We need to be careful, especially with our menstrual data

Period-tracking apps leave a digital trail that could be used against you

This week we chatted with Congresswoman Sara Jacobs from California and she wasn’t afraid to talk about periods. She told us about her bill My Body, My Data Act and how it aims to create a new national standard to protect reproductive and sexual health data.

To learn more about how Rep. Jacobs is bringing women’s issues front and center to the conversation, listen to this week’s episode.

And if you don’t know what a period-tracking app is, watch this short video.

You might be thinking, but what about HIPAA? Doesn’t that protect menstrual data? Unfortunately, it doesn’t. HIPAA only protects sensitive health information when it's in the hands of health insurers and doctors. When health data is logged in a phone app, discussed in a text with a friend or written about in an email - there are no protections. 

Ultimately, Congress has the power to expand HIPAA's reach and that’s exactly what Rep. Jacobs bill My Body, My Data Act would do. It would protect personal data collected by entities not currently covered under HIPAA, including apps, cell phones and search engines.

Until this bill is passed, we encourage you to share this post with anyone you know who uses a period-tracking app. We need to keep the conversation going about reproductive and sexual health so we can all stay protected.