With the recent overturn of Roe v. Wade and its presence on the upcoming ballot, the security of women’s health data is a rising issue. The only entity that should have access to  women’s health data is the woman to whom the data belongs, and anyone else she wishes to grant access to (i.e. a doctor, family member, etc.). 

The fear of using period tracking apps stemmed from the reversal of Roe v. Wade, a court case which set the precedent to legalize abortions in the United States and had been in effect for nearly 50 years. Women began deleting their period tracking apps in fear that their data could be used against them to show missed periods that can indicate pregnancy or abortions, especially in states where abortion has become illegal. 

Sara Spector, a criminal defense attorney and ex-prosecutor from Texas, notes, “if they are trying to prosecute a woman for getting an illegal abortion, they can subpoena any app on their device, including period trackers.” With an increase in states that are choosing to repeal abortion rights, women are becoming more fearful that the security of their menstrual data is compromised, initiating the personal removal of period-tracking apps by many.

There has also been recent backlash against pre-sports participation exam forms being used in some states that include information on students’ menstrual cycles. Some are fearful of the consequences of young girls’ menstrual data being shared with school districts and state officials. 

Gym teachers, or any member of an educational staff, should have no right to share personal information about any of their students with the district nor any state officials. While it is acceptable for a physician to discuss health-related issues with a patient in private, it crosses a line when this data is shared with third parties without the explicit consent of the student. 

The ability of schools to have access to this information puts students in danger, as the recent changes in the country’s reproductive laws have extreme consequences. CNN contributor and deputy dean at the School of Public Health at Brown University Megan Ranney believes that if coaches are instructed to follow an athlete’s menstrual cycle, “some youth would be reported up the chain (accurately or inaccurately) for missed periods” which could result in unwarranted gynecologic exams and criminal charges. Obviously, this chain of information puts young female students at risk, while also putting schools in a potentially liable situation. In no case should a school official or coach be able to act in a position of authority over the knowledge of an athlete’s missed period. It is scary that this scenario could occur in the near future.

There is a major cause for concern when it comes to fears of women’s menstrual cycle data being abused, not only because of the possible incrimination of young women due to the ability of schools to have access to students’ menstrual data, but also because of infringements on private information and breaches of security. As someone who utilizes period tracking apps and has a multitude of friends who do the same, this is an extremely frightening concept. I myself have been conflicted about whether or not to delete my own app. 

No woman should have to be afraid to use period applications that help them keep track of an already agitating experience. It is both disheartening and unacceptable that this fear is already instilled in women who have previously chosen to digitally track their period. 

If I were in the position of a student being forced to submit a pre-sports participation exam form, I would feel extremely uncomfortable giving my school district and gym teachers access to my menstrual data, as this is a breach of personal security and one should be in control of whom this data is being viewed by.

Overall, with the overturn of Roe v. Wade, there has most definitely been a difference in how women handle tracking their periods. As a woman who chooses to track her period on a digital app and knows many others who do the same, it is disappointing that it has become something that causes worry instead of relief. Ranney makes a good point in that, as we make the decision to share our menstrual data with digital applications, there is also a good chance of this data being accessed by those with harmful intentions. The only person who should be able to collect and access this data is the woman tracking it, and I hope to see this situation improve with both the election of new officials and increasing societal awareness of this issue. As a woman who chooses to track her period on a digital app and knows many others who do the same, it is disappointing that it has become something that causes worry instead of relief.

Ava Pastore, FCRH ’26, is a journalism major from Broomall, Penn.