Periods, technology and identity: The experience of period-tracking app users

Abstract

Period-tracking applications (apps) allow users the ability to track their menstrual cycles and use algorithms which predict users future cycles. This study seeks to understand Irish users’ experiences of, and reasons for, using period-tracking apps. In this qualitative study, a sample of 10 Irish women between 21 to 45 years of age were interviewed semi- structured and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. This study identified their rea- sons for using these telehealth apps, discovered an over-reliance on apps by users, a desire for change and improvement of the apps, and identified a tendency of users to perceive their own bodies as faulty rather than question the accuracy of the applications. The study also discusses the implications of these findings and recommendations for the improvement of these apps for users.