Can you rely on a contraception app or device?
It depends on the app, and on you.
Some apps are more reliable than others, and some women's cycles are more regular than others.
If you are reasonably relaxed about getting pregnant, and have regular periods, an app or device might be a good option but be careful.
They have amazing potential, and they're great for recording information, but they're not always so good at interpreting it.
You need to know some cycle basics, and how to make allowances for missed temperatures, sickness and other things that can affect when your fertile days occur.
The NHS website says you should get support (from someone like me) before you use fertility awareness as contraception.
That said, these fertility apps and devices could be helpful:
Some apps are more reliable than others, and some women's cycles are more regular than others.
If you are reasonably relaxed about getting pregnant, and have regular periods, an app or device might be a good option but be careful.
They have amazing potential, and they're great for recording information, but they're not always so good at interpreting it.
You need to know some cycle basics, and how to make allowances for missed temperatures, sickness and other things that can affect when your fertile days occur.
The NHS website says you should get support (from someone like me) before you use fertility awareness as contraception.
That said, these fertility apps and devices could be helpful:
An app for tracking your cycle
If you want to track your period and things like mood, energy, headaches or acne Clue is a good option.
It has clear graphics, adjustable alerts and informative blogs.
Do not use Clue to confirm your fertile time. It is not designed for use as contraception (yet), so ignore the fertile/infertile information unless you're very relaxed about getting pregnant.
It has clear graphics, adjustable alerts and informative blogs.
Do not use Clue to confirm your fertile time. It is not designed for use as contraception (yet), so ignore the fertile/infertile information unless you're very relaxed about getting pregnant.
Apps for contraception
If you know what you're doing, these are probably your best options (they're both free/very cheap):
There are also alarming reports of days changing from green (infertile) to red (fertile) after couples have had unprotected sex, so don't rely on it.
That said, if you want a very simple option - and 95% effectiveness is good enough for you - check out CycleBeads - or its sister app Dot.
Both these apps are free and wonderfully simple - enter day one of your period and they do the rest.
- Kindara - the design could be clearer but it is a good app with a supportive online forum of fellow fertility awareness users.
- Ovuview - (Android only) has too many options but it is still helpful. If you want to use 3 over 6 to avoid pregnancy click on the top left menu, select "methods" and unselect all of them except Rule R (Rotzer).
There are also alarming reports of days changing from green (infertile) to red (fertile) after couples have had unprotected sex, so don't rely on it.
That said, if you want a very simple option - and 95% effectiveness is good enough for you - check out CycleBeads - or its sister app Dot.
Both these apps are free and wonderfully simple - enter day one of your period and they do the rest.
Monitors and thermometers
Fertility monitors are devices that make calculations based on either your basal body temperature or the hormone levels in your urine.
Some aim to help you get pregnant - like DuoFertility, Ovusense and Ava. Others, like Cyclotest, Daysy and Persona can be used both to help you get pregnant and as contraception.
The only monitor or thermometer that I currently recommend is TempDrop - a thermometer that you strap on your arm at night. If you have very irregular or interrupted sleep it might be worth buying (it's not cheap).
Tempdrop does not interpret your data - you enter the temperature into an app like Kindara or Ovuview or a paper chart. You still need to know what you're doing before you use fertility awareness as contraception.
Some aim to help you get pregnant - like DuoFertility, Ovusense and Ava. Others, like Cyclotest, Daysy and Persona can be used both to help you get pregnant and as contraception.
The only monitor or thermometer that I currently recommend is TempDrop - a thermometer that you strap on your arm at night. If you have very irregular or interrupted sleep it might be worth buying (it's not cheap).
Tempdrop does not interpret your data - you enter the temperature into an app like Kindara or Ovuview or a paper chart. You still need to know what you're doing before you use fertility awareness as contraception.