Exploring Period Tracking Applications: A Geographical and Cultural Review (Preprint) DOI
Regine Constance Marquez, Ronn Austin Mercado, Alona Ngo

et al.

Published: Dec. 14, 2023

BACKGROUND Studies show an increasing global interest in period-tracking applications developed to aid women monitoring and regulating their menstrual cycles. While these apps contribute awareness positive perspectives on reproductive health, limited attention has been given exploring geographical cultural implications existing studies. OBJECTIVE This scoping review aimed examine literature period tracking applications, focusing dimensions. The study attempted understand how factors impact the applications' use effectiveness. METHODS was conducted through a comprehensive search spanning scholarly databases for peer-reviewed journals gray from 2013 2023. findings were categorized by location, revealing significant trends shaping usage of applications. RESULTS Of 21 literatures reviewed, nine studies focused understanding specific countries. Six utilized countries as sites app functionalities experience. Another six two reviews assessed functional reviewed across different user demographic profile revealed that 12 out 24 pieces primarily considered be between 18 50 years old, with some including race, ethnicity, education, digital literacy. A total 44 period-monitoring identified various However, 8.9% did not specify application used referred it. CONCLUSIONS specifically examined dimensions using It now opens avenues future investigations into influencing diverse patterns, preferences, practices health.

Language: Английский

Self-management of everyday female health: The role of self-care agency, patient-centered communication, and technology features in the intention to adopt period-tracking apps DOI
Qiwei Wu, Elizabeth Babin Pask

Social Science & Medicine, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 370, P. 117851 - 117851

Published: Feb. 14, 2025

Language: Английский

Citations

1
Efficacy of the Flo App in Improving Health Literacy, Menstrual and General Health, and Well-Being in Women: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial DOI Creative Commons
Adam Cunningham, Carley Prentice, Kimberly Peven

et al.

JMIR mhealth and uhealth, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 12, P. e54124 - e54124

Published: Feb. 28, 2024

Reproductive health literacy and menstrual awareness play a crucial role in ensuring the well-being of women people who menstruate. Further, one's own cycle patterns associated symptoms can help individuals identify manage conditions such as premenstrual syndrome (PMS) dysphoric disorder (PMDD). Digital products, specifically apps, have potential to effect positive change due their scalability ease access.

Language: Английский

Citations

6
Ethical Risks of Systematic Menstrual Tracking in Sport DOI
Olivia R. Howe

Journal of Bioethical Inquiry, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: May 19, 2024

Language: Английский

Citations

6
Chronicling menstrual cycle patterns across the reproductive lifespan with real-world data DOI Creative Commons
Adam Cunningham, Lubna Pal, Aidan Wickham

et al.

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: May 3, 2024

Abstract The intricate hormonal and physiological changes of the menstrual cycle can influence health on a daily basis. Although prior studies have helped improve our understanding cycle, they often lack diversity in populations included, sample size, span reproductive life stages. This paper aims to describe dynamic differences characteristics associated symptoms by age large global cohort period-tracking application users. work contribute knowledge female physiology at varying stages aging. study included self-reported symptom information Flo users aged 18–55. Cycle period length their variability, frequency logs are described user. Based data logged over 19 million app, show clear age-associated patterns. With higher age, cycles tend get shorter (Cycle length: $${\overline{\text{D}}}$$ D¯ = 1.85 days, Cohen’s D 0.59) more variable SD: 0.42 0.09), until close chronological (40–44) suggesting menopausal transition, when both periods become longer 0.86 t 48.85, 0.26; Period 0.08, 15.6, 0.07) 2.80 111.43, d 0.51; 0.23 67.81, 0.31). proportion individuals with irregular was highest participants 51–55 (44.7%), lowest 36–40 group (28.3%). spectrum common cycle-related also varies age. logging cramps acne is lower older participants, while headache, backache, stress, insomnia Other different patterns, such as breast tenderness fatigue peaking between ages 20–40, or mood swings being most frequently youngest oldest related not static throughout lifespan. Understanding these age-related essential how best care for experience menstruators across span.

Language: Английский

Citations

4
Problematising menstrual tracking apps: presenting a novel critical scoping review methodology for mapping and interpreting research literature DOI
Sarah Riley, Siobhán Healy-Cullen, Carla Rice

et al.

Psychology and Health, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 1 - 25

Published: Jan. 22, 2025

To showcase a novel, theoretically informed methodology for conducting scoping reviews by operationalising critical theory. And to advance the field of women's digital health applying this review (CSR) research on menstrual tracking apps (MTAs). 116 articles published in English, between November 2015 and 2023, focusing MTAs, and/or user's experiences were thematically analysed through Foucauldian concept problematisation analytics from psychology. This method examined what was produced as problem, underpinning discourses, subject positions, paradigms, desired outcomes, absences within these problem categories. Four problematisations identified, (1) data privacy (subproblems: type data, consent, abortion surveillance); (2) with efficacy evaluating efficacy, accuracy, useability); (3) regulation self-surveillance, normative femininity, hormonal imperative, cycle regularity stigma); (4) women literacy, technology use, medically unknown, hard design for). MTA researchers would benefit understanding their problematisations. The CSR offers an important mapping interpreting literature, which can identify, expand, possibilities thought practice.

Language: Английский

Citations

0
A qualitative study of perceptions on uterine fibroids among reproductive age Ghanaian women in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana DOI Creative Commons
Pius Mensah,

E. E. Newton,

Michael Sakyi-Darko

et al.

Discover Social Science and Health, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 5(1)

Published: March 17, 2025

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Mobile Phone Application for Menopause Symptom Management: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint) DOI

J H Karam,

Mical Paul, Chrisandra Shufelt

et al.

Published: April 25, 2025

BACKGROUND Menopause symptoms are common but often inadequately addressed by primary care clinicians due to limited time for discussions and resources. Mobile health applications can play a crucial role in symptom identification management, yet many existing menopause-focused apps lack evidence-based content medical expertise. OBJECTIVE To describe the protocol study design methodology of randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluate effectiveness emmii mobile app improving menopause-related knowledge, shared decision-making compared traditional menopause education pamphlet. METHODS This RCT will recruit women aged 45–55 years with upcoming appointments at Mayo Clinic within 3 weeks date initial outreach. Eligible participants must be English-speaking, able provide informed consent, report Rating Scale (MRS) score ≥5, which indicates that they experiencing significant symptoms. have access either (intervention, n=200) or an pamphlet (control, n=200). The is developed direct input from certified Society offers tracking, personalized treatment recommendations based on protocol, discussion guide support communication between patients their clinicians. Outcomes include post visit survey sent days appointment, assessment patient clinical plans both experience. also compare prescribing rates hormonal nonhormonal therapies intervention control groups assess app’s influence patterns. Data analyzed using descriptive statistics, including Chi-square tests, Wilcoxon rank sum tests multivariable modeling. RESULTS collection scheduled begin April 2025. CONCLUSIONS outlines aims impact facilitating through clinician-patient decision-making. CLINICALTRIAL NCT06919887

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Using Speech Agents for Mood Logging within Blended Mental Healthcare: Mental Healthcare Practitioners' Perspectives DOI
Orla Cooney, Kevin Doherty, Marguerite Barry

et al.

Published: July 7, 2024

Language: Английский

Citations

3
Towards Hormone Health: An Autoethnography of Long-Term Holistic Tracking to Manage PCOS DOI

Daye Kang,

Jingjin Li, Gilly Leshed

et al.

Published: April 24, 2025

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Assessment of a Digital Symptom Checker Tool's Accuracy in Suggesting Reproductive Health Conditions: Clinical Vignettes Study DOI Creative Commons
Kimberly Peven, Aidan Wickham, Octavia Wilks

et al.

JMIR mhealth and uhealth, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 11, P. e46718 - e46718

Published: Nov. 8, 2023

Background Reproductive health conditions such as endometriosis, uterine fibroids, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affect a large proportion of women people who menstruate worldwide. Prevalence estimates for these range from 5% to 40% reproductive age. Long diagnostic delays, up 12 years, are common contribute complications increased care costs. Symptom checker apps provide users with information tools better understand their symptoms thus have the potential reduce time diagnosis conditions. Objective This study aimed evaluate agreement between clinicians 3 symptom checkers (developed by Flo Health UK Limited) in assessing PCOS using vignettes. We also present robust example vignette case creation, review, classification context predeployment testing validation digital tools. Methods Independent general practitioners were recruited create clinical vignettes simulated purpose each condition checker; created contained mixture condition-positive condition-negative outcomes. A second panel then reviewed, approved, modified (if necessary) vignette. third group reviewed designated final classification. Vignettes entered into fourth, different practitioners. The outcomes compared produce accuracy metrics including percent agreement, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative value. Results total 24 cases per condition. Overall, exact matches practitioner outcome 83% (n=20) 88% (n=21) PCOS. For checker, sensitivity was reported 81.8% 84.6% 100% PCOS; specificity 75% value 80% Conclusions single-condition high levels Given long delays many conditions, which lead medical costs individuals providers, innovative hold improve pathways.

Language: Английский

Citations

5