Thinking of charting your cycle, but not yet sure where to start? The Diva Team had the chance to talk with Ida Tin, CEO and co-founder of Clue, a cycle charting mobile app that is empowering women worldwide. Below is a recap of our correspondence:
1. What inspired you to design a menstrual cycle tracking application?
When I was in my 20s, I had some side effects from birth control pills. It made me start to wonder why no one had developed technological, non-invasive options for understanding and managing one’s menstrual cycle and overall fertility. I started doing some research into the existing period tracking app options and was, to be honest, not impressed at all – a lot of bad design and a lot of pink and butterflies. I wanted to create something that was as thoughtfully designed as an iPhone itself.
2. What are the main reasons motivating women to start using a period tracking application?
The most common reason to use an app like Clue is to simply know when your next period is coming. This way, you can plan to carry the right supplies, any travel, that kind of thing. People also like to know on which days they are more or less likely to get pregnant, as well as when to expect any premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms. We also see a lot of people tracking emotions and moods and discovering how they might be connected to the cycle.
3. Who is using the application?
We have users of all ages, from first period to menopause, in 180 countries around the world. We have both female and male users – a lot of men are using Clue to track their partners so they can both be more supportive and also better understand women’s reproductive health.
4. Although there are many, what are the top three features of Clue that sets it apart from other menstrual tracking applications?
Clue is the fastest period tracker to use – and we tested A LOT. You can enter your daily data in 30 seconds or less. Clue is also backed by scientific research. Every bit of text in the app was reviewed by doctors and scientists. And finally, our design is not stereotypically “girly.” It’s designed to make you feel both happy and empowered, not talked down to.
5. Have you faced any challenges or come up against resistance in your journey developing a menstrual cycle charting application?
It was a challenge at first to create an app that was as fast, easy and friendly as we wanted it to be. Our lead designer has spoken to literally hundreds of women throughout the research process. We put in a lot of work to make the product we have today, and now over 1 million people have downloaded Clue.
6. Why are cycle charting application and reusable options like The DivaCup important to menstrual cycle education?
It’s all about body literacy and understanding how your body works. The more information a woman has about her body, the better equipped she is to make decisions about the things that matter to her.
