Why I don’t use or recommend Natural Cycles
I’m a period health coach and I don’t use or recommend Natural Cycles as a method of birth control (or as a conception tool).
What is natural cycles?
Natural Cycles is advertised to be used as a natural birth control method or as a method to help people conceive. According to their site, the product uses BBT (basal body temperature), their app, the app’s algorithm, and optional LH tests.
Based on the data gathered the app lets me know if I am fertile today and whether to have unprotected sex or not (based on whether my goal is to conceive or to avoid it).
Why I don’t use or recommend Natural Cycles:
- It’s not how BBT works
BBT is the body’s resting temperature. When I take my BBT consistently each morning I am looking for a change in temperature that tells me if ovulation has occurred. How and why? Because my body temperature increases after ovulation due to an increase in progesterone production.
Here’s the thing – I’m not looking for today’s temperature. I’m gathering data points to put into a chart to visualize the PAST FEW DAYS.
With BBT, we’re looking for an increase in temperature that *follows* ovulation (and sometimes we don’t see it for a few days). In short…
BBT can: tell me if I have ovulated AFTER I’ve ovulated
BBT cannot: tell me if I am ovulating today or tell me if today is a safe day to have unprotected sex (for those TTA) or to have unprotected sex (for those TTC) – BBT can’t do that!
Note: there are a few specific rules to follow and things we’re looking for with BBT, so please don’t take this one post and think you know how to practice BBT now! Instead, take the time to learn how to do so safely and effectively!
- My previous cycles do not have any bearing on my current cycle
Using calculations and data from my previous cycle to determine if I am fertile today isn’t an effective birth control method.
Many apps use this method of “predicting” fertile days and this is based on how the rhythm method works (which has an effectiveness rate of about 76%). A 2018 study* found that prediction apps had a 21% accuracy rate.
Sure, ideally we want consistent, regular cycles and to ovulate around the same time each month – but many people (especially those with hormonal imbalances) do not have that.
Even with a “perfect cycle” I might ovulate on day 14 for 7 cycles in a row – but this month due to ongoing stress, travel, and sickness, my ovulation might come early or late. If I’m basing it off of my cycle patterns I could put myself at risk for an unplanned pregnancy OR if I’m trying to get pregnant I could be missing my window altogether.
Source: *2018 Study: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03007995.2018.1475348
- The effectiveness rate is significantly lower than the symptothermal method
Natural Cycles reports a typical failure rate of 6.5% and a perfect use rate of 98% (there is also a lot of controversy surrounding how accurate the studies are that calculated this – I’d encourage research on this).
The symptothermal method of FAM (which is what I practice and teach my clients) tracks BBT and cervical fluid and you’re charting and reading your charts manually. The symptothermal method has a typical failure rate of 1.8% and a perfect use rate of 99.4% (and can go higher depending on how its practiced).
To give you another point of comparison, the pill has a typical failure rate of 9% and a perfect use rate of 99%.
- “But it’s FDA-approved!” No its not.
Natural Cycles is FDA Cleared – This doesn’t mean that the FDA has approved that the science behind it works.
Here’s an explanation of the difference between approved and cleared:
There was also a lot of backlash surrounding this FDA clearance worth looking into.
- Takes power out of your own hands
One of the reasons I practice FAM is because it gives me knowledge and power about my cycle. Period and cycle health is something that we’re generally SO out of touch with. By charting daily, I am constantly learning more about my body and my cycle.
The symptothermal method is so much more than a contraceptive/ conception method – it tells me SO much about my health and I want that power and knowledge.
In summary…
I don’t use or recommend Natural Cycles because:
- It’s not how BBT works
- Previous cycles do not determine future cycles
- The effectiveness rate is significantly lower than the symptothermal method
- “But it is FDA-approved!” No, it’s not.
- Takes power out of my own hands
I get asked about this often, so here you have it!
If you are dead set on using Natural Cycles for birth control here’s how I would implement it:
For TTA (trying to avoid) – Until ovulation has been confirmed and passed, I would abstain or use a barrier and/ or withdrawal method.
For TTC (trying to conceive) – I would definitely be using their optional LH testing in addition to the app, look into learning more about tracking cervical fluid, and be okay with it possibly taking longer than you’d like!
Want to learn about FAM and the science behind it? I have a free class on this on my site that goes into the various methods such as BBT-only, billings method, symptothermal, etc.
My favorite resources for learning the symptothermal method of FAM:
- Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler
- Working with a FAM educator/ coach
- Inside of Hormone Bootcamp – my clients learn the basics!
🥰For more support, ask inside my Facebook community, DM me on Instagram, listen to the Get Cliterate podcast, read my blog, Or all of the above?! Hehe 💛
LET’S HAVE HEALTHY, HAPPY HORMONES! 👑🔥💫💖
Free resources:
- Join our *SECRET* Facebook Community
- Are My Hormones Imbalanced? Masterclass Learn how to identify hormone imbalances, where to start, + how to take charge of your symptoms!
- What Is Non-Hormonal BC? Masterclass Learn more about non-hormonal birth control options, effectiveness, & how to get started!
- Hormone Happy Grocery List: Your quick guide to hormone happy grocery shopping!
- Follow @caleeshea and @getcliterate on Instagram
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