Some users may use hormonal birth control after using Natural Cycles for a period of time. We understand that different stages of your life may call for different kinds of birth control, so we’ve written some tips below to help you make the transition back from hormonal birth control to using Natural Cycles.
Can I inform the app that I was on hormonal birth control during my break?
When you return to Natural Cycles, you won’t have the option to re-answer your setup questions and inform the app that you were recently on hormonal birth control. Instead, follow the instructions below for a seamless app experience!
When can I restart using Natural Cycles after hormonal birth control?
We recommend that you start logging temperature data once your first ‘real’ period starts (please read below “How to log the first bleed after hormonal birth control”).
If you’re using NC° Birth Control, we recommend that you use protection (such as condoms or another form of barrier protection) each time you have sex until your first ‘real’ period starts.
Find more information about using Natural Cycles after hormonal birth control here: When can I start after being on other birth control methods?
How to log the first bleed after hormonal birth control
Bleeding experienced while on or right after quitting hormonal birth control is a withdrawal bleed, not a true menstrual period.
If you are returning to Natural Cycles after a break, the option for Withdrawal Bleeding will not appear in your app. Instead, please log your first bleed after stopping birth control as Spotting. Rest assured, the algorithm treats this Spotting entry identically to a withdrawal bleed.
Learn more about withdrawal bleeding here: Withdrawal bleeding: Overview, causes & symptoms
What can I expect when returning to Natural Cycles after using hormonal birth control?
When you log your first period after returning, the app may display a long cycle spanning the duration of your break. Rest assured, this extended cycle is excluded from your averages, and your predictions will be based on your completed cycles prior to taking a break.
After logging your first period, simply resume logging temperature data according to our usual guidelines. Keep in mind that ovulation can take time to return, and cycles may be irregular at first. As a result, NC° Birth Control users should expect more Red Days initially, while NC° Plan Pregnancy users will see more Brown Days.
Note: If your break lasted longer than 90 days and you have questions about how it affects your cycle statistics, please reach out to our Customer Care team so we can ensure your account is set up correctly.
For more information on how to use the app after a break, please visit the article How to come back to Natural Cycles after a long break, which answers the questions ‘Why is the app showing a long cycle?’ and ‘Can I reset my data?’: