Planned Parenthood was founded with the idea that access to family planning could change people's lives; today, this grassroots movement has grown into the largest provider of reproductive healthcare and sex education in the country. We've spent a century helping people understand their bodies, menstrual cycles, and birth control. To continue this work, we launched Spot On, a free period and birth control tracking app for iOS and Android.
The average woman in the U.S. spends three decades of her life trying to avoid unintended pregnancy, and 99% of women use contraception at some point in their lives. Spot On recognizes this reality by allowing users to track their full menstrual cycle as well as any birth control method that affects it, including the pill, patch, ring, shot, implant, and IUD. Raising awareness about effective birth control methods and helping people use their method of choice correctly are key to helping people get pregnant only when they choose to. That's why Spot On also includes educational resources about contraception and sexual health, as well as reminders and personalized guidance to help users stay on track with their birth control. Spot On is also gender-neutral, fun to use, and filled with advice and fun facts from Planned Parenthood experts.
Spot On was developed by Planned Parenthood Federation of America's innovation team, the Digital Product Lab, in association with Small Planet, a mobile app designer and developer. The app was created in collaboration with education and medical experts at Planned Parenthood to ensure that Spot On's features and functionality reflect the organization's clinical standards and guidelines, which is no easy task. The app supports eight medically accurate mini-experiences -- one for each birth control method and one for users who do not use birth control -- that can be customized to a user's cycle and routine, and can provide contextual and timely guidance around birth control tracking and effective use. This also includes guidance for users who make a mistake on a method -- there are hundreds of flows to accommodate mistakes that can occur while using the pill, patch, ring, or shot (i.e. a missed pill or forgotten patch change). Even better, the complexity of the app's back end with its crisscrossing user flows and their many permutations is masked by a user experience that is astonishing in its simplicity and ease of use for all users.
The Digital Product Lab continuously leverages user feedback to understand questions and challenges around periods and birth control. By partnering with Planned Parenthood health centers around the country, the team was able to test the app with real patients throughout the duration of development, launch and beyond to ensure the app meets and continues to meet users' needs.
Last but not least, Spot On is one of only two period tracking and birth control apps that is completely inclusive of all menstruating people. It doesn't make assumptions about a user's sexual orientation, gender, or reasons for using or not using birth control. There are no pink flowers or butterflies -- though there is a dinosaur, Cycleosaurus. And, in addition to a non-judgmental tone, fun facts, and insights, Spot On also offers period notifications in red -- instead of that weird blue gel color you see in commercials.
Spot On has been downloaded by 300,000 Android and iPhone users in over 160 countries, maintains 30% monthly active users, and averages 4+ star rating in both the iOS and Google Play stores.
Press mentions:
Teen Vogue - This New Period Tracking App is a Serious Game Changer
The Cut - File This Under 'Planned Parenthood's Got Your Back'
Glamour - How an App from Planned Parenthood Will Make Your Period (a Little) Easier
The Establishment - Inside Planned Parenthood's Push for Gender-Neutral Language
Celebrity Mentions:
Cameron Esposito | Sasheer Zamata | Rachel Bloom
Awards & Recognitions:
Spot On has been recognized by Comms Art Interactive 2017 as a winner in the Mobile category.
Spot On has been recognized by Association of Reproductive Health Professionals as a recommended birth control app for patients.
