Data and Period Tracking Apps, Breast Examination Made Easy, and more.
Technology and research transforming women’s health and wellness.
Hi there,
It is Thursday, which means we are saying hello to a new edition of the HealthyHer newsletter! The goal of this newsletter is to bring you into the world of technology for women, covering innovations and research to better women’s health and wellbeing.
If you like this edition, I would appreciate your support through sharing it with your friends and liking ♥ it on the top of the page!
Should I Delete My Period Tracking App?
The popularity of period tracking apps has greatly increased over the past few years. For many women, they have become indispensable tools that help navigate the menstrual cycle and fertility windows.
Following the recent overturning of Roe vs Wade, social media was flooded with calls to delete period tracking apps out of concern that the data they stored could be misused under the new anti-abortion legislation. This New York Times article explores whether deleting the app is sound advice.
As authors of the article point out, there is a host of digital information stored on our phones that, unlike period apps data, already has a history of putting women at risk of criminalization. Search history, location data, even text messages -- can all serve as evidence in a criminal case. So, the issue isn’t really the period trackers. It’s data privacy writ large, stupid!
Technology I’m Learning About
Know Your Lemons - a breast health app that teaches you how to self-examine your breasts to detect early signs of breast lumps. It evaluates your risks of getting breast cancer and provides recommendations to help inform discussions with the doctor. The app also includes a period tracker feature, which does not collect any data. Let’s face it, we really don’t know enough about our lemons. Know Your Lemons tries to fix this unfortunate situation.
A Book for Bedtime
Invisible Women by Caroline Criadao Perez. A fascinating book that explores how the design of so many products -- from seatbelts to mobile phones -- has been overwhelming based on the bodies of men! And all the ways in which these design choices have cost women: the comfort, their health, and even lives.
Shout-outs!
🚀 Shout-out to Maven, a virtual women’s health clinic and benefits platform, for raising $90 million Series E.
🚀 Shout-out to Ellen Rudolph for raising $7.2 million in seed funding for WellTheory, a company fighting autoimmune diseases.
Suggestions Box
If there is a topic or a technology you’d like to learn about or share with us, please tell us below! We would love to hear from you!
That’s it for now. Till the next time!
Yours,
Natasha, on behalf of HealthyHer