Use of fertility mobile phone applications and quality of life

This study sought to understand demographic information of what reproductive health-based smart phone applications (apps) patients at an infertility clinic are using and if there is an association with app use and quality of life. This was an Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved cross-sectional survey-based study including patients who presented for a new visit at an infertility clinic between June 2022 and February 2023. Two surveys were administered, one collecting information regarding mobile phone app use and the other, FertiQol, a validated survey regarding quality of life in infertility patients. Descriptive statistics were used to convey demographic findings of app use, and a Cochran Armitage Test for Trend and pooled t-tests were used to compare app use versus non-app use with FertiQol responses and scores. A total of 149 surveys were collected. Most patients (75.5%) presenting for a new infertility visit reported using a fertility mobile app. The three most frequently used apps were Flo, Premom, and Ovia. Most participants used free apps (85.1%), found their app helpful (97.2%), and about a third (33%) of participants used their app daily. There was no significant differences between app users and non-app users with their calculated, overall FertiQol scores. There was a significant difference (p value 0.0034) for responses to a question regarding satisfaction with one’s quality of life with higher satisfaction noted amongst app users versus non-app users. Most patients presenting for new infertility visits at an infertility clinic are using phone applications for their reproductive health. The type of app use is varied; however nearly all patients report using a free version and that their app is helpful. While no significant quality of life differences can be recognized by standardized measures there is a significant difference in self-perceived satisfaction with quality of life with more satisfaction being reported in those using an app. Infertility and its treatment can be a stressful time and a self-perceived higher satisfaction with quality of life could carry significant implications.