Privacy Policy

Introduction

PCOS Pookie ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you participate in our PCOS Cycle Patterns Survey and use our services.

We understand that we are asking you to share sensitive health information. We take this responsibility seriously and have designed our practices to protect your privacy while enabling research that can improve cycle prediction for people with PCOS.

Information We Collect

Health and Medical Information

• PCOS diagnosis information (how you were diagnosed, when, by whom)
• Symptom profiles (excess hair growth, acne, hair loss patterns)
• Hormone test results (androgen levels, AMH)
• Menstrual cycle history (dates, duration, flow, patterns)
• Ovulation tracking data (BBT, OPK results, cervical mucus observations)
• Related health conditions (insulin resistance, thyroid disorders, etc.)
• Medications and supplements you take for PCOS
• Ultrasound results

Physical and Lifestyle Information

• Height and weight
• Weight changes over time
• Diet and eating patterns
• Sleep habits and quality
• Exercise frequency and type
• Stress levels and major life stressors
• Smoking status

Demographic Information

• Age range
• Pregnancy status
• Contraception use

Device and Wearable Data (Optional)

• Smartwatch or fitness tracker data (heart rate, HRV, sleep, temperature)
• Period tracking app exports
• Fertility tracking app data

Contact Information (Optional)

• Email address (only if you opt in for follow-up or beta testing)

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Understand PCOS cycle patterns: Analyze how cycles vary across different PCOS presentations, symptoms, and lifestyle factors
• Develop prediction algorithms: Train and improve machine learning models that can predict periods for irregular cycles
• Research and analysis: Conduct statistical analysis to identify patterns and correlations that may improve predictions
• Product development: Build and improve our PCOS-specific cycle prediction app
• Communication: Contact you about beta testing opportunities or research updates (only if you opted in)
• Quality assurance: Validate the accuracy of our predictions against real-world data

How We Protect Your Information

• Encryption: All data is encrypted in transit (TLS 1.3) and at rest (AES-256)
• Access controls: Only authorized team members can access survey data, and access is logged
• De-identification: For analysis, we separate identifying information (email) from health data using unique identifiers
• Secure infrastructure: We use industry-standard cloud security practices
• Limited retention: Contact information is deleted if you withdraw from ongoing participation
• No sale of data: We never sell your personal information to third parties

Data Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell your data. Ever.

We may share information in the following limited circumstances:

• Service providers: We may share data with trusted service providers who assist in operating our services (e.g., cloud hosting, analytics), subject to confidentiality obligations
• Aggregated/anonymized data: We may share aggregated, de-identified insights that cannot be linked back to you (e.g., "40% of survey respondents with PCOS have cycles longer than 45 days")
• Legal requirements: We may disclose information if required by law, court order, or government regulation
• Research publications: If we publish research findings, all data will be fully anonymized and aggregated

Your Rights and Choices

You have the right to:

• Skip questions: You may skip any survey question you're uncomfortable answering
• Access your data: Request a copy of the data we have about you
• Request deletion: Ask us to delete your data at any time by emailing hello@hiremyidea.com
• Withdraw participation: Stop participating in ongoing tracking or beta testing at any time
• Opt out of communications: Unsubscribe from any emails we send
• Data portability: Request your data in a machine-readable format

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at hello@hiremyidea.com.

Data Retention

• Survey responses: Retained for as long as needed to fulfill research purposes or until you request deletion
• Contact information: Retained while you are an active participant; deleted within 30 days of withdrawal request
• Anonymized/aggregated data: May be retained indefinitely as it cannot be linked to you

Cookies and Tracking

Our survey platform may use essential cookies to maintain your session while completing the survey. We do not use advertising cookies or sell data to advertisers. Any analytics we use are for understanding survey completion rates and improving user experience.

Children's Privacy

Our survey is not intended for individuals under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18. If you are under 18, please do not submit any information to us.

International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Last updated" date. If you have provided your email, we will also notify you directly of significant changes.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at: