Period Tracking Apps May Be Sharing Your Private Health Data

Period tracking apps help millions of people monitor their menstrual cycles, but many of these apps are collecting and sharing your private health information with third parties. A recent investigation found that popular period trackers are likely sharing data about your cycle, symptoms, and other intimate health details without your full understanding of how that information will be used.

If you use a period tracking app on your phone, your data about menstrual cycles, fertility tracking, sexual activity, and related health symptoms may be collected and shared. This information is often considered highly sensitive, especially in light of changing healthcare laws in different states. The companies behind these apps may share this data with advertisers, data brokers, or other third parties.

Here is what you should do right now:

1. Review the privacy settings in your period tracking app. Look for options to limit data sharing or delete your account if you are not comfortable.
2. Consider switching to a privacy focused period tracker that stores data only on your device, not in the cloud. Apps like Euki or Drip are designed with privacy in mind.
3. Delete apps you are no longer using, and request deletion of your data from the company if possible.
4. Check your phone's app permissions and revoke access to location, contacts, or other data the app does not need to function. For long term protection, be cautious about what health information you share with any app. Read privacy policies before downloading apps that handle sensitive data. When possible, choose apps that store information locally on your device rather than uploading it to company servers. Remember that once your data is shared online, you cannot fully control where it goes or who sees it.