Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: The association between reproductive health smartp hone applications and fertility 
knowledge of Australian women  
 
Version: 0 Date: 28 Dec 2019  
 
Reviewer: Erdinç Sar ıdogan  
 
Reviewer's report:  
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Nowadays, people use mobi le applications (apps) to improve health and prevent health problems 
owing to mobile phone usage is becoming a necessity. The study aimed to determine difference 
of fertility knowledge between app and non -app users. The title reflects content of the study 
appropriately. Article is well designed. Its language is English and needs no correction. Aim of 
the study may be stated more clearly in the abstract. Methods are explained sufficiently. Results 
are shown by figures and tables. Moreover, statistically sign ificant results are written in the text 
again. The percent difference between participants who are currently trying to conceive (24/290 
and 8.3% on Table 1) and are using apps to plan a pregnancy (55/290 and 19% on Figure 2) may 
be explained. Fertility que stions are based on components which can effect public health 
(smoking, obesity), can be managed by personally (the most fertile time in menstrual cycle, the 
age fertility begins to decline) and are misunderstood among public (miscarriage rate, success of 
IVF). Authors concluded preliminary evidence for an association between fertility knowledge 
and reproductive health app use. The limitation of the study is mentioned in discussion. The 
study is the first evidence which correlates between fertility knowledg e and app usage. 
Additionally, it contributes to current literature by showing the lack of fertility awareness of 
Australian women and emphasizing the usable of apps which can provide information about 
reproductive health. However, it should be taken into account that which apps are used for which 
purposes. For instance, statistically significance of identifying the most fertile time in menstrual 
cycle is not an unexpected result because most of responders are using apps to track menstrual 
cycle. Also, qual ity of reproductive health app is considerable. Of note, this study is valuable due 
to guiding the future researches which will be performed in more homogeneous groups by using 
apps which providing high quality information.  
Sincerely.  
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify w hich controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manus cript or would you recommend an 
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please speci fy what aspects require further 
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
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1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, f ees, funding, or salary from an 
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financial ly from the publication of this 
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation t hat may in any way gain or lose 
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents  relating to the content of the 
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in r elation to this paper?  
 
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below. If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests  
 
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