Period tracking apps have become everyday companions for millions - helping users monitor cycles, predict fertility, track moods, and even plan pregnancies. But behind the user-friendly dashboards lies a murkier reality: what happens to your most intimate data once it’s logged?

Many of these apps collect highly personal health information - cycle length, sexual activity, birth control use, even emotional states. And yet, studies and investigations reveal that several period tracking platforms have shared or sold data to third parties, including advertisers and analytics firms. Some have weak encryption or vague privacy policies, leaving sensitive user data vulnerable to misuse, especially in countries with lax data protection laws.

In a post-Roe v. Wade world, where reproductive rights are under scrutiny, experts warn that such data could even be weaponized. What starts as a tool for self-care can quickly become a digital liability.

As convenience meets caution, users are being urged to read privacy policies carefully and use apps that prioritize data security and transparency.