An anovulatory cycle is simply a menstrual cycle in which an egg is not released by the ovaries.
While we often think that every single period follows ovulation, it is completely normal and biologically common to occasionally have a cycle where ovulation does not occur. The NC° algorithm is designed to detect these cycles automatically to ensure your daily fertility status remains highly accurate.
How Natural Cycles Detects Anovulation
The NC° algorithm relies on your Basal Body Temperature (BBT) to track your cycle. Normally, after an egg is released, your body produces the hormone progesterone, which causes a sustained rise in your body temperature.
If you are experiencing an anovulatory cycle, the algorithm will detect that your daily temperature readings remain flat rather than showing a clear, sustained rise.
Once you log your next period bleeding, the app will formally close that cycle and flag it as Anovulatory in your Cycle Insights.
Common Reasons for an Anovulatory Cycle
An occasional cycle without ovulation is rarely a sign of a medical issue. In fact, most women experience them without even realizing it. The most common triggers include:
- Stress or Fatigue: High levels of emotional or physical stress can temporarily signal your brain to delay or skip ovulation.
- Recent Birth Control Changes: If you recently discontinued hormonal contraception (like the pill, implant, or IUD), your body can take several months to regulate and begin ovulating consistently again.
- Travel or Sleep Disruptions: Drastic changes in your routine, illness, or sleeping patterns can impact your hormone cycles.
- Natural Life Stages: Anovulatory cycles are very common during adolescence, postpartum recovery, breastfeeding, or when approaching perimenopause.
- Underlying Conditions: Continuous anovulatory cycles can sometimes be tied to hormonal imbalances such as PMOS (formerly PCOS).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an anovulatory cycle make NC° Birth Control less effective?
No. The effectiveness of Natural Cycles (93% with typical use and 98% with perfect use) remains exactly the same. If the algorithm does not see a clear temperature rise confirming that ovulation has passed, it will simply keep you on Red Days (or require protection) to ensure you remain fully protected. The app prioritizes safety above all else.
Why does my graph say "Ovulation Unconfirmed" instead of anovulatory?
In some instances, you may notice that the app says ‘Ovulation not confirmed’ for the cycle that just ended. This is not the same as the ‘No ovulation’ status that’s shown for anovulatory cycles.
When you get the ‘Ovulation not confirmed’ status, this doesn’t necessarily mean that ovulation didn’t happen — it means that the algorithm didn’t have enough data to confirm whether ovulation happened or not. This can happen if you don’t add enough temperature data (fewer than five temperatures per week) or if your temperatures are fluctuating.
How should I log the bleeding that happens at the end of an anovulatory cycle?
The bleeding you may experience at the end of an anovulatory cycle is caused by hormonal imbalance, typically due to a lack of progesterone and the effects of unstable estrogen levels.
This bleeding should be logged as a Period in the app to let the algorithm know that a new cycle has started.
When should I consult a healthcare provider?
An isolated anovulatory cycle from time to time is entirely normal and typically no cause for concern.
However, if the app flags multiple anoliucatory cycles in a short period, or if you have any underlying concerns about your cycle regularity, we recommend consulting your healthcare provider. To make this conversation easier, you can download your NC° Cycle Report directly from the app to share with your doctor so they can easily review your hormonal health data.