Dr Caitríona Henchion
Medical Director, Irish Family Planning Association
Period tracking apps are growing in popularity as substitutes for contraception, but they don’t suit everyone.
Period or cycle tracker apps have become popular as a tool for improving menstrual cycle awareness. By consistently logging the dates of your period, the software can help predict ovulation and identify changes in your cycle.
Limitations of reproductive cycle tracking apps
Cycle tracker apps can also assist with conceiving and avoiding pregnancy. This works well for some women, but as a reproductive healthcare specialist, I am concerned about their promotion by some influencers as a substitute for modern contraceptive methods.
The failure rate is higher than that of any modern contraceptive. If an unintended pregnancy would be a crisis for you, these apps are not a suitable replacement for contraception. Indeed, when I meet people who have relied on period tracker apps, it is often when they need abortion care.
What do I need to know about period trackers?
The efficacy of these apps differs based on your fertility goals and unique circumstances. Everyone’s cycle is different. If yours is irregular or even variable by a few days, ovulation will be harder to predict. This can increase the number of days flagged as ‘fertile’ or ‘unsafe’ throughout the month — sometimes requiring long periods of abstinence if you want to avoid pregnancy.
Prediction accuracy is further reduced if you have recently given birth, are a young teenager, are breastfeeding or are perimenopausal.
With a copper coil, you still get
your period but can be over 99%
sure that you won’t get pregnant.
What are the most effective ways to avoid unintended pregnancy?
Long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) are the most effective way of avoiding pregnancy. These include hormonal intra-uterine devices — and the copper coil, which is a great non-hormonal option. With a copper coil, you still get your period but can be over 99% sure that you won’t get pregnant. Condoms further minimise the risk of conception and protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
What if I’ve had unprotected sex on a ‘fertile’ or ‘unsafe’ day?
If you didn’t use contraception or if it failed on an ‘unsafe’ day, after-sex emergency contraception can prevent pregnancy for up to five days after intercourse, but they should always be taken as soon as possible for peak efficacy. Under the national free contraception scheme, those aged 17 to 35 can get free emergency contraception from participating pharmacies. If you have an unintended pregnancy, early medical abortion is also an option.
