French regulator warns menstrual tracking apps expose users to unintended pregnancy risk
The French consumer protection regulator DGCCRF tested nine popular menstrual tracking apps and warned that they are unreliable for contraception and fertility prediction, exposing users to unintended pregnancy. The regulator also found deceptive marketing claims, abusive terms, and manipulative dark patterns designed to push paid subscriptions.
What happened
The DGCCRF tested nine of the most-used menstrual tracking applications in France in 2024 and 2025, with operators located in Europe, the United States, and Asia.
The regulator found that the applications leave users with the false impression they enable reliable contraception and fertility prediction, with some displaying claims like 'get pregnant easily and quickly' or featuring an 'avoid getting pregnant' function. One application presented itself outright as a contraceptive method.
Reported impact
The DGCCRF warned that while these applications can be useful for tracking menstruation, they are not reliable tools for conception and contraception, and expose users to a risk of unintended pregnancy.
The regulator documented deceptive commercial practices including abusive clauses that absolve the provider of responsibility for the accuracy or effectiveness of the information provided, and manipulative design patterns deliberately designed to push users toward paying for subscriptions.
Index analysis
The applications analyze the menstrual cycle to predict ovulation periods, but this system is unreliable for contraceptive purposes, yet the applications market themselves as enabling reproductive control through fertility indication.
Governance controls
The DGCCRF advised users to exercise caution and not use these applications as means of contraception, despite the marketing claims displayed by the platforms.
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
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