Period-tracking apps failed them — now some Cameroonian women are facing life-changing consequences 🤰🏾

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Millions of women around the world rely on period tracking apps to monitor their menstrual cycles, estimate fertile windows, and plan ahead. In Cameroon, these digital tools have caught on with a growing number of young women looking for a modern, free, and easy way to take control of their reproductive health.

But for some users, the promise of convenience has turned into confusion — and even crisis. Despite following the apps religiously, several have reported unexpected pregnancies, leading to emotional distress, disrupted lives, and growing mistrust in tech solutions that once felt empowering.

On paper, a helpful tool 📊

With sleek interfaces, daily predictions, and the ability to log everything from cramps to mood swings, period tracking apps like Flo, Clue, and My Calendar offer an appealing alternative to scribbling dates in notebooks or trying to count days by hand.

“I’ve been using it since 2022,” says Christelle N., a university student. “It helps me plan for exams or trips without stress. I honestly can’t imagine not having it now.”

Many like her discovered these apps through influencers, friends, or social media. But one key truth often gets overlooked: the human body isn’t programmable.

“I thought the app was enough…” 😟

Across platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and WhatsApp groups, testimonials are piling up — stories of unexpected pregnancies despite relying on tracking apps for fertility guidance.

“I’d been using Flo for nine months,” one user shared. “It told me I was in a non-fertile phase. I had sex that day. Four weeks later, I found out I was pregnant.”

Another post that went viral read:

“Everyone told me to trust the app. Now I have to tell my parents I’m pregnant.”

These stories are no longer isolated. For some, the very tools meant to empower and inform have become digital traps — with real-world consequences.

Trusting an algorithm too much 🔍

The problem isn’t necessarily with the apps themselves. Most use algorithms based on previous cycle data to predict fertile and non-fertile days. But without input from healthcare professionals or an understanding of how easily cycles can shift — due to stress, illness, hormonal changes, or poor nutrition — the predictions can be misleading.

And the app? It just keeps showing that reassuring green dot — “not fertile.”

“These tools are great for understanding your cycle,” says Dr. Aline T., a gynecologist based in Douala. “But they’re not a substitute for birth control or medical advice. Too many young women treat them like pregnancy tests.”

For many users, these apps have become the only source of guidance — sometimes replacing condoms, pills, or even the idea of seeking help from a doctor.

Lots of data, little education 🧠

Period trackers collect a massive amount of intimate data: flow, pain, discharge, mood. But they’re largely built for Western markets and often don’t account for local realities in countries like Cameroon — where cycles can be affected by malaria, food insecurity, or self-medication.

And the bigger issue? A lack of sexual health education.

“I learned to calculate ovulation from TikTok,” admits Stéphanie, another student. “The app helped me double-check. But I didn’t realize my cycle wasn’t as regular as I thought. We should’ve learned this properly in school.”

Broken trust, life-changing outcomes 💔

For some women, misplaced trust in these apps has led to unwanted pregnancies — and everything that can follow: dropping out of school, family rejection, forced marriage, or unsafe abortions.

“Flo said I wasn’t fertile,” one young woman recounts, her voice breaking. “I had protected sex, but the condom broke. I didn’t worry at first. Two weeks later, I tested positive. I followed the app exactly. I trusted it.”

Technology helps — but it has limits 🛠️

There’s no denying the benefits of period-tracking apps. They can empower users to understand their bodies better, notice irregularities, and take control of their routines. But they’re not contraceptives. And they’re certainly not foolproof.

In Cameroon — where access to reliable reproductive health information is limited — tech solutions alone aren’t enough. Education, open conversations, and medical support must go hand in hand with digital innovation.

Because beyond the charts, icons, and pastel-colored predictions, every body is different. And no app can make life-changing decisions for you.

💬 We want to hear from you

Have you used a period tracking app? How accurate was it in your experience? Would you recommend it? Let us know your thoughts. 🤔