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NEW YORK-- Today Planned Parenthood launched Spot On, a new period tracker and birth control app that allows users to track and predict their periods, understand their menstrual cycle, and manage their birth control --- as well as provide guidance, tips, and fun facts from Planned Parenthood experts. Spot On is free, easy to use and understand, and helpful for anyone who wants to understand their menstrual cycle, whether they’re on birth control or not. The app is available for iPhone on the App Store here, with an Android version coming soon.

Spot On makes it easier for you to understand your unique cycle so that you can rule it, instead of it ruling you. The app offers fun ways to track changes in your mood and body, and includes activities to create a personalized experience that helps you learn how your menstrual cycle and your birth control affect your body.

“At Planned Parenthood, we understand that your period is a normal -- if not always welcome -- part of life, and we hear pretty much every question in the book about periods and birth control,” said Dr. Raegan McDonald-Mosley, Chief Medical Officer at Planned Parenthood Federation of America. “This led us to create a resource to help every person understand their own unique cycle and body. We’re thrilled to introduce the Spot On app, and hope it empowers users to take control of their period, their birth control, and their overall sexual health.”

Spot On was designed with input and feedback from hundreds of real users who wanted an easy way to learn more about their cycles. And unlike other period trackers, Spot On is for any person who gets a period, and doesn’t make assumptions about users’ gender or sexual orientation. So you won't find every shade of pink or lots of flowers and butterflies in Spot On (although you may see a dinosaur).

Planned Parenthood experts understand that when your moods or body change, it can be hard to tell what’s part of your menstrual cycle, what’s a birth control side effect, and what’s just your body being your body.  The more you use Spot On, the more it learns about your cycle and can better predict when your period is supposed to arrive, so you can avoid unwanted surprises.

“We know how important birth control is to helping people achieve their goals in life, so Spot On is designed to help manage your method and show how it might affect your period,” said Dr. McDonald-Mosley.

Spot On offers information, reminders, and tips on birth control methods that may affect your cycle--including the pill, patch, ring, shot, IUD, and implant--and helps you stay on track and use your birth control accurately.

“Planned Parenthood is committed to providing accurate, relevant sexual and reproductive health information to as many people as possible, no matter where they are,” said Jenny Friedler, Director of the Digital Product Lab at Planned Parenthood Federation of America. “Technology has created amazing opportunities for us to reach people in different ways, and we’re continually looking for innovative approaches to get them the information and care they need to stay healthy and reach their life goals -- whether that’s on the phone or in a health center.”

The Spot On app, made in collaboration with Small Planet, joins Planned Parenthood’s other digital and mobile tools designed to get people health information when they need it — no matter where they are:

  • Planned Parenthood’s Chat/Text program, which has served more than 500,000 users since its launch, enables young people to correspond with trained staff via IM or text messages with urgent questions about birth control, emergency contraception, pregnancy, and STDs, reaching them with critical information about sex and health in moments of intense worry when they are in need of fast, confidential help. The program has been shown to be successful in reducing worry around sexual health issues.
  • Planned Parenthood’s websites in English and Spanish provide accurate, nonjudgmental information about contraception, sex, and reproductive health to 6 million visitors each month.  Visitors can also submit health questions to the Planned Parenthood Tumblr, Facebook, and Twitter pages.
  • The  Planned Parenthood Care™ app (available in Minnesota, Washington, Alaska and Idaho) allows people to talk to a Planned Parenthood provider online and face to face through a secure video consultation system, and then receive birth control or an STD test kit and treatment, if necessary, in the mail.
  • The Planned Parenthood Direct™ app allows people in California to order confidential STD testing kits through their mobile phone.
  • Planned Parenthood is also working to enhance its patient experience by implementing online appointment scheduling at hundreds of health centers around the country.

Millions of people across the country rely on Planned Parenthood for the information and care they need to stay healthy --- and now they can get the same expert information on their phones, wherever they are. Planned Parenthood is here when you need us -- no matter what.

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Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With over 650 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect and without judgment. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.

Source

Planned Parenthood Federation of America

Contact

Planned Parenthood Federation of America media office: 212-261-4433

Published

March 29, 2016

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