ABSTRACT. The purpose of this study is to examine menstrual cycle tracking apps integrating sexual and reproductive processes and self-care practices. In this article, we cumulate previous research findings indicating that fetal development tracking apps assist expecting parents in health information seeking. We contribute to the literature on fertility trackers and birth control reminders assisting in unintended pregnancy prevention, family planning, and abortion counseling by showing that mobile health apps may preserve users’ satisfaction throughout their prenatal care. Through- out January 2022, we performed a quantitative literature review of the Web of Science, Scopus, and ProQuest databases, with search terms including “fertility awareness apps” + “bodily self-tracking devices,” “gynecological health monitoring,” and “sexual and reproductive processes.” As we inspected research published between 2016 and 2022, only 177 articles satisfied the eligibility criteria. By removing controversial findings, outcomes unsubstantiated by replication, too imprecise material, or having similar titles, we decided upon 24, generally empirical, sources. Data visualization tools: Dimensions (bibliometric mapping) and VOSviewer (layout algorithms). Reporting quality assessment tool: PRISMA. Methodological quality assessment tools include: AXIS, Dedoose, MMAT, and SRDR.

Keywords: self-tracking pregnancy app; women’s reproductive health; self-management and care

How to cite: Frajtova Michalikova, K., Rowland, Z., and Lăzăroiu, G. (2022). “Fertility Awareness Apps, Bodily Self-Tracking Devices, and Gynecological Health Monitoring,” Journal of Research in Gender Studies 12(1): 146–160. doi: 10.22381/JRGS121202210.

Received 23 February 2022 • Received in revised form 15 July 2022
Accepted 22 July 2022 • Available online 30 July 2022