Wellbeing An App Too Far? How ‘Digital Contraception’ Entered The Mainstream Fertility awareness apps claim to have revolutionised birth control, but can we really trust an algorithm to protect us from unwanted pregnancy? By Natalie Cornish Wellbeing Fertility awareness apps claim to have revolutionised birth control, but can we really trust an algorithm to protect us from unwanted pregnancy? By Natalie Cornish Previous article The Glass Cliff: Why Women Are Being Set Up To Fail Next article Artfully Branded: Immersive Experiences Takeover New York Fashion Week Like most people, the first thing 32-year-old Jo Hellyer reaches for when she wakes up is her smartphone. Yet instead of checking her messages or emails, she opens a fertility awareness app and takes her Basal Body Temperature (BBT) to find out if she’s at risk of falling pregnant in the next 24 hours. Welcome to the world of “digital contraception”, a controversial new form of birth control.Menstrual trackers are nothing new. In fact, many health professionals encourage their patients to monitor their monthly cycles this way – especially if they’re hoping to conceive. What is different here is that Hellyer is one of a growing number of women relying solely on algorithms dreamed up by developers to prevent unwanted pregnancy. Scroll through the smartphones of half a million women worldwide and you’ll find they have one download in common: Natural Cycles, the only fertility awareness app to be certified as a contraceptive in Europe and now the US. contraceptionlookingforwardwomenshealth Best Of Future Women Wellbeing It took an ADHD diagnosis and a breakdown to change my relationship with work By Sally Spicer Gender diversity Soft Power By Briana Blackett Gender diversity Cyber expert laments “lost generation” in online misogyny panel By Sally Spicer Gender diversity Is this at the bottom of your To-Do list? By Briana Blackett Wellbeing How being a ‘good girl’ is holding you back By Dr Michelle McQuaid Money What’s the cost of being comfy? By Jamila Rizvi Gender diversity The Confidence Gap By FW Money Is your money working as hard as you? By Jamila Rizvi Your inbox just got smarter If you’re not a member, sign up to our newsletter to get the best of Future Women in your inbox.
