When to log different kinds of data
In your Natural Cycles app, you will have the opportunity to track different kinds of symptoms. Some of the data is used by the algorithm to calculate your fertility status; this includes temperature, period, ovulation and pregnancy test data, as well as emergency contraception. Any other data entries are not taken into account by the algorithm.
The data that can influence your fertility status
Temperature data should be logged in the app as soon as possible in the day, because the NC° algorithm bases its calculations primarily on your temperature data to identify your fertility status for the day. To ensure that your fertility status is always up to date, you should input your temperature into the app each day, as soon as you can in the morning. You can then go on with your day, knowing whether today is a green or red day.
Please review our measuring guidelines here to find out the best time to measure your temperature.
Note: If you’re using Natural Cycles with one of the approved wearables (Oura Ring or Apple Watch), we recommend you sync your wearable with the NC° app as soon as possible each day. When the reading has been registered, the Natural Cycles app will send you a push notification that syncing has been completed and your daily fertility status is ready.
When analyzing your data, the algorithm will also consider whether or not you have excluded a temperature. If you need to exclude a temperature for any reason, we recommend that you do it as soon as possible in the day, ideally at the same time as you log the temperature. An excluded temperature is not taken into account by the algorithm to calculate your fertility status. Please ensure not to switch back and forth between excluding/not excluding a temperature, as this is something that can affect the algorithm.
Note: avoid logging temperature data for past days as this will lead the algorithm to recalculate and potentially change your past fertility status. Learn more here.
Period data can be logged at any point in the day, since your period may start at any time during the day. You should log Period for each day you’re bleeding. Read more about this here.
Ovulation test results can also be logged at any time during the day, however, we recommend logging these as soon as you receive the results.
Note: Pregnancy tests and emergency contraception are also taken into account by the algorithm — you can log pregnancy tests and emergency contraception as soon as you take these.
The data that does not influence your fertility status
The trackers that were not included above are not taken into account by the algorithm; they are here for your own tracking purposes. For that reason, you can log these entries at any time during the day, as they will not impact your fertility status for the day! If needed, you can also add data for a previous day — check out this article for detailed instructions.
How to use the app throughout the day
To sum up,
- In the morning: log or sync your temperature data first thing in the morning (and your period if applicable) so you know your daily fertility status for that day.
- Throughout the day: log your period and ovulation tests if applicable.
- Before you go to bed: log your mood(s), period flow, if you’ve had sex, how your skin looked, and anything else you may want to track about today!
Keep in mind that all the data that you add is for that day, meaning those 24 hours from midnight to midnight.