Smartphone apps not the way out for planning or avoiding pregnancy!

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: If you have planned to rely on a smartphone app for achieving or avoiding pregnancy, take a step back.

A new research suggests that depending upon a smartphone app for pregnancy is not at all a good idea.

Smartphone apps are increasing in popularity because more and more women are interested in using natural fertility awareness-based methods (FABMs) of family planning because they want to feel empowered with greater knowledge of their bodies," says lead researcher Marguerite Duane, Associate Professor at Georgetown University in the US.

Though the apps offer a convenient way to track fertility biomarkers only some of them employ evidence-based FABMs.

Further, "the effectiveness of FABMs depends on women observing and recording fertility biomarkers and following evidence-based guidelines", Duane elaborated.

Success using FABMs depends on many factors, including the ability to accurately make and classify daily observations.

However, relying solely on an FABM app may not be sufficient to avoid pregnancy, the researchers said.

In addition, many apps also include a disclaimer discouraging use for avoiding pregnancy.

(With IANS inputs)