Imagine telling your most personal secrets to a diary—and then finding out that diary was auctioned off to the highest bidder.
That’s exactly how I felt last week after reading Gizmodo’s eye-opening report on how period tracking apps are quietly hoarding, packaging, and sometimes sharing our menstrual and reproductive data. It’s a gold mine for data brokers, but for those of us on a fertility journey, it’s a minefield.
I’ll admit, I’ve been a loyal user of cycle tracking apps for years. They’re convenient, trendy, and honestly, they can feel empowering—until you realize just how vulnerable this data can make you. Let’s talk about what this means for your health, your privacy, and the very real risks you need to know about before you log your next period.
Period Apps: The Modern Fertility Diary—with a Dark Side
If you’re like me, you probably started tracking your cycle with a simple goal: understand your body, maybe optimize for conception, maybe just survive PMS. But today’s fertility and period apps are not the innocent helpers they once seemed.
According to the Gizmodo article, period and fertility tracking apps collect a staggering amount of info:
- Exact period and ovulation dates
- Sexual activity
- Contraception and medication
- Pregnancy attempts, miscarriages, even mood and mental health logs
That’s intimate stuff. And here’s the kicker—these apps often store your data in ways that aren’t private or even fully anonymous. Even worse, some sell it to advertisers or data brokers without you ever realizing it.
Why Should You Care in 2025?
This isn’t just about getting an embarrassing ad for tampons on Instagram. In today’s world, your reproductive history can shape whether you get insurance, a job, and—depending where you live—even your basic safety. With ongoing debates about reproductive rights (which, honestly, have only gotten more intense lately), the idea that your app could be forced to hand over data is scary. And that’s not just paranoia—recent legal cases have shown it’s a real possibility.
But Wait—Don’t Apps Have Privacy Policies?
Sure, they do. But let’s be honest: have you actually read them? Most are so loaded with legalese, you’d need a law degree to parse them. Plus, terms can change overnight. One day your data’s “private,” the next it’s “shared with partners.” If your app’s free, you’re probably the product.
So, What Can You Do?
Here’s the open loop: Are we doomed to go back to paper calendars and sticky notes? Not necessarily! There are safer ways to track your cycle and fertility, and it all starts with being intentional about where you trust your data.
My Personal Fertility Tech Wake-Up Call
When my partner and I decided it was finally “go time” on trying for a baby, I did what every 21st-century hopeful parent does: I downloaded every fertility app I could find. The more tracking, the better, right?
But after listening to friends in tech and reading reports like Gizmodo’s, I realized: I was probably giving away more than I was getting. That’s when I made the switch to tools designed with privacy—and empowerment—in mind.
Tools That Respect Your Privacy (and Empower You!)
One company I discovered along the way is MakeAMom’s home insemination kits. What struck me wasn’t just their creative kit names (shoutout CryoBaby!), but their commitment to discretion and privacy. Shipments come in plain boxes, and the website is refreshingly transparent about how to use their kits and what happens to your information.
If you’re not ready to give up on tracking apps entirely, look for ones that:
- Explicitly don’t sell or share your data
- Allow for “offline” or device-only tracking
- Use encryption
- Are upfront about legal requests and your rights
And if you’re exploring conception at home for the first time, consider platforms and products that make privacy a feature, not an afterthought. Kits like MakeAMom’s are making at-home conception safer, more user-friendly, and—most importantly—more private.
What Does the Future Hold? (And How Can We Fight Back?)
Big tech isn’t going to stop collecting data overnight. But as more of us demand privacy, we’re starting to see a shift—more transparency, better regulations (hopefully?), and smarter choices from those of us who truly get what’s at stake.
So here’s my challenge to you:
- Check your app’s privacy settings—today.
- Think before you log that extra-personal detail.
- Choose tools and kits that honor your trust (not just your clicks).
Let’s Keep the Conversation Going
Have you had a privacy scare with a period or fertility app? Found a tech solution that actually protects you? Let’s talk about it—drop your stories in the comments!
And next time you’re staring at that pretty interface or clever notification, just remember: sometimes the best way to take control of your fertility journey is to take control of your data first.