Thursday 6 October 2022 12:46 PM Florida's high schools share details of female athletes' menstrual cycles with ... trends now Female athletes in Florida high schools who are asked to report information about their periods and menstrual cycles on their annual physical forms will now have their sensitive medical data farmed out to a third party. Florida's school system has for decades required all student athletes to complete an extensive paper form with a physician on an annual basis to ensure they are fit and healthy to play, but unlike other in states, this information is shared with school administrators. Female athletes are also asked to complete five questions - marked as optional - about their menstrual history. But the digitization of the data collection process via third parties in some schools has raised concerns that students' sensitive medical history will be collected and shared without parental consent. In the wake of the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade, abortion rights advocates are incensed that the data, which can be subpoenaed, could be used to prosecute female students if they terminate a pregnancy. Abortion in the state of Florida is illegal after 15 weeks of gestation. The move has triggered outrage among parents, doctors and activists on both sides of the aisle who believe female students' right to privacy - and governance over their own body - could be compromised. Student athletes in Florida are required to complete this Florida High School Athletic Association form on their physical and mental health in order to be eligible to play Female athletes are also asked to complete five questions - marked as optional - about their menstrual history Some fear trans students the policy may be used to target trans students after Florida governor Ron DeSantis (pictured) signed a bill banning trans athletes from playing women's sports But the digitization of the data collection process via third parties in some schools has raised concerns that students' sensitive medical history will be collected and shared without parental consent (stock image) 'I don't see why [school districts] need that access to that type of information,' Dr. Michael Haller, a pediatrician in Gainesville, told The Palm Beach Post, adding that he has 'very little reason to have faith in our state leadership' to keep data provided to educational institutions private. 'Last time I checked, tracking your period wasn't necessary to play sports,' California congresswoman Sara Jacobs posted on Twitter. 'This is a gross invasion of privacy with such high stakes given Florida's 15-week abortion ban & no rape/incest exceptions.' Florida Democratic nominee Pam Keith simply declared: 'Police state for women,' in response to the news. And women's health expert Dr Donnica Moore pointed out the fallacy of the practice given that myriad factors can affect the menstrual cycle: Can someone explain the point of tracking menses in Florida student athletes... To track secret pregnancies? Do they know how common athlete's amenorrhea is??? Or how the pill or hormonal IUD's can impact menses? How is this legal???' Aktivate, a software company founded last year which bills itself as a 'platform powering the scholastic sports community', is one of the main third-parties working with high schools across Florida to collect student data. Almost all schools in Palm Beach County have partnered with Aktivate, and Broward, Hillsborough and Sarasota counties are also rolling out its software in some capacity, according to a Palm Beach Post investigation. The company claims it keeps student data confidential and will not sell it to other third parties, but because Aktivate is not a medical care provider it is not restricted by HIPPA privacy laws and would therefore be required to turn over data to the authorities if subpoenaed. Its privacy policy also says that it may share student data 'to work with third parties who conduct studies or assist us in providing and improving our products... and with affiliated education companies'. Politicians, doctors, parents and commentators took to social media to express concern over the move to share students' private medical details, particularly information about female students' menstrual cycles, with third parties Examining a female athlete's menstrual cycle and period history can be helpful in identifying potential risk factors that could affect their long term health and can be used to diagnose some conditions or diseases. Meanwhile some female athletes, such as former US Open tennis champion Sloane Stephens, are pushing for sports organizations and medical practitioners to study menstruation in more detail, arguing that it can be highly influential on performance, energy levels, hormone production and injury recovery. 'Being able to focus more on women's health, the recovery process, menstrual cycles, all of those things that aren't really studied in women's athletes, I think is important,' Stephens said in a recent interview after the Women's Tennis Association partnered with an American healthcare company to provide better care for its athletes. But several physicians who spoke with The Palm Beach Post agreed such information should be kept between an athlete, their family and their doctor, with coaches simply informed whether the athlete is in a fit state to play. 'I don't think it was our intent for this information to be shared with anyone else,' one doctor said. 'The bottom line for the coach is: ''Are they clear or not?'' The rest of the information is between the athlete and their family.' All rights reserved for this news site (dailymail) and under his responsibility