Apple’s new iOS9 update allows iPhones to track a user’s sexual activity, including the frequency, when and how they have sex. Over the last few years Apple has been working on adding new functionality to its ‘HealthKit’ software.

The latest update comes as part of its reproductive health tracking features with a option for “sexual activity”. Allowing users to enter information like the date and time as well as whether protection was used.

As with all of Apple’s healthcare tracking information, users can see their information represented in both a graphical and numerical read-out. The data can be shared with other apps, although Apple stressed that the information will be kept private unless users choose to share it.

This new reproductive features were largely buried at Apple’s keynote event unveiling its latest iOS update. The lack of these features in iOS thus far has largely been seen as part of technology’s “woman problem”.

Apple chose not to place a spotlight on these new features, leaving it up to developers who have access to a beta release to fully report the new features.

iOS 9 is due to be publicly released in the autumn, and includes other new features like an intelligent assistant and enhancements to the phones' overall performance.

Developers have already received early access to the software, and the public will also get a chance to use it early, as part of a beta programme.

Written by Dylan Grimes Larkin.