ArticleBMC public health2019
"A good little tool to get to know yourself a bit better": a qualitative study on users' experiences of app-supported menstrual tracking in Europe.
Article in BMC public health, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 33 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
33 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Innovative Approaches to Menstruation and Fertility Tracking Using Wearable Reproductive Health Technology: Systematic Review.Journal of medical Internet research · 2024Pooled it
- Use of symptom-reporting tools to support endometriosis identification and management in primary care: a realist synthesis.BMJ open · 2026Review
- Sexual Satisfaction and Orgasm Experiences During Partnered and Solo Sex Among 27,931 Users of the Flo App.Archives of sexual behavior · 2026Article
- The illusion of empowerment: commercializing women's health in the digital age.Health promotion international · 2026Article
- How well do women understand their menstrual cycles? Insights from 383,085 UK based women.Reproductive health · 2026Article
- Exploring engagement patterns in a reproductive health app using the Technology Acceptance Model.Frontiers in reproductive health · 2026Article
- Patient Perspectives of Healthcare for Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder in Australia: A Mixed-Methods Study.Health services insights · 2026Article
- An evaluation of menstrual health apps' functionality, inclusiveness, and health education information.BMC women's health · 2025Article
- Motivations for Use, User Experience and Quality of Reproductive Health Mobile Applications in a Pre-Menopausal User Base: A Scoping Review.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Mobile applications available in Saudi Arabia for the management of Primary Dysmenorrhea: A quality review and content analysis.PloS one · 2025Article
- Digital Platforms and Educational Tools for Enhancing Menstrual Health: A Scoping Review.International journal of sexual health : official journal of the World Association for Sexual Health · 2025Article
- Impact of the Flo Cycle Tracking App on menstrual knowledge and health in low-income and middle-income countries: a longitudinal study.BMJ public health · 2025Article
- Flowing data: women's views and experiences on privacy and data security when using menstrual cycle tracking apps.Oxford open digital health · 2025Article
- Analysing gender disparities in youth sports coaching: an international survey (FEMCoach project).Frontiers in psychology · 2025Article
- Menstrual Cycle Management and Period Tracker App Use in Millennial and Generation Z Individuals: Mixed Methods Study.Journal of medical Internet research · 2024Article
- The WeThrive App and Its Impact on Adolescents Who Menstruate: Qualitative Study.JMIR formative research · 2024Article
- Ethical Risks of Systematic Menstrual Tracking in Sport.Journal of bioethical inquiry · 2024Article
- Women's comfort with mobile applications for menstrual cycle self-monitoring following the overturning ofmHealth · 2024Article
- Missed period? The significance of period-tracking applications in a post-Sexual and reproductive health matters · 2023Article
- Characterization of Self-reported Improvements in Knowledge and Health Among Users of Flo Period Tracking App: Cross-sectional Survey.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundMenstrual apps facilitate observation and analysis of menstrual cycles and associated factors through the collection and interpretation of data entered by users. As a subgroup of health-related apps, menstrual apps form part of one of the most dynamic and rapidly growing developments in biomedicine and health care. However, despite their popularity, qualitative research on how people engaging in period-tracking use and experience these apps remains scarce.
methodsBetween June 2016 and March 2017, we conducted 26 qualitative interviews with menstrual app users living in Austria and Spain. The participants were asked about their practices and experiences regarding app-supported menstrual tracking. The interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and coded using the software NVivo.
resultsAn inductive content analysis was performed and eight characteristics of app-supported menstrual tracking were identified: 1) tracking menstrual cycle dates and regularities, 2) preparing for upcoming periods, 3) getting to know menstrual cycles and bodies, 4) verifying menstrual experiences and sensations, 5) informing healthcare professionals, 6) tracking health, 7) contraception and seeking pregnancy, and 8) changes in tracking. Our study finds that period-tracking via apps has the potential to be an empowering practice as it helps users to be more aware of their menstrual cycles and health and to gain new knowledge. However, we also show that menstrual tracking can have negative consequences as it leads to distress in some cases, to privacy issues, and the work it requires can result in cessation. Finally, we present practical implications for healthcare providers and app developers.
conclusionsThis qualitative study gives insight into users' practices and experiences of app-supported menstrual tracking. The results provide information for researchers, health care providers and app designers about the implications of app-supported period-tracking and describe opportunities for patient-doctor interactions as well as for further development of menstrual apps.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.