Fertility awareness methods (FAM) reviews

I have used Natural Cycles for years now (alongside condoms when ovulating) and love using a non-hormonal method. I used to get side effects from the combined pill and mini pill so I have seen an improvement since coming off those. The data aspect of recording your temperature and seeing the patterns of my cycle is something I find really interesting. Plus the reminders of ovulation/upcoming period/breast checks are always helpful. I know myself and my body better since tracking my cycles.

The Natural Cycles algorithm does not work to accurately track ovulation and therefore prevent pregnancy. Evidence based FAM/symptothermal methods use a '2 check method' including temperature and cervical fluid patterns. Natural Cycles only tracks your body temperature. After using for a few months I noticed my safe/green days changed after the date. So I had (what I thought was) safe unprotected sex in the non-fertile window, but then by the end of that cycle those days had changed to red/not safe. Surprise surprise, I got pregnant and had to arrange a termination. Since stopping this I have started using fertility awareness methods successfully for 4+yrs. Natural Cycles is just too risky without a 2 check method, and basing it on an algorithm.

I loved using Natural Cycles as it let my body just be itself. It was very effective for four and a half years…until I unexpectedly got pregnant! I will fully admit though we would occasionally take risks on early red days, and we know where we went wrong the month I became pregnant (travelling with time and environment changes led to confusing temperature readings coupled with not using enough caution). The only downsides of NC for me were needing to be on a predictable routine for morning thermometer readings (may be challenging for those travelling a lot or on shift work) and we had to use condoms or abstain during ovulation - which is of course the peak time for when you want some action! Overall though I would recommend it and will probably resume using it once our sleep schedule normalises with our beloved new baby. Having been on the pill and using a copper iud for years, it’s just hard to beat having zero side effects and letting your body do its own thing.

Absolutely brilliant - after being on hormonal contraception this has been like a breath of fresh air. Natural cycles works so brilliant for me and I’ve never felt so in touch with my body and emotions. Genuinely lifechanging - if the you meet the criteria for this (regular periods, fairly routine lifestyle) then I could not recommend it more.

I didn't really do this properly and only used it here and there! So I am definitely not an expert on this, but if you have regular periods and are organised I can see why this may be beneficial! Especially as no hormones

Started using Natural Cycles after having my first baby. I exclusively breastfeed and my first few periods after giving birth were all over the place. Tracking using the app just gave me a bit more info on my body and how long I was going between cycles etc. I’m just over a year post partum now and periods have returned to normal and I put knowing that down to the app. Baby still wakes a bit in the night so it can be a bit difficult to know exactly when to measure my temperature but the app has some helpful articles on this. Overall, love that it’s hormone free and that I can see helpful information on my cycle in an eat to use app! If considering, try finding a friend or someone with a referral code to get a discount on app subscription x

After bragging about the natural cycles for a while, and following it religiously, checked everyday, noted everything, I fell pregnant twice. I was someone who was super regular as well, so the app knew my cycle very well. I thought the first was an outlier then it happened again. Stress, exercise or changes in the normal routine can change your natural cycle, so the app can’t see what’s going on inside your body. So, this method is great if you’re not worried about falling accidentally pregnant and having a baby. If not, use contraception.

I LOVED this app, it was truly the best option as someone with a medical condition hormonal contraception was not possible and the side effects of others seemed too problematic. However after 13 months of bragging about how great my experience has been with the app I fell pregnant. This was devastating as I followed the app religiously and was an outcome I did not want. I even think I know what green days caused this as around my 10month in it began to green light the day after my period had ended, which was new. Having trusted the app so far I began having unprotected sex on these green days after my period not long before the pregnancy. Since this has happened I have research further and I believe this app is not being investigate enough and it’s far less efficient than we are led to believe. Despite of this I am still using the app however ,we now use condoms even for most of the green days as I feel I cannot trust it. I am seeking alternatives but with my medical background it is slim pickings. My take away- there are no side effects accept the very real possibility of getting pregnant. If you see any ad on Instagram rn it is swamped with comments with women having got pregnant from the app and I suspect those of us who had to have an abortion have kept quiet. I wanted this to be a true alternative to all the havoc other forms of contraception cause but have been let down in the worst way.

I am so pleased to find this after years of side effects from other contraceptives. Doing this method takes work- ovulation testing and I use an oura ring to accurately measure temperature. I wouldn’t recommend this for someone who doesn’t understand how it works, doesn’t understand their body or does not have restraint to use barrier contraception or abstain during red periods. It really works for me and I’ll be using it for the foreseeable.

Literally no side effects, no fake hormones affecting my body or mental health. Use symptothermal - 11 months in and find temping and checking cervical mucus easy and not at all laborious. We use condoms during fertile window (for me that’s usually about 9 days) and unprotected the rest of the time. No scares and I feel confident and secure with this method. I’ll never go back to hormonal birth control!