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Fertility awareness-based medical apps do not prevent pregnancy

Using only a medical app as a fertility awareness-based method, without training in the method, will not necessarily prevent pregnancy, according to recent study findings.

“The effectiveness of [(fertility awareness-based methods (FABMs)] depends on women observing and recording fertility biomarkers and following evidence-based guidelines,” Marguerite Duane, MD, MHA, FAAFP, from the department of family medicine at Georgetown University and colleagues wrote. “Apps offer a convenient way to track fertility biomarkers, but only some use evidence-based FABMs.”

To evaluate the success of FABM apps, the researchers developed a rating tool specifically designed to help prevent pregnancy, with specific criteria to measure an app’s response to real cycle data based on the clinical guidelines.

Duane and colleagues searched iTunes, Google, and Google Play and identified 95 apps, but excluded 55 that did not meet the criteria used by Family Practice Management. To determine the app’s accuracy in identifying potential days of fertility, they used a standardized data set of seven cycles of daily fertility observations resulting from real cycle data, and applied specific guidelines for each FABM to determine evidence-based fertile days.

The researchers found most fertility apps are not based on evidence-based FABMs and do not include a disclaimer discouraging use for avoiding pregnancy. Notably, at least one app in each FABM category (except symptohormonal methods) revealed a perfect score on accuracy. Out of all reviewed apps, 30 predicted days of fertility for the user and 10 did not. Only six apps had a perfect accuracy score or no false-negatives.

“Attractive apps are not necessarily effective and vice versa,” Duane and colleagues wrote. “The majority of fertility apps are neither designed for avoiding pregnancy nor founded on evidence-based FABMs.”– by Savannah Demko