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August 26, 2021

These tech innovations are revolutionizing family planning



Although many people imagine that the primary purpose of family planning is to avoid unwanted pregnancies, the truth is that the benefits of family planning go much further than that: it helps them maintain their sexual health by avoiding STDs, empowering them to make mature, informed decisions based on their emotional and financial abilities. And yet, the deployment of family planning solutions is uneven throughout the globe: while in Norway, it is estimated that up to 88% of women use some method of family planning, this percentage drops below 40% in low-income communities. Cultural and social taboos are often behind the unmet need for family planning, but, many times, it can be a matter of lack of access, and this is where technology comes in.



In the past few years, tech has played an essential role in the development of family planning solutions, helping billions of couples all over the world access professional help and make informed decisions. Here are some of the most influential tech innovations in the field of family planning and how they can pave the way for health authorities to offer widespread access to reproductive health services.

24/7 chatbots offer instant access to professional help

Chatbots are one of the most versatile applications of AI, and it shouldn’t come as a surprise that many family planning organizations have leveraged their benefits to raise awareness on sexual health topics and offer instant support. Incorporated into websites and social media pages, chatbots can give instant answers to questions related to sexual health, and they’re available 24/7, when couples might not be able to reach a human expert. While chatbots will never be able to replace actual doctors and family planning counselors, they can provide answers to common questions, and they’re much less approachable, especially for the young generation, which is often more comfortable interacting with technology than with actual humans in times of trouble.

Chatbots can also help people locate certified health professionals and family planning facilities. Lack of qualified medical support is one of the most common reasons why people can feel confused about certain reproductive health topics and when recommendations from friends and family are not an option, chatbots can fill that gap.

Social media boosts sexual health awareness.

Social media is a great place to stay in touch with friends (or, more recently, with brands). The vast majority of young people are active on social media, which is why reproductive health organizations have decided to use this platform to reach out to couples and raise awareness on important and often overlooked family planning topics such as contraception, planned pregnancy, STDs, and so on. This can be done both through viral social media campaigns and by engaging with audiences, answering their questions, and posting informative videos. Ads also have their place here. Although we often remember them for their entertainment value, social media ads have played a major role in breaking stereotypes and addressing sensitive topics. YouTube (News - Alert) is also a popular platform among family planning organizations, which post informative videos, often done in engaging, cartoon-animated styles.

E-commerce makes contraception more accessible.

In the Western world, access to reproductive health products isn’t usually a problem, or at least most people don’t perceive it to be. For example, in the UK, condom sales are on the rise. According to Condoms.uk, sales rose by over 10% after lockdown restrictions were lifted, and there’s even a rise in the female condom market. However, there are great gaps between communities, and in regions like Africa or Asia, which tend to have more conservative values, many people often feel uncomfortable going to the store to buy contraception products or ask for advice about them. Meanwhile, e-commerce platforms have made them more accessible, offering bespoke support and discreet packaging options.

Apps take the stress out of period tracking and family planning.

Period tracking and family planning apps are one of the fastest-growing app categories, and multiple studies back up their benefits. Apart from helping female users keep track of their menstrual cycles and have a better understanding of their reproductive health by allowing them to input symptoms, these apps can do many other things:

  • Send notifications when the user enters a new stage of the reproductive cycle.
  • Send birth control reminders. Thanks to AI, apps are able to customize these reminders depending on the type of birth control and the previously inputted data.
  • Send doctor appointment reminders.
  • Chart fertility indicators, such as basal body temperature and changes in cervical mucus, for higher accuracy. These apps can be sold together with special thermometers that send data to the app.
  • Record prescriptions and keep logs of doctor’s notes.

If you already use a similar app, chances are you already find it easier to use than a regular calendar, and researchers agree. For example, the Natural Cycles app is the first birth control app approved by the FDA. Research has shown that this app can be extremely useful for women who want to use a natural form of birth control and for whom oral contraception or IUDs aren’t an option. In clinical studies, the app was 93% effective at preventing unwanted pregnancies, the same as combination birth control pills, second only to IUDs (99%). To achieve this efficiency, the app uses an AI-based algorithm to calculate the user’s fertility period, interpret temperature readings, and analyze the inputted user data. Natural Cycles is a paid app, but it’s just one of the dozens of period tracking and family planning apps available. There are many other options out there, and you can choose depending on your budget and preferences.

About a decade ago, females would keep track of their period by using paper calendars, and couples who wanted to get pregnant often had to rely on guesswork. Now, apps make it easier to have a clear overview of your menstrual cycle and, if you are trying to get pregnant, they tell you when your most fertile days are. As AI continues to become more and more advanced, these apps will expand their features and continue to empower users.



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