#16 Femtech Confidential – Data, Ethics & Body Literacy

The Michele Broad Show

Your data is your power—but only if you know how to use it.

In this episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on the booming world of femtech apps—from menstrual and fertility trackers to wellness platforms that promise insights into your mood, sleep, and cycles. These tools often claim to empower women through digital body literacy, but how accurate, inclusive, or safe are they really?

This episode is for you if:

• You’ve ever used a women’s health tracking app and questioned how accurate its predictions actually are

• You want to feel more informed—not overwhelmed—by your health data

• You're craving sovereignty in how you understand and care for your body

• You’re a leader, businesswoman, or changemaker looking to integrate wellness, intuition, and clarity into your everyday life

We explore what it means to be a conscious, critically-thinking user of femtech, so you’re not just consuming information—but owning it.

What You’ll Learn:

• What femtech actually is—and why it’s vital to understand the industry behind your favorite health tracking apps

• The truth about menstrual tracking accuracy, and how many apps fall short

• Why most health apps aren’t built by clinicians, and how that impacts their usefulness

• How algorithmic bias affects women who don’t fit the “standard model”

• The often-hidden risks around health data privacy and how your data may be used without your full awareness

• What reflective, purposeful tracking really looks like—and how it builds self-trust, confidence, and leadership

Key Takeaways:

• You are the expert on your body—not the algorithm

• Femtech tools can be supportive guides, but they’re not gospel

• Not all data is created equal—especially when privacy, accuracy, and inclusivity are lacking

• Health literacy is leadership—and how you relate to your body shapes how you lead in the world

Featured Research Mentions:

• Nature (2023) – Accuracy of ovulation predictions in cycle-tracking apps

• BMJ (2022) – Clinical involvement in femtech app development

• FTC.gov (2021) – Flo app fined for privacy violations

• JAMA (2020) – Impact of reflective tracking on long-term behavior change

Resources Mentioned:

• Clue App

• Natural Cycles (FDA-cleared contraceptive app)

• Kindara App (Fertility Awareness Method)

• BMJ & JAMA research summaries

• FTC ruling on Flo app data violations

Meta Tag: Learn how to use femtech tools wisely without outsourcing your power. Discover what body literacy, privacy, and tracking really mean for your health and leadership.

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