I have received a notification from Whoop that they are offering a year of free subscription to the Natural Cycles app. As it offers perimenopause tracking, I was intrigued and thought I would join it and give it a try. Here are my first impressions, and I will keep updating this article when I get more data with longer use.
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TL;DR
Natural Cycles‘ perimenopause tracking is worth trying, especially since it’s free for a year with Whoop or Aura Ring; it gives insights on ovulation and symptom patterns that Whoop alone doesn’t. First impressions are promising, though the app takes some getting used to, and I noticed a discrepancy between my website and app perimenopause results, which I’m digging into further. Full 30- and 90-day updates coming as I test it more.
What is the Natural Cycles app?
In a nutshell, Natural Cycles measures your temperature at night and, with your data input, predicts your ovulation and fertility. Body temperature changes in response to hormonal shifts throughout the menstrual cycle. After ovulation, rising progesterone causes a small increase in temperature.
If you track these changes over time, you can identify cycle patterns, predict the fertile window, and confirm ovulation if you have regular cycles.
So, for the Natural Cycles app to work, all you need is a temperature-measuring device; that’s why they partnered with Whoop and the Aura Ring. However, you can also wear your own temperature-measuring device.
The main focus of the Natural Cycles app is birth control and planning pregnancy, so I am intrigued by what kind of insights I will be able to see for perimenopause.
Natural Cycles’ FDA clearance note. In 2018, the FDA cleared Natural Cycles as the first contraceptive app, making birth control history. This is amazing; however, it is not FDA-cleared for perimenopause assessment.
Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored review; however, I may earn from affiliate links, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting Barefoot Basil! Full Affiliate Disclosure
Sign-up process and First Impressions of the Natural Cycles app
I am not going to lie, the signing-in process was a bit hideous. It took me from the Whoop app to the Natural Cycles website, then the app. I had to answer a lot of questions on the website and then on the app. It took me probably a good 20 minutes to sync everything, so I hope it will be worth it.
Overall, I like the look of the app interface, but I find it slightly cluttered and confusing. I want to give it some time to get used to it and see what kind of information I will get from it that I don’t get from Whoop.
Natural Cycles and
Whoop Compatibility
I don’t think any existing data was transferred to Natural Cycles from my Whoop app, so really, all Whoop is used for is temperature measuring from the day you sign up to Natural Cycles. I don’t know why, but I expected my cycle information from Whoop to be transferred.
One thing I would like to point out is to make sure the temperature measurements are as accurate as possible. I have been using Whoop for almost 2 years now, and what I noticed is that the temperature measurements change quite drastically if you change its position. When I had a rash, I swapped the hands and the position of the sensor and received a warning message that my temperature changed dramatically. If you are using the Natural Cycles app, keep this in mind as it might affect the data.
How accurate is the perimenopause test on NC?
I took a perimenopause test both on the website and on the app, and marked pretty much the same symptoms; however, the outcomes were completely different. On the website, my outcome was “ you are likely not in perimenopause”, while on the app it is not early, but “mid perimenopause ” I did retake this twice, as, to be honest, at 42, and with mild symptoms, I know I could be in early peri, but not sure I am in the mid.
This discrepancy is a bit concerning, as I do feel I am in the early perimenopause, but I did not get this result on NC.
I have created a perimenopause symptom quiz that is way more detailed and does not need an app or subscription to assess it, so if you are wondering if you are in perimenopause, check it out and let me know if you found it helpful. It took me a long time to create, so your feedback is very important.
What can I track with Natural Cycles for perimenopause?
I track my cycle with Whoop, but it does get a bit confused, as my cycle is very irregular. According to NC, their app is suitable for irregular cycles, and its algorithms are designed to handle the expected unpredictability of cycles in perimenopause, including detecting changes to ovulation trends and more frequent anovulation (cycles with no ovulation), so the app works with both regular and irregular cycles.
How much is the Natural Cycles app subscription?
If you have a Whoop or Aura Ring, you can get a one-year subscription for free. After one year, it auto-renews for €119.99 and around $149.99/year.
I will point out that the price without the Whoop is difficult to find; you basically need to fill out a quiz before the price is shown.
If you don’t have any of the wearables, you can add
15% off as a new user with code: HORMONEFREE15
NC is FDA-cleared as a birth control, so if you are in the US, there’s a high probability your insurance will reimburse you for the fee.
One thing I did not appreciate was that I could not cancel the subscription after subscribing, as I was not sure if I would remember to cancel in a year, so I would rather cancel and then resubscribe if I like the app. If you want to cancel it now, it cancels now, not after the subscription expires. I do understand why they do it, and it does say that they will send a reminder, but I would have preferred the flexibility. I have set a reminder in my calendar in a year just to be sure I cancel if I don’t like it. I also feel that the cancellation process is a bit tricky, as you need to log in to the website and cannot do it via the app; again, I feel this might be done on purpose to make it not as easy to cancel. I don’t like when brands do this, as it breaks the trust a bit.
I am not keen on the brands without the pricing and subscription cancellation transparency, but I am still willing to give it a go as I have seen many good reviews.
Continuous usage of the app
As I only downloaded the app yesterday, I need to get used to using it and want to see what kind of beneficial data I will receive to help with perimenopause.
What I’m most interested to see if I am ovulating every month, and I feel like the Natural Cycles app can be a good one to test out. Looking at Reddit threads, users are genuinely happy with the app, especially in perimenopause, so I am very excited to see if it will be beneficial for me.
What I like about Natural Cycles
- I love daily check-ins and recommendations
- Great that it syncs the data with Whoop
What could be better
- Onboarding process was very long and repetitive
- There is no pricing transparency before creating an account
- User interface is a bit confusing, but might take some time to get used to
- No backdated Whoop data ( I wish it had transferred my past period data)
Who should use Natural Cycles?
I feel it is most beneficial if you:
- Are trying for a baby
- Want a natural contraception based on your cycle
- You love filling in symptoms and moods daily
- If you want to learn about your natural body cycles
Who should skip Natural Cycles?
- If you are not great at daily check-ins
- If you are not interested in tracking data
- If you’d rather use a pill or other contraception instead of natural tracking
- If you have Whoop and the data you have there is enough for you
FAQ
Can you use Natural Cycles during perimenopause?
Yes, you can, and they have a dedicated NC° Perimenopause mode, which I am testing out myself for perimenopause symptoms and irregular period tracking.
Is Natural Cycles accurate for perimenopause?
I am not sure yet and will update it as soon as I use it for a few months. I did find a discrepancy when filling in the quiz on the website and the app; it stated different stages of perimenopause for me with the same symptoms, but I am intrigued to see if the data is accurate after I use it for a while.
Can you still get pregnant on Natural Cycles during perimenopause?
Even if the chances are lower, it is still possible to get pregnant during perimenopause. So if you want to try a natural way to get pregnant at this stage of your life, Natural Cycles could be very helpful.
Does Natural Cycles work with irregular cycles?
According to the brand, it does, and I have started testing the feature with my own irregular cycle, and I will update you in a few months when I get the insights.
How do you cancel a Natural Cycles subscription?
You can cancel it on their website. Go to Billing. Click Cancel current subscription. But please note that if you cancel, your service will end immediately, including the remainder of your free trial, and you cannot reactivate the trial. So, if you have a year free trial, as I do, make sure to cancel it a few days before the end of it. I have received an email saying that they will remind me before the trial ends, but I also set up a reminder on my calendar, just in case.
Is Natural Cycles FDA-approved for perimenopause?
Not at the moment. It is only FDA-cleared as a natural contraceptive app.
Is Natural Cycles worth signing up for Perimenopause?
For a year-free trial, I feel like it is absolutely worth signing up for and can give more accurate data for perimenopause than Whoop alone, but for a more detailed answer, I need to test it more, so stay tuned.
I will be updating with more insights after 30 days and 90 days of using the app, so make sure you come back here to check it all out.
Health Disclaimer: This post is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your supplements, medications, or treatment plan, particularly during perimenopause or if you have an existing health condition.
Silvija Meilunaite, PN1-NC, CSMC, is a certified nutrition coach and menopause coaching specialist. Combining current scientific research with her own experience of perimenopause, she writes evidence-based articles, practical guides, and in-depth product reviews to help women over 40 make informed decisions about nutrition, strength training, recovery, supplements, non-toxic living, and wellness products.
