to think birth control apps shouldn't be advertised as contraception?

[ZoeCM]

I've heard quite a few women, IRL and online, describe themselves as having had a "contraception failure" after having unprotected sex while using birth control apps (Natural Cycles is the one I've heard mentioned most commonly). They tend to get annoyed when they're told that they really should have used contraception - they insist that they did, the phrase "hormone-free contraceptive" is right there in the product description, etc. AIBU to be shocked that this isn't considered a violation of trading standards? It's false advertising, IMO.

I agree. What's even more appalling is that many of these apps are backed by pro-life organisations. It's incredibly sinister.

I think YABU.

There's at least one large, scientifically reviewed study of the effectiveness of natural cycles (both with 'perfect' use and 'typical' use).

Plenty of people also mess up using other birth control methods. I know multiple people who have had pill or condom failures.

All contraception can fail...

They really should only be used as the second layer of birth control.

It is a form of contraception by definition and in practice, and is very effective if followed correctly ( www.nhs.uk/conditions/contraception/natural-family-planning/ )

So YABU.

This is the reason my DC now have a half sister. My ex and new gf actually believed it was a reliable main form of contraception

I think that if you know your body well and pay attention, it’s probably fairly reliable. My desire to not have another baby is strong enough that I wouldn’t risk it but I still feel confident enough that I would be very unlikely to get pregnant if I did.

It’s one of those methods that it’s only worth doing if you’re a) prepared to get to know your cycle for a good few months first & b) are still comfortable with the idea of a surprise new addition. If you’re happy with both a & b then go for it but if you’re not then use condoms, get the snip/a tubal or go back to hormones.

YANBU.

There should be a standard for a definition of "contraceptive" I'd suggest proven 90% min effectiveness which I don't believe this method has.

I've had an unplanned pregnancy on the combined pill used completely correctly, so I'm well aware all contraception has a failure rate but since then unless actively ttc I've used 2 methods of contraception, 1 hormonal and condoms.

In addition this method is really only effective if the people using the apps REALLY know their bodies and input the correct info which Is sadly incredibly rare.,

Many women and girls assume they have a "normal" 28 day cycle which is rare plus few women have a clockwork cycle of whatever length.

When I'm having periods mine are quite regular but occasionally I'll get a month where I'm "early" or "late" for any number of reasons. This indicates that ovulation didn't occur when I thought too and the signs of ovulation can be very minimal. In my case I get ovulation pain when ovulating from left side but not from right side.

Also when you are ovulating you're more likely to want sex so may well ignore the signs because you're being driven by that urge.

The majority of time I read contraception failure on here it doesn’t seem to be the case. It’s usually one of the following:

A woman on the pill who isn’t aware that vomiting or diarrhoea stops it working.

Using the withdrawal method.

Not taking the mini pill on time.

None of those are contraceptive failures. But you point that out and you’re the bad guy.

I agree YANBU though.

I agree. Let's face it. Many can't even properly use a pill or condom and these are less complicated...

Also. I absolutely don't understand this "I didn't know that if I take antibiotics/have a diarhhoea etc the pill won't work". Women are fucking swallowing it! WHY wouldn't you read the leaflet?????

@Merryoldgoat one of the mini-pills I tried didn't have to be taken at a set time. It was to be taken like the combined pill.

(Unfortunately like all mini-pills I tried I had horrible side-effects on it.)

It is a form of contraception by definition and GPs are now suggesting it too. With perfect use it's as effective as condoms. So yabu & a tad judgemental.

"Judgemental"?!

I think anyone on this site has every right to judge an app which has an unacceptable failure rate compared to other more established forms of contraception

We're talking about medicine here, it's factual. It's not a question of judging a religion or something

I think the truth is a lot of people emotionally invest in these apps and want them to work because they hate the alternatives. There's a collective noun for those people. Parents

Yanbu op. I agree with you fully.

Having used this method successfully for 2 years myself I kind of agree but also kind of dont.

I tried out Natural cycles though and didn't find it in depth enough. I used an app called Kindara which encourages you to get to grips with things like cervical mucus, daily temperature testing etc. you can review your own data in graphs so you can spot your own temperature shifts etc (also its free)

This worked for me and partner for 2 years, when we decided to stop avoiding i was surprised to be pregnant within 2 months as had just assumed we wernt that that fertile.

I am a geek that likes data and I find the whole thing inherently interesting though.

I do know of one Natural Cycles baby though that was definitely not planned, but knowing my friend and her generally chaotic attitude to everything I wasnt that surprised when they broke the news!

I think the personality of the user and willingness to engage with the app and 'learn' your body is probably an indicator of how successful it will be. It definitely isnt the easy option natural cycles markets itself as being.

Anyone using an app as "contraception" should be on folic acid.

I used natural cycles for two years to avoid pregnancy successful and then used them for the two months I was ttc my DD. Much better than hormonal contraception for me and my body and same success rate I had on the contraceptive implant.

The failure rate is the same as condoms.

Who researched that failure rate?

The main problem with a lot of these apps is they assume a lot, e.g. cycles are 28 days for everyone. Mine are 25 days regular as clockwork so if I didn't factor that in it def wouldn't work for a start! If you dont meticulously track your cycles and the app used doesnt take several factors like this into account its got no chance of working. No contraception is foolproof but it can be a useful tool as long as you're extremely vigilant with it.

I also used one for ages and it worked well for me as hormonal contraception gave me horrific migraines and I'd had enough, then used same one to get pregnant and it worked within 2 cycles each time.

The study was carried out by researchers from the manufacturer of the application, Natural Cycles Nordic AB, along with the Karolinska Institutet and University Hospital, Stockholm.
Funding was provided by Natural Cycles Nordic AB

This is from the NHS page about the app @WalkingDeadTrainee

https://www.nhs.uk/news/pregnancy-and-child/would-you-trust-a-smartphone-app-as-a-contraceptive//*

Not having sex when you are at risk of falling pregnant is a contraceptive method. It prevents conception.

@WalkingDeadTrainee the level of knowledge of women's reproductive cycles in this country is shocking though. I don't know if purely poor education or people not listening/paying attention.

So I'm not surprised they also don't understand how to take pill or use condoms.

My ex genuinely thought the pill worked by making the women grow a sort of skin across the "bit where the spunk goes in" 🙄

I had to give him a thorough explanation and it still took him a while to "get it"!

He also was one of those thought the vagina and urethra were the same hole! And there's plenty of women even on here thing the same.

which encourages you to get to grips with things like cervical mucus, daily temperature testing etc.

An awful lot of people can't correctly assess their own cm or even take a temp properly!

I do think the effect of some meds and d&v on hormonal contraceptions (not just the pill) needs to be more widely advertised and hcps prescribing should be required to point this out EVERY time they prescribe

People are largely idiots to be honest.

Been using the withdrawal method for nine years without issue.

My ex genuinely thought the pill worked by making the women grow a sort of skin across the "bit where the spunk goes in"

Haha!

Not quite as bad as that but I was once chatting to a man who had made an app that sent women a text to remind them to take their birth control pill each day. He claimed that because of this he knew when a lot of women in our city were ovulating.

@n00bMaster69 well, that's trustworthy then

@Graphista bet you the people who don't read "manual" for something they actually plan to INGEST every day read manuals when they get new gadget...

And lol at the skin growing baby defence.