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Fertility awareness based contraceptive apps: a case study in the digital age

Lara Shemtob and Rebecca Littlewood
British Journal of General Practice 2019; 69 (suppl 1): bjgp19X703169. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp19X703169
Lara Shemtob
Royal Free Hospital NHS Trust Email: lara.shemtob@nhs.net
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Rebecca Littlewood
Whittington Health NHS Trust
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Abstract

Background Fertility awareness based (FAB) contraceptive mobile applications (apps) rely on women logging their menstrual cycle data to predict non-fertile days. Paid social media advertisements for these apps have led to hundreds of thousands of downloads. This rapidly expanding market lacks quality assurance, reflective of wider issues surrounding innovation versus regulation of digital health interventions.

Aim To present the results of a literature review carried out to bring together data on FAB contraceptive apps, to better understand the validity of evidence for their use as contraceptive methods. This is combined with context on the climate of advertising and regulation, to illustrate the challenges of innovation in the digital age.

Method Databases Medline and Embase were searched according to the strategy: ‘fertility-based awareness AND app*’. Eight articles were included in the final thematic analysis.

Results This study found apps being used for contraception that were not developed for this purpose; apps inaccurately reporting reliability for preventing pregnancy; there is a need for further training for women using FAB contraceptive apps; and there are limitations of current evidence base and challenges to improving this. In the context of poor regulation and advertising loop holes there is significant risk of misleading users of FAB contraceptive apps.

Conclusion The limited evidence on FAB contraceptive apps should be applied to the public with caution. Incongruities between women’s understanding and expectations of FAB apps compared to reality demonstrate the need for robust regulation around paid advertising, issues echoed elsewhere with other digital health interventions.

  • © British Journal of General Practice 2019
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British Journal of General Practice: 69 (suppl 1)
British Journal of General Practice
Vol. 69, Issue suppl 1
June 2019
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Fertility awareness based contraceptive apps: a case study in the digital age
Lara Shemtob, Rebecca Littlewood
British Journal of General Practice 2019; 69 (suppl 1): bjgp19X703169. DOI: 10.3399/bjgp19X703169

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Fertility awareness based contraceptive apps: a case study in the digital age
Lara Shemtob, Rebecca Littlewood
British Journal of General Practice 2019; 69 (suppl 1): bjgp19X703169. DOI: 10.3399/bjgp19X703169
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British Journal of General Practice is an editorially-independent publication of the Royal College of General Practitioners
© 2019 British Journal of General Practice

Print ISSN: 0960-1643
Online ISSN: 1478-5242