The Silent Tech Revolution Reshaping Women’s Health

For decades, conversations about women’s reproductive health have been stuck in the same loop—limited research, outdated tools, and a lack of innovation since the introduction of the contraceptive pill in the 1950s. But in the last decade, a quiet technological revolution has begun to rewrite that story.

At the centre of this shift is Clue, a period tracking app co-founded by Ida Tin. What began as one woman’s frustration with inadequate options has evolved into the world’s largest dataset on menstrual health—30 billion data points from users in 190 countries. More than an app, Clue has become a global research engine and a catalyst for a new wave of women’s health understanding.

From Personal Frustration to Global Impact

Tin’s vision didn’t start with technology—it started with a question:Why, in an age of space travel and artificial intelligence, has there been so little advancement in family planning tools?

That question sparked a journey that took her from sketching ideas on Post-it notes in her Copenhagen apartment to building a platform that tracks everything from fertility windows to the way hormonal shifts impact mood, energy, muscle building, and even social behaviour.

Why This Data Matters

Historically, women’s health research has suffered from small, homogenous sample sizes—often limited to white college students in the U.S. Clue’s global user base offers researchers an unprecedented, diverse dataset. Partnerships with institutions like Stanford, Columbia, Oxford, and MIT have already uncovered critical insights, such as the link between air pollution and menstrual cycles, and the prevalence of heavy bleeding in teenage girls—conditions previously overlooked.

By engaging over 6.9 million users in research, Clue is demonstrating the power of collective data for advancing science, with 85% of members willing to share de-identified information to push women’s health research forward.

Ethics at the Core

In a post-Roe v. Wade world, concerns over health data privacy are rightly in focus. Tin insists that trust is non-negotiable. Operating under Europe’s stringent data protection laws, Clue has committed to never sharing private health data with authorities—regardless of jurisdiction.

Instead of monetising personal information, Clue uses a transparent subscription model, ensuring users know exactly how the company sustains itself.

Cycle Tracking as a Form of Body Literacy

Many still think of period tracking as a way to mark the date of their next bleed. But Clue reframes it as a tool for self-awareness and autonomy. Cycle data can reveal patterns in mental health, productivity, and physical performance—insights that help women work with their bodies instead of against them.

As Tin notes, “It’s like navigation. When you understand the signals, you can better steer your life.”

A Call to Curiosity

Cycle tracking isn’t about obsessing over numbers—it’s about cultivating curiosity. Even a few months of mindful tracking can shift how you understand your health and respond to your body’s needs, whether you’re planning a pregnancy, managing symptoms, or navigating menopause.

The next chapter of women’s health innovation will be written not in isolated labs, but through collective participation. Each data point entered into Clue represents not just personal insight, but a contribution to a body of research that could change the way the world understands female health.

In short: the revolution is already in your pocket.