Anyone use natural cycles app as their sole contraception?

[Jaybird100]

All other options just aren’t suitable for me (I’ve considered them all) and natural cycles has a pearl index close to the birth control pill and is a certified contraceptive, unlike other ovulation trackers.

Assuming you have a fairly regular menstrual cycle and use the thermometer as intended, has anyone had any contraceptive failures resulting in pregnancy?

I’ve heard some stories in the media of people getting pregnant despite using it properly..

I don't use it, but you'd be as well looking into the named Natural Family Planning methods like Creighton, Billings or Marquette. They all have slightly different rules, I think Creighton is temperature and mucus, Billings is mucus only and Marquette uses the clear blue fertility monitor. These have similar "perfect use" statistics to other contraceptive methods but they also have more specific protocols than I think an app could give you. Depending on how seriously you're avoiding pregnancy, most methods give you around 14-20 "useable" days a month depending on your cycle length.

You may be able to find an instructor for at least one method in your area through Google (although they're likely to be Catholic, if not directly associated with a church). If you have very regular cycles you may be ok without one, but you'd need to have somewhere to look for advice if your cycle changes for any reason, unless you're willing to abstain until it goes back to normal.

I've also heard people in NFP circles saying that the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility is a good starting point.

I did for about a year and a half (with condoms on red days), then when we started ttc I got pg the first month so pretty effective/accurate for me.

I'd only do it with really regular periods though and a suitable lifestyle (no hangovers or odd sleeping patterns to make your temperature readings less accurate)

Worked fine for a year... Until I ignored it for one day...

Worked perfectly for 10 years... then it didn’t I wasn’t keen on hormonal contraceptives, and would prefer without condoms but I would only rely on it if a pregnancy wouldn’t be a disaster for you.

I do, it works but you need both you and your partner to be on the same page with it because you're going to get quite a few red days.

Take LH tests. Be honest about your ability to measure at the same time every day. Have consistent sleep patterns. It's best if you don't drink much. Err on the side of caution and mark temperatures as deviating if you've done anything outside of the norm.

Also, I'd advise discussing with your partner what you would do if there was an unplanned pregnancy on it. Always good advice, but more salient using a fertility awareness method!

Thanks for the replies so far