Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41053790›Full record

SynthesisReproductive health2025

Implications of digital fertility tracking for clinical care: a qualitative systematic review.

Kathryn Sheridan Clay, Tori Ford, Rosa Mackay, Sabrina Keating, Sue Ziebland, John Powell

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Reproductive health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Kathryn Sheridan ClayNuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Radcliffe Primary Care Building, Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, Woodstock Rd, Oxford, OX2 6GG, UK. kathryn.sheridan@phc.ox.ac.uk.
Tori FordNuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Rosa MackayNuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Sabrina KeatingNuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Sue ZieblandNuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
John PowellNuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.

Funding

Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences StudentshipTrinity College, University of Oxford George Whitehead Scholarship
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Research on the use of digital health interventions for the management of infertility is still emerging and remains understudied. This review syntheses cross-domain qualitative research on the use of digital fertility trackers. We identified 29 papers and thematic analysis found that these tools are most frequently used alongside, but also sometimes in place of clinical care. The research shows that they pose significant disruption to patient-provider relationships and the broader fertility industry and may place patients at risk when developed without a strong research or medical base, or if used incorrectly. More work is needed on the impact of these tools on care pathways, and to provide guidance on differentiating evidence-based platforms from low quality trackers to safeguard patients and improve fertility treatment outcomes.

Indexed as

FertilityInfertilityFemaleHumansQualitative ResearchTelemedicineFertility monitoringHealth-trackingInfertilitymHealthSmartphone

Identifiers

PMID41053790
PMCPMC12502470

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.