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Experts Warn Fertility Apps May Be Sabotaging Your Chances Of Falling Pregnant

A study has found over half of them are dishing out inaccurate info. - by Lucy Bode
  • 17 Sep 2019
Experts Warn Fertility Apps May Be Sabotaging Your Chances Of Falling Pregnant
Getty

Whether you’ve been tracking your period for years or are only just embarking on your fertility journey, experts warn that relying on an app to know when you’re ovulating may be a bad idea.  

A new study presented at the Fertility Society of Australia's Annual Scientific Meeting this week has found that more than 57 per cent of all fertility apps on the market are providing women with misleading info regarding their cycles. This includes inaccuracies around predicted ovulation dates, as well as estimated period due dates.

“This is compounded by incorrect timing for intercourse, incorrect fertile window calculations and pregnancy information," researchers from Eve Health fertility clinic and Queensland Fertility Group reported.

Needless to say, it’s a major concern when you consider that thousands of Aussies are using these apps to calculate their ‘safe’ sex window. Some are unknowingly putting themselves at risk of pregnancy and others trying for a baby may be missing their window of opportunity. In fact, the study’s lead author, Samantha Costa has noticed a significant rise in the number of women coming to her clinic who are using fertility apps and wrongly believe they can’t conceive.  

Speaking to The Herald Sun, she said: "I asked one of our doctors, 'How many women are we seeing that are deemed to be infertile but perhaps they are just determining they ovulation cycles using an application that could be wrong?'"

RELATED: What Happens to Your Body When You Quit Taking the Pill?

phone
Getty

Needless to say, it’s a major concern when you consider that thousands of Aussies are using these apps to calculate their ‘safe’ sex window. Some are unknowingly putting themselves at risk of pregnancy and others trying for a baby may be missing their window of opportunity. In fact, the study’s lead author, Samantha Costa has noticed a significant rise in the number of women coming to her clinic who are using fertility apps and wrongly believe they can’t conceive.  

test
Getty Images

She added that these apps could be preventing women who are convinced of their accuracy from seeking clinical advice and, as a result, prolonging the time it takes them to fall pregnant.

"They can be helpful. However, if you are trying to conceive and are having problems, don't just take advice from an app. Seek medical advice sooner rather than later,” she said.

RELATED: PSA: Your Period Tracker App May Be Sharing Your Personal Data With Facebook

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Lucy Bode
Lucy Bode
Lucy is Women Health’s digital editor, social media specialist and the go-to girl for all things holistic wellness. Her background as a journalist and passion for food, fitness and integrative medicine has led her to write for some of Australia’s leading publications over the course of her career.

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