Do period apps share your data?
Some period apps have shared sensitive data. In 2021 the FTC said Flo shared users' health data with Facebook and Google analytics despite promising privacy, and in 2023 it said Premom shared data with third parties including advertisers. Many apps now promise better, but it depends on each app's design: where your data is stored, whether you need an account, and what tools it shares data with.
What has actually happened
| Case | What was found | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Flo Health (FTC, 2021) | FTC alleged Flo shared health information, such as pregnancy-related app events, from a very large number of users with marketing and analytics firms including Facebook's and Google's analytics services, despite privacy promises | Order requiring consent before sharing health data and an independent privacy review |
| Premom / Easy Healthcare (FTC, 2023) | FTC alleged the ovulation app shared sensitive data with third parties, including advertisers and two China-based firms, and broke the Health Breach Notification Rule | Proposed ban on sharing health data for advertising and a $100,000 civil penalty |
| Flo users vs Meta (US jury, 2025) | A federal jury found Meta violated California privacy law by receiving Flo users' health data through its software kit | Meta disputed the verdict; Flo and Google had settled earlier |
These cases are mostly about data flowing to analytics and advertising software built into apps, not about apps selling data in a spreadsheet. That's often how it happens: a third-party kit records in-app events, such as "logged a pregnancy", and sends them to its own servers.
Why period data is sensitive
- It can reveal pregnancy, pregnancy loss, fertility treatment and sexual activity.
- It can be used to target ads, sometimes at very personal moments.
- Any data a company holds on its servers can be breached, or requested through legal process.
- In the US, most period apps aren't covered by HIPAA, the health privacy law for doctors and insurers.
What to check before you log
- Where is the data stored? On your phone only, or on the company's servers?
- Do you need an account? An account usually means your data is linked to your identity on a server.
- What third-party tools are inside? The App Store privacy label lists "Data linked to you" and "Data used to track you".
- Can you delete everything? Look for a clear way to delete your data, not just your account.
- Is there a history of enforcement? Search the app's name with "FTC" or "privacy".
For a deeper checklist, see is my period tracker private and our private period tracker comparison.
How Lulu handles your data
Lulu is built so we never receive your cycle data. Your periods, symptoms, moods and notes stay on your iPhone. There's no Lulu account, and no Lulu server holds cycle data. If you turn on partner sync, it shares only a small status through Apple's iCloud (name, cycle day, phase and next period, plus today's mood, tomorrow's forecast and fertile window only if you turn them on), never your symptoms, notes or history.
Frequently asked questions
Do period apps sell your data?
Reputable apps say they don't sell it, but sharing with analytics and advertising tools has happened, as the FTC cases show. Check the privacy label and policy.
Is Flo safe to use now?
Flo has said it changed its practices after the FTC order. Read its current privacy policy, and compare options in Flo alternatives.
Is Apple Health cycle tracking private?
Apple says Health data is encrypted on a locked iPhone, and that with two-factor authentication on, Cycle Tracking data synced to iCloud is encrypted so that Apple itself can't read it. See Lulu vs Apple cycle tracking.
Should I delete my period app?
Not necessarily. Check where your data lives and what's shared. If you're unsure, export what you need and switch to an app that keeps data on your device.
Sources
- FTC: FTC Finalizes Order with Flo Health, a Fertility-Tracking App that Shared Sensitive Health Data with Facebook, Google, and Others (2021)
- FTC: Ovulation Tracking App Premom Will be Barred from Sharing Health Data for Advertising Under Proposed FTC Order (2023)
- Tom's Guide: Jury finds Meta illegally collected data from women's health app Flo (2025)
- Apple Support: Track your period with Cycle Tracking
This page is for information only and isn’t medical advice. If something worries you, please talk to a doctor.
Keep reading
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