Reading Time: 4 minutes

When I look around at all the tech out there meant to help us live better lives, I’m amazed. There’s an app or tracker for just about everything—your steps, your sleep, your cycle, even your mood. Femtech apps, the technology built around women’s health tracking, are exploding in popularity. And whenever I see a booming trend, I also see its potential—and its risks.

Because while the promise of femtech is empowerment, the reality can be disempowerment if you unknowingly outsource your inner authority to an algorithm or share your health data without understanding the implications.

In today’s post, I want to offer a grounded look at what it means to be a digitally literate, self-aware woman in the age of digital body literacy. We’ll unpack what femtech is, how to use it wisely, and why understanding your own rhythms is about more than health—it’s about leadership.

If you’re navigating full days, big decisions, and a desire to feel more aligned in your body and work, this isn’t just a tech trend. It’s a call to reclaim your power and lead with discernment.

What Is Femtech and Why It Matters

Femtech (short for “female technology”) refers to the diagnostics, apps, software, and devices that support women’s health—from menstrual tracking accuracy and fertility monitoring to pelvic floor trainers and menopause wearables. It’s a multi-billion-dollar industry, and it’s growing fast.

But here’s what you might not know: most of these apps aren’t built with women—they’re built for women, and there’s a difference. In many cases, they’re developed without clinical guidance, ethical safeguards, or cultural nuance. That means you, the user, need to become more than just a consumer. You need to become your own advocate.

Data That Shapes Self-Perception

Every time you track your ovulation, mood, or sleep, you’re feeding data into a system that may shape your self-perception. But what if the data is wrong, incomplete, or misinterpreted?

This can lead to misalignment—personally and professionally. In business, that means making decisions based on flawed assumptions. In life, it might mean doubting your own instincts or ignoring your body’s real signals.

Apps Are Guides—Not Gospel

It’s tempting to believe the notifications: “You’re ovulating today,” or “Your mood is low.” But research tells a different story. A 2023 study published in Nature found that ovulation predictions were accurate only 21–58% of the time—a coin toss.

And I get it—I’ve been there. I used to track my sleep religiously with a Fitbit. But the “bad sleep” scores eventually made me anxious before bed, even on nights I felt fine. I realized the data wasn’t helping—it was hurting.

So I stopped tracking and started tuning in.

Health Data = Identity Data

Here’s where things get serious. Your health data privacy matters deeply. A 2021 FTC case found that the popular Flo app shared users’ private reproductive data with third parties—even after promising privacy.

This isn’t just unethical—it’s dangerous. Your mood, libido, cycle patterns—this is identity data. And it can be sold, used in court, or turned against you. Data privacy in femtech isn’t just about ethics. It’s about ownership.

Most Femtech Isn’t Built by Clinicians

According to a 2022 BMJ review, fewer than 1 in 10 women’s health apps involved clinicians in their development. Most rely on algorithms and self-reported data. That’s not enough when it comes to medical guidance.

Bad data can lead to bad outcomes—misdiagnosed symptoms, fertility confusion, gaslighting yourself into ignoring real health signals.

Being discerning with femtech is part of being a powerful, informed leader. Ask: Who built this? What’s the science behind it?

Algorithmic Bias Is Real

Femtech, like many technologies, often reflects a narrow norm—typically white, thin, heterosexual, and able-bodied. That means algorithmic bias can exclude or misinterpret data for women who don’t fit that mold.

Just like drugs were once only tested on men, apps can miss critical insights for millions of women. Knowing this helps you not only advocate for yourself but also push for equity in digital healthcare.

Beware the False Promises

“Know exactly when you’re fertile.”
“Balance your hormones with one tap.”
“Track your moods in real time.”

Sound familiar?

Of over 200 period-tracking apps reviewed, only 3 met high scientific standards. Hype sells—but at the expense of real, grounded solutions. Especially when you’re vulnerable, it’s easy to believe the marketing instead of tuning in to your truth.

Reflective Tracking = Real Empowerment

So how do you use femtech intentionally?

By practicing reflective tracking. Not obsessing. Not perfecting. Observing.

A 2020 JAMA study found that mindful self-monitoring improves behavior change more than rigid data collection. When you pair self-awareness with the right tools, you become your own best researcher—and no algorithm can compete with that.

When you know your rhythms, you lead with clarity and self-trust. That’s real empowerment.

---

Final Thought: Your Inner Wisdom Is Still the Gold Standard

Femtech can be a mirror or a mask. The difference? How you use it.

Yes, femtech tools are powerful—but your power doesn’t come from them. It comes from you. When used intentionally, these tools can amplify your leadership, your wellness, and your intuition. But when misused, they can distract, distort, and disempower.

So here’s the takeaway:

You don’t have to surrender your body to an algorithm.
You get to decide how you engage—with discernment, not dependency.
And yes, you’re absolutely allowed to trust your inner voice just as much as the data on your screen.

Meta Tag:
Learn how to use femtech tools wisely without outsourcing your power. Discover what body literacy, privacy, and tracking really mean for your health and leadership.

Send me a DM on the gram www.instagram.com/michelebroadnp

Click here to subscribe in iTunes!

Just click here to review , select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is.

Also, join us on Facebook at our Facebook group here!