Feasibility of leveraging menstrual cycle tracking apps for preconception research recruitment
BackgroundMobile applications (apps) present a new opportunity to study menstrual cycles and time to pregnancy. Understanding the characteristics of cycle tracking app users is important to evaluate the feasibility of recruiting participants for preconception research.MethodsUsers of a cycle trackin...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-09-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Reproductive Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frph.2022.981878/full |
| _version_ | 1811207309224837120 |
|---|---|
| author | Anne Marie Z. Jukic Hannah R. Jahnke Nathaniel MacNell Danielle Bradley Shannon M. Malloy Donna D. Baird |
| author_facet | Anne Marie Z. Jukic Hannah R. Jahnke Nathaniel MacNell Danielle Bradley Shannon M. Malloy Donna D. Baird |
| author_sort | Anne Marie Z. Jukic |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundMobile applications (apps) present a new opportunity to study menstrual cycles and time to pregnancy. Understanding the characteristics of cycle tracking app users is important to evaluate the feasibility of recruiting participants for preconception research.MethodsUsers of a cycle tracking smartphone app, Ovia Fertility, aged 18 or older in the U.S. were randomly invited via email to complete a “fertility research” questionnaire that included demographic and reproductive characteristics. Among those attempting pregnancy without medical assistance, attempt duration, factors influencing pregnancy planning, health history and behaviors while attempting to conceive were queried. Respondents could choose to enter a raffle for a $50 gift card.ResultsInitially, 639 people responded to the demographics portion of the survey representing 49 states and Washington DC. Of these, 344 (54%) were trying to conceive and of those, 297 (86%) were not using medical treatments. Of those not trying to conceive, 12% reported that they planned to start in the next 3 months. Most participants were ages 26–35 (63%), of White race (70%), reported non-Hispanic ethnicity (87%), had at least a bachelor's degree (56%) and an income between $50,000 and $200,000 (58%). One-third were of recommended BMI (35%), 24% overweight, and 41% obese. Most participants reported no fertility-related health conditions (58%). Forty-eight participants (17%) had been trying to conceive for 1 month or less, 88 (31%) had been trying for 2 months or less, and 122 (43%) for 3 months or less. Interruptions in pregnancy attempts were common, 31% reported periods without intercourse. Of those attempting pregnancy, 47% of partners completed their own questionnaire.ConclusionThis first-of its-kind analysis describes users of a cycle-tracking smartphone app who could be eligible for recruitment to a prospective time-to-pregnancy study. Survey respondents were diverse with respect to geographic location, BMI, and income. However, special recruitment efforts will be needed to recruit participants and partners who identify as other than non-Hispanic White. Participants with fertility-related conditions are not overly represented among app users who are trying to conceive. Targeting and pre-enrolling app users who are planning to begin a pregnancy attempt in the next 3 months may be an advantage of app-based recruitment. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T04:02:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cd829f96b08d4c9fbdbb135365ad43a3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2673-3153 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T04:02:13Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Reproductive Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-cd829f96b08d4c9fbdbb135365ad43a32022-12-22T03:48:42ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Reproductive Health2673-31532022-09-01410.3389/frph.2022.981878981878Feasibility of leveraging menstrual cycle tracking apps for preconception research recruitmentAnne Marie Z. Jukic0Hannah R. Jahnke1Nathaniel MacNell2Danielle Bradley3Shannon M. Malloy4Donna D. Baird5Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, United StatesEpidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, United StatesPublic Health Sciences, Social / Scientific Systems, Inc., a DLH Company, Durham, NC, United StatesDepartment of Clinical Services and Evidence, Ovia Health, Boston, MA, United StatesDepartment of Clinical Services and Evidence, Ovia Health, Boston, MA, United StatesEpidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, United StatesBackgroundMobile applications (apps) present a new opportunity to study menstrual cycles and time to pregnancy. Understanding the characteristics of cycle tracking app users is important to evaluate the feasibility of recruiting participants for preconception research.MethodsUsers of a cycle tracking smartphone app, Ovia Fertility, aged 18 or older in the U.S. were randomly invited via email to complete a “fertility research” questionnaire that included demographic and reproductive characteristics. Among those attempting pregnancy without medical assistance, attempt duration, factors influencing pregnancy planning, health history and behaviors while attempting to conceive were queried. Respondents could choose to enter a raffle for a $50 gift card.ResultsInitially, 639 people responded to the demographics portion of the survey representing 49 states and Washington DC. Of these, 344 (54%) were trying to conceive and of those, 297 (86%) were not using medical treatments. Of those not trying to conceive, 12% reported that they planned to start in the next 3 months. Most participants were ages 26–35 (63%), of White race (70%), reported non-Hispanic ethnicity (87%), had at least a bachelor's degree (56%) and an income between $50,000 and $200,000 (58%). One-third were of recommended BMI (35%), 24% overweight, and 41% obese. Most participants reported no fertility-related health conditions (58%). Forty-eight participants (17%) had been trying to conceive for 1 month or less, 88 (31%) had been trying for 2 months or less, and 122 (43%) for 3 months or less. Interruptions in pregnancy attempts were common, 31% reported periods without intercourse. Of those attempting pregnancy, 47% of partners completed their own questionnaire.ConclusionThis first-of its-kind analysis describes users of a cycle-tracking smartphone app who could be eligible for recruitment to a prospective time-to-pregnancy study. Survey respondents were diverse with respect to geographic location, BMI, and income. However, special recruitment efforts will be needed to recruit participants and partners who identify as other than non-Hispanic White. Participants with fertility-related conditions are not overly represented among app users who are trying to conceive. Targeting and pre-enrolling app users who are planning to begin a pregnancy attempt in the next 3 months may be an advantage of app-based recruitment.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frph.2022.981878/fullmenstrual cycletracking appmobile applicationdigital healthtime to pregnancyfertility |
| spellingShingle | Anne Marie Z. Jukic Hannah R. Jahnke Nathaniel MacNell Danielle Bradley Shannon M. Malloy Donna D. Baird Feasibility of leveraging menstrual cycle tracking apps for preconception research recruitment Frontiers in Reproductive Health menstrual cycle tracking app mobile application digital health time to pregnancy fertility |
| title | Feasibility of leveraging menstrual cycle tracking apps for preconception research recruitment |
| title_full | Feasibility of leveraging menstrual cycle tracking apps for preconception research recruitment |
| title_fullStr | Feasibility of leveraging menstrual cycle tracking apps for preconception research recruitment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Feasibility of leveraging menstrual cycle tracking apps for preconception research recruitment |
| title_short | Feasibility of leveraging menstrual cycle tracking apps for preconception research recruitment |
| title_sort | feasibility of leveraging menstrual cycle tracking apps for preconception research recruitment |
| topic | menstrual cycle tracking app mobile application digital health time to pregnancy fertility |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frph.2022.981878/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT annemariezjukic feasibilityofleveragingmenstrualcycletrackingappsforpreconceptionresearchrecruitment AT hannahrjahnke feasibilityofleveragingmenstrualcycletrackingappsforpreconceptionresearchrecruitment AT nathanielmacnell feasibilityofleveragingmenstrualcycletrackingappsforpreconceptionresearchrecruitment AT daniellebradley feasibilityofleveragingmenstrualcycletrackingappsforpreconceptionresearchrecruitment AT shannonmmalloy feasibilityofleveragingmenstrualcycletrackingappsforpreconceptionresearchrecruitment AT donnadbaird feasibilityofleveragingmenstrualcycletrackingappsforpreconceptionresearchrecruitment |