Effectiveness of menstruation and fertility tracking technology in childbearing women: a scoping review.
Yi Li, Yuhui Fang, Shuiqin Gu
PMID 41085255WHAT IT FOUND
Fertility tracking apps and wearables for women based on basal body temperature showed variable accuracy and no clear proof of real-world effectiveness.
Relying on them may lead to unintended pregnancy or delayed diagnosis of infertility.
Key findings
01The review identified 1547 records and included 21 studies; 12 were prospective cohort, 6 were retrospective, and 9 analyzed wearable devices.
02Quality appraisal found 5 studies with major concerns, 3 with minor concerns, and 13 with no concerns.
03App functions included menstrual-cycle estimation in 8 applications, fertility prediction in 14 applications, contraception indication in 2 applications, and pregnancy monitoring in 1 application.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
This is a scoping review, not a meta-analysis, so it maps the field rather than proving that any app or wearable works. The included studies used different devices, algorithms, reference standards and populations, making direct comparison difficult. Many studies did not adequately adjust for factors that affect basal body temperature, such as illness, medication, sleep disturbance and lifestyle. Several studies had retrospective designs, short follow-up or incomplete reporting. The review included women of childbearing age, not pregnant or lactating women, so findings may not apply to those groups.
Declared interests
Funding was provided by Jiaxing Municipal Bureau of Science and Technology. The supplied text does not state author conflict-of-interest declarations.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that these apps or wearables are proven effective for contraception or fertility. The review mapped heterogeneous observational studies, found variable quality and did not test a single treatment effect.