To get started with Natural Cycles, you will need the following:
1. A Natural Cycles account with an active subscription
You can create a Natural Cycles account and sign up for a subscription by visiting our website.
Download the Natural Cycles app on your phone through the App Store or Google Play to access your account and the app’s functionalities. Make sure to log in using the same email address that you used to sign up for your subscription.
You can also use our web app: it's the same as the mobile app, only accessed through our website.
2. A basal thermometer or an Oura Ring
For the algorithm to be able to identify your fertile window, you need to log temperature data in the app regularly. This is because keeping track of body temperature shifts can tell you exactly where you are in your cycle. You can read more about the basal body temperature here.
You can measure your basal body temperature using a special thermometer measuring with 2 decimals and which has an accuracy of +/- 0.10 (C) or +/-0.20 (F). You can check the accuracy of your thermometer in the specifications listed in the thermometer’s instructions for use. You can order a basal thermometer from our webshop, or purchase one from your nearest pharmacy.
Alternatively, you can use Natural Cycles with an Oura Ring (Gen2 or Gen3). When using the Oura Ring, your temperature trends get measured overnight while you sleep. In the morning, all you need to do is sync your Oura Ring with the Natural Cycles app to get your daily fertility status. Please note that you need an active Oura membership with the Gen3 Oura Ring to be able to sync your ring. You can learn more here.
3. LH tests (optional)
Natural Cycles will recommend you to take an LH test (ovulation test) a few times per cycle on the days leading up to your expected ovulation. LH tests are optional to do, and not a requirement for using Natural Cycles as temperature is the primary factor used by the NC° algorithm to detect ovulation, but they can help with detecting ovulation faster.
Measuring LH can be helpful for narrowing down your ovulation day each cycle, whether you are using NC° Birth Control or NC° Plan Pregnancy.
NC° Birth Control users get roughly 5% more green days in a cycle with positive LH tests recorded in the app, and NC° Plan Pregnancy users benefit from the extra accuracy in pinpointing ovulation and their most fertile days.
You'll find Natural Cycles' LH tests in our webshop. Learn more about LH tests here.
For more information on getting started, please review the Instructions for Use.