Introducing Men to Digital Birth Control [ID: 1372011

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: As women increasingly take charge of their reproductive health through knowledge and thus informed contraceptive choice, some would like to share this responsibility with their male partners. Digital U.S. Food and Drug Administration-cleared birth control is now on the birth control market where a user inputs basal body temperature into an app and a daily fertility status is calculated by an algorithm. METHODS: In July 2022, a partner mode of the app was launched to all active users. Partner mode can be revoked at any time. We summarize metrics and feedback collected on the feature gaining valuable insights into how involving a partner in birth control can alter the overall experience. RESULTS: All active users have been informed about the new feature through an in-app message. A substantial fraction of them have enabled the partner view and sent invites to their partners, resulting in around 13,000 partners being active in the app on a monthly basis. Fifty-five percent of partners have enabled push notifications within their app, opting to receive these as insights into their partners' cycle. Eighty-five percent of users like the partner mode and 99% of those that use it said that they would continue to do so. Eighty-eight percent of users said that partner mode had enabled them to talk about their cycle and fertility journey with their partner. CONCLUSION: Partners found knowing where the user was in their cycle, daily fertility status, and period predictions the most valuable information presented to them in partner mode. Introducing men to digital birth control appears to be well received by both partners and users. It has the potential to broaden partners' understanding of female reproductive health and share the responsibility of preventing pregnancy.