Natural Cycles is a digital fertility tracking product that could help address concerns around pregnancy prevention and conception planning. The app uses daily temperature readings alongside menstrual cycle data that could estimate fertile and non-fertile days, converting natural physiological patterns into a clear daily fertility status. This might help track and interpret, offering an approach based on ongoing data input.
In this review, we examine how Natural Cycles performs in practice by looking closely at its core benefits, functional limitations, and usability considerations. We also assess consumer reviews, reported user experiences, and the brand’s broader reputation to provide a balanced view of what the product offers and where it may fall short.
As per the official website, Natural Cycles helps you manage fertility using biometric data. Delivered through a mobile app regulated as a medical device, it holds FDA clearance and CE marking.
Natural Cycles offers multiple in-app modes that adjust based on your reproductive goals. These include options for preventing pregnancy, planning pregnancy, following pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and perimenopause.
The official website highlights that each mode uses the same underlying temperature-based algorithm but personalizes insights, tracking features, and educational content to the selected use case.
According to the official website, the product may also support optional logging of symptoms such as mood, energy levels, and cycle-related changes, allowing you to observe patterns over time.
According to the official website, Natural Cycles operates by analyzing daily body temperature data to identify fertility patterns across the menstrual cycle. The system is built around the physiological principle that resting body temperature rises after ovulation due to hormonal changes. The app estimates when ovulation has occurred and defines the fertile and non-fertile days within each cycle by detecting and confirming this shift over time.
The makers mention that you can begin by measuring your temperature overnight using a compatible device, such as the NC° Band, Oura Ring, or Apple Watch. These devices collect temperature data during sleep, reducing variability caused by daily activity. The app supports multiple wearables, and the effectiveness of the system does not change based on which device is used, as long as measurements are taken consistently.
Once the data syncs with the app, Natural Cycles’ algorithm automatically analyzes both current and historical temperature readings. The algorithm adapts to individual cycle data, allowing fertility estimates to evolve as more information is collected. This personalization is intended to improve accuracy over time, particularly as the app learns your typical cycle length and temperature patterns.
Each day, the app assigns a fertility status indicating whether you are considered fertile or not fertile. Since pregnancy is only possible during a limited number of days per cycle, this daily status is used to guide decisions based on your selected goal, such as avoiding pregnancy or trying to conceive.
Natural Cycles also includes multiple modes within the same platform. While the underlying temperature-based analysis remains consistent, the app adjusts its insights and tracking focus depending on the selected mode to reflect different reproductive stages.
The official site states that Natural Cycles is cleared by U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use as a contraceptive. This clearance applies specifically to its use in pregnancy prevention, not merely cycle monitoring. The app is permitted to make explicit contraceptive claims, whereas most fertility apps avoid doing so due to a lack of medical authorization. The clearance also places Natural Cycles under ongoing regulatory expectations, including post-market monitoring and quality controls consistent with medical device standards. This may provide additional reassurance that the product has undergone formal regulatory review specifically for pregnancy prevention. It may also help you better assess the app’s role within your contraceptive decision-making, particularly if regulatory oversight is an important consideration for you.
Natural Cycles provides cycle insights that are based on your own physiological data rather than standardized cycle assumptions. The app’s algorithm analyzes daily basal body temperature measurements alongside your recorded cycle history to identify ovulation patterns specific to you. This approach avoids relying on a fixed 28-day cycle model and instead adapts to natural variations in cycle length, ovulation timing, and luteal phase duration.
The official website explains that the algorithm continuously updates its predictions as more data is logged, allowing it to refine how it defines fertile and non-fertile days for your individual cycle. This personalization can make cycle tracking more relevant and practical, particularly if your cycles do not follow predictable lengths. It may also help you make more informed decisions over time, whether your goal is to reduce pregnancy risk or to better understand when conception is more likely.
Natural Cycles is designed to work with multiple approved temperature-tracking devices, allowing you to collect fertility data without relying solely on manual entry. According to the official site, the app supports temperature measurements from traditional basal thermometers as well as select wearables that track body temperature overnight.
The company specifies compatibility with devices such as the NC° Band, Oura Ring, and supported Apple Watch models with temperature-sensing capabilities. These wearables capture temperature data automatically while you sleep and sync it directly with the app. The app reduces reliance on taking a temperature reading immediately upon waking, which can be difficult to maintain consistently by collecting data passively overnight.
This compatibility can make daily tracking easier to sustain over time, especially if you already use a smartwatch or ring. It may also help reduce missed readings, which can influence how confidently the app classifies fertility status on a given day.
Natural Cycles has some limitations regarding its subscription feature. As per the Reddit reviews, several users reported that annual plans, which previously renewed at around $90 per year, have risen to approximately $149.99 annually. Users indicated that this adjustment was introduced without clearly communicated feature upgrades, which has affected how the price increase is perceived.
This pricing shift raises broader questions around long-term value consistency. Natural Cycles operates on a recurring subscription model, meaning you can reassess the product at each renewal. Some users noted that the core experience continues to rely on daily temperature logging and fertility status predictions, making it harder to justify higher costs when functionality appears largely unchanged.
Pricing concerns are further influenced by the product’s dependence on consistent daily use. As accuracy relies on regular and precise basal body temperature tracking, disruptions such as irregular sleep or travel can reduce confidence in predictions. With a higher annual fee, you may feel that the margin for error becomes smaller, increasing sensitivity to perceived limitations. This pricing structure can affect how you evaluate affordability and value.
Our evaluation of Natural Cycles is based on Trustpilot feedback. It received 1,700+ customer reviews, contributing to an overall 4.2 rating on the platform. Some users claimed that the app significantly improved their understanding of fertility, cycle patterns, and hormonal changes. On the other hand, a few raised concerns about billing practices and subscription management during the same review period.
Many users also highlighted consistent accuracy in ovulation prediction and cycle tracking when the app was used as directed. Numerous customers mentioned successfully preventing pregnancy for extended periods, while others reported results quickly once they switched the app to pregnancy-planning mode.
Some users claimed the app helped them transition off hormonal birth control with fewer side effects, while several noted that pairing Natural Cycles with wearables like the Oura Ring or the Natural Cycles Band made temperature tracking easier and improved long-term consistency.
At the same time, many customers mentioned frustration unrelated to the core algorithm. Many users claimed they were charged for annual renewals without clear or timely reminders, while others stated they struggled to cancel subscriptions or obtain refunds after auto-renewals.
Many users highlighted that Natural Cycles requires daily engagement, stable sleep routines, and consistent data input to function reliably. Others mentioned that relying solely on the app for pregnancy prevention may not suit everyone, particularly without backup methods or partner coordination.
Our evaluation indicates that while many users highlighted strong performance in cycle tracking and fertility awareness, concerns related to billing transparency and customer support policies should also be considered. Natural Cycles may perform well, but it requires careful consideration of its subscription structure and usage demands.
Natural Cycles was the first app to receive FDA clearance for use as a form of birth control. This regulatory status, along with CE marking and integrations with devices such as the Oura Ring and Apple Watch, indicates sustained investment in compliance, product development, and scientific validation over time.
The brand currently holds an F rating on the Better Business Bureau with several customer complaints over the past years. The complaints include concerns related to automatic subscription renewals, unclear or insufficient renewal reminders, price increases that conflicted with prior expectations, and difficulty reaching human customer support.
Although many cases are marked as answered or resolved, refunds are frequently described as exceptions issued after escalation, which suggests reactive resolution rather than preventative controls.
We also reviewed Tenereteam, where Natural Cycles holds a 4.6 out of 5 rating, which is based on 37 reviews, with feedback largely centered on the non-hormonal nature of the product, perceived effectiveness, educational value, and ease of use. However, refund and subscription cancellation issues are explicitly listed among the brand’s drawbacks.
Natural Cycles seems to maintain legitimacy through longevity and regulatory clearance, but its subscription handling and customer support practices show recurring weaknesses.
Natural Cycles focuses on algorithmic interpretation of daily temperature inputs to identify ovulatory patterns over time. It claims to deliver personalized fertility insights by adapting predictions as more personal data is collected.
However, the product requires consistent daily temperature measurements taken under stable conditions to maintain analytical reliability. Variability introduced by disrupted sleep, illness, alcohol use, travel, or irregular routines can reduce data clarity and affect confidence in the app’s outputs. While wearable integration may reduce manual effort, it does not eliminate sensitivity to physiological fluctuations. Ongoing subscription costs may also factor into your evaluation, particularly if you prioritize feature expansion over incremental algorithm refinement.
Before relying on the product, you should consider several practical precautions. Natural Cycles is not designed to account for cycle irregularities driven by underlying health conditions and does not replace clinical assessment. Its effectiveness depends on adherence to tracking protocols and a clear understanding of how missed or inconsistent data can influence results.
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