I use Natural Cycles very successfully - ask me anything

[StandardsHighSquatsLow]

From what I read on social media, it seems there's still a lot of controversy surrounding Natural Cycles and before I signed up I wanted to talk to someone who used it but didn't know anyone.

I'm not a gynaecologist but can at least answer questions on my personal experience with it if that's helpful to anyone...

And purely for transparency - I do have a referral code that gets you a free thermometer and possibly a discount on the yearly subscription (I think, please don't hold me to that), I get a little achievement so there's no monetary gain in it for me whatsoever. Basically I don't work for them and I get nothing of any value so it's purely to help anyone that may be thinking about.

Are natural cycles made out of bamboo? What are the tyres made of? Can you get an electric natural cycle? Do you get natural cycle helmets?

😂😂 fair play I wasn't very clear was I?

For future readers, I'm talking about Natural Cycles the contraceptive app.

What are the advantages of this app over say Clue? Apart from a free thermometer.

I also use it very happily. Though my temperature fluctuates more than is normal apparently, which makes it more cautious

Did you read the article on it in this Saturday’s Guardian magazine?

What's the advantage of the app over charting with a pen and paper (which I currently do)?

What makes you so sure you won't get pregnant? Why would you use this over another form of contraception, esp. condoms which are also nonhormonal?

How long have you been using it for? I assume you are in a long term relationship, but how often do you actually have sex? How would you feel if you did fall pregnant?

I used Persona for contraception. I have two children as a result of its inability to assess when I was fertile. No way would I be trusting something based on my temperature.

Monumental

I've never used Clue so I don't know exactly how it works but I don't think it uses temperature does it? Also the fact that in some European countries Natural Cycles is recognised as a certified contraceptive where no other app is swung it for me

IsTheRainEverComingBack

I came off the pill to use it and it was a few months until my temperature settled down and stopped fluctuating massively so I just assumed it was down the pill maybe?

Aridane

No I haven't, I'll go and look it up now

TheCatFromOuterSpace

I suppose it's no different except that it might maybe pick up fluctuations better than I could? I like that the hassle's taken out of it for me, you just input your temperature and it's done. Also the predictions for future cycles, granted these could change but I couldn' be doing with working out when my period was going to be in 3 months time

*argumentativefeminist
*
We use condoms on red/fertile days but honestly we both prefer sex without them so it's nice that 70% of the time we don't have to worry about them.

Isn't it fucking annoying that the time you most want to have sex (when you are most fertile) that you can't / have to use contraception anyway?

PuntCuffin

I'm on my 9th cycle with it now. Yes in a long term relationship. And honestly I would be ok with falling pregnant - it wouldn't be ideal but also not the worst thing in the world. I think that's the best situation to be to be using it. If a pregnancy would be devastating then I'd probably use condoms every single time we had sex whether I was fertile or not.

PuntCuffin

Also meant to say, I use ovulation tests in the run up to when I'm supposed to ovulate and input that data too just as a backup I suppose.

*mooncuplanding
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Not really! It's only a few days out of the month really.

Yeah but they are the best days!!

How long did it take to get 70% green days. I've been using it since March and only recently got green days that weren't on my period? I only went off contraception in March

Aridane

I've just read the article and even as someone who uses the app, I completely agree with what the writer is saying. However, every form of hormonal contraception has it's flaws. I think there are someone like 800,000 users of Natural Cycles now and the reported unexpected pregnancies still come to less than 1% (I looked at some stats a while ago and that was what I worked out, don't quote me on it). I believe it's like every contraception it's not one size fits all. It will be a great solution for some women but others will struggle with it. For me, it works so far. I'm 9 months in, no pregnancy and not finding any faults with it.

swanlife

It's only been the last few cycles so 6-7 months for me.

mooncuplanding

I suppose that's where the fact that every woman's cycle is different. I massively lost my libido when I was on the pill, which was one of the reasons I wanted to go hormone free, and since coming off it it's definitely improved but the days I want sex most aren't necessarily red days. It really varies.

The copper coil is hormone free - why take the risk and have the faff?

mooncuplanding

I'm a massive wuss and definitely couldn't cope with having a coil. I honestly wasn't sure how I'd get on with NC but my partner and I agreed to try it for a year and if it was too much hassle then we'd look at other contraceptive options but honestly it's been so easy. Yes I suppose there's a risk but as I said on another post, it wouldn't be the end of the world if I got pregnant so for us it's a good fit.

The copper coil still causes a hormone reaction.