17
Acknowledged
FemTech apps such as period trackers have the potential to transform girls’ and women’s understanding...
Conclusion
FemTech apps such as period trackers have the potential to transform girls’ and women’s understanding of, and ability to advocate for, their menstrual health and wellbeing. The 2022 Women’s Health Strategy, however, was not sufficiently alert to the risks. These apps are now very popular with girls and younger women, who are at acute risk from inaccurate information and advice and inappropriate monetisation of their personal health data. Apps that do not draw on sufficiently diverse data risk entrenching health inequalities for girls and women from minority racial and ethnic and other groups. We previously identified a need for urgent steps to ensure the NHS starts keeping pace with the private sector in this area. We were deeply disappointed by the Government’s response and are not reassured by its evidence to this follow up inquiry. Vague commitments to collaborate with the sector and a few ad hoc projects are insufficient. (Conclusion, Paragraph 77)
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the potential and risks of FemTech apps, stating it has commissioned NICE to develop evidence standards and MHRA to create a new regulatory framework. It commits to exploring increased resourcing for the NHS Innovation team and including digital health priorities in the Women's Health Strategy annual report.
Government Response
Acknowledged
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The Government agrees that FemTech apps have the potential to transform girls’ and women’s understanding of, and ability to advocate for, their menstrual health and wellbeing. However, the Government also recognises the risks associated with these apps, including inaccurate information, inappropriate monetisation of personal health data, and data bias. This is why the Government published the Women’s Health Strategy for England in 2022, which set out a long-term vision for women’s health. The Strategy committed to improving the regulation, safety and quality of FemTech, increasing the evidence base for FemTech, and encouraging the development of FemTech apps and products across the country. The Government is committed to taking a rigorous approach to tackling the risks from ineffective, unsafe, and exploitative for-profit FemTech apps. The Government has commissioned the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to develop evidence standards for FemTech, which will provide a framework for evaluating the safety and effectiveness of these apps. This will help healthcare professionals and consumers make informed decisions about which apps to use. In addition, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is developing a new regulatory framework for software as a medical device, which will ensure that FemTech apps that fall within the scope of medical devices are subject to appropriate regulatory oversight. The Government acknowledges the importance of increasing resourcing of the NHS’s Innovation, Research and Life Sciences team to drive forward NHS provision of digital tools. DHSC and NHSE will explore opportunities to strengthen the team’s capacity and capabilities to support the development and adoption of digital health technologies for women. The refreshed Women’s Health Strategy annual report will include clear priorities for the development of women’s digital health functionality, including accurate period and fertility tracking, to ensure that girls and women have access to reliable and safe digital tools to manage their health and wellbeing.
Source
Committee
Women and Equalities Committee
Report
12th Report – Menstrual health of girls and young women
04 Mar 2026
HC 1265
Addressee Bodies
Government Equalities Office
Timeline
Recommendation age
0.4 yrs
Report published
04 Mar 2026