertility awareness methods: wrist wearables capture the changes in temperature associated with the menstrual cycle.” The review was written by Anastasia G. Xenophontos, a medical student participating in a two-week online elective taught by FACTS executive director, Dr. Marguerite Duane, at Georgetown University School of Medicine.
The number of apps geared toward women’s health continues to rise, but few of them have been tested for efficacy. To this end, some companies and universities have partnered to set standard protocols for this growing field. One such partnership led to an efficacy study of the Dynamic Optimal Timing (DOT) fertility tracking application developed by Cycle Technologies. The ‘femtech’ industry is expected to be a fifty billion dollar industry by 2025; with apps used for family planning and health tracking, proof of efficacy is essential.
