Many women use fertility tracking apps to plan or prevent pregnancy. Two popular choices are Femometer and Natural Cycles. Both use body temperature and daily data to predict fertile days. But which one fits your goals better?
In this guide, you’ll get a detailed comparison of both tools to help you decide.
Key Takeaways
- Femometer is best for women trying to conceive and tracking hormones like LH.
- Natural Cycles is FDA-approved for birth control and ideal for avoiding pregnancy.
- Femometer uses a smart thermometer; Natural Cycles allows Oura Ring or manual input.
- Natural Cycles is subscription-based; Femometer has a one-time device cost.
- Choose based on your goal: track to conceive (Femometer) or track to prevent (Natural Cycles).
What Is Femometer?
Femometer is a fertility tracker that uses basal body temperature (BBT), hormone testing, and period tracking. It works with a smart thermometer that connects to the Femometer app.
You measure your temperature every morning before getting out of bed. The device syncs with the app, which helps predict ovulation and fertile days. You can also log cervical mucus, LH test results, moods, and symptoms.
There are two app versions:
- Femometer Ivy – for fertility and pregnancy planning
- Femometer Vinca – for period and cycle tracking
Femometer helps women who are trying to conceive or want to understand their cycle better.
Pros of Femometer
- Accurate Readings: The smart thermometer gives consistent BBT results.
- Bluetooth Sync: Temperature data transfers automatically to the app.
- Detailed Logs: You can track LH tests, cervical mucus, mood, and more.
- Cycle Reminders: The app reminds you to take your temperature or do tests.
- Helpful Content: Offers simple tips and fertility education.
- Low Cost: One-time device purchase; no ongoing fees.
- Multi-Use Tool: Ideal for tracking health, fertility, or conception.
Cons of Femometer
- Requires Daily Use: You must take your temperature every morning.
- Missed Readings Affect Accuracy: Irregular tracking can confuse results.
- Learning Needed: Beginners may need a few cycles to get used to BBT.
- Not a Birth Control App: Femometer is not FDA-approved for contraception.
Related:
What Is Natural Cycles?
Natural Cycles is an FDA-approved birth control app that uses BBT to identify fertile and non-fertile days. It assigns red days (fertile) and green days (non-fertile) to help avoid or plan pregnancy.
You take your temperature each morning and enter it into the app manually or via an Oura Ring. The app’s algorithm estimates your fertile window and adjusts over time based on your data.
Natural Cycles is designed as a hormone-free birth control method. Many women prefer it over pills or implants.
Pros of Natural Cycles
- FDA Certified: Approved for contraception in the U.S. and Europe.
- Science-Driven Algorithm: Based on clinical research.
- Easy Interface: Clearly marks fertile and non-fertile days.
- Non-Hormonal Option: Ideal for users avoiding hormonal methods.
- Integrates with Oura Ring: Passive temperature tracking.
- Track Cycle Trends: Shows detailed graphs and cycle phases.
Learn more:
Cons of Natural Cycles
- Paid Subscription: Monthly or yearly plans required.
- Needs Regular Use: Accuracy depends on daily tracking.
- No Hormone Logs: Doesn’t track LH tests or cervical mucus.
- Less Ideal for Irregular Sleep Patterns: Shift workers may find it less accurate.
- Manual Input Needed: No smart thermometer support unless using Oura Ring.
Related:
Femometer vs Natural Cycles: Key Differences
| Feature | Femometer | Natural Cycles |
|---|---|---|
| Main Goal | Cycle and fertility tracking | Hormone-free birth control |
| FDA Approved | No | Yes |
| BBT Tracking | Yes (with smart thermometer) | Yes (manual or Oura Ring) |
| Hormone Tracking | Yes (LH tests and symptoms) | No |
| Cervical Mucus Logging | Yes | No |
| Cost | One-time device cost | Subscription fee |
| Device Integration | Works with Femometer thermometers | Works with Oura Ring |
| Use Case | Planning pregnancy and cycle tracking | Preventing pregnancy |
| Ease of Use | More features, more manual logs | Simple daily input and color codes |
| Education Provided | Includes fertility tips and insights | Offers cycle reports and predictions |
FAQs
1. What is the main difference between Femometer and Natural Cycles?
Femometer is primarily a fertility awareness tool designed to help women track ovulation, monitor hormonal shifts, and prepare for pregnancy. It supports detailed logging through a smart thermometer and optional LH test tracking. On the other hand, Natural Cycles is an FDA-approved birth control app focused on identifying fertile and non-fertile days for contraception purposes. It uses basal body temperature (BBT) data to provide a hormone-free alternative to traditional contraceptives.
2. Is Femometer FDA-approved for birth control?
No, Femometer is not FDA-approved for use as a contraceptive method. It is a fertility tracker that provides insights into your ovulation cycle, hormonal patterns, and menstrual health. It’s an excellent tool for women trying to conceive, but it does not carry the clinical validation needed for reliable birth control use.
3. Can Natural Cycles be used to get pregnant?
Yes, Natural Cycles offers a “Plan a Pregnancy” mode. In this mode, the app uses your basal body temperature and cycle data to identify your most fertile days. This helps couples time intercourse more accurately to increase the chances of conception. While its primary focus is birth control, it is also effective for pregnancy planning when set to the appropriate mode.
4. Do I need a smart thermometer for Natural Cycles?
No, you don’t need a smart thermometer to use Natural Cycles. You can use any digital basal thermometer that measures to two decimal places. However, for more convenience, Natural Cycles can sync with the Oura Ring, which passively collects your nighttime temperature and automatically syncs the data to the app.
5. Does Femometer track more than temperature?
Yes, Femometer is more than just a BBT tracker. It allows you to log various fertility indicators such as cervical mucus consistency, LH test results, mood changes, and PMS symptoms. These additional inputs provide a holistic view of your reproductive health and make ovulation prediction more accurate.
6. How reliable is Natural Cycles as birth control?
Natural Cycles is over 93% effective with typical use and 98% effective with perfect use, based on clinical studies. Its effectiveness depends on consistent daily use—taking your temperature at the same time each morning and avoiding unprotected intercourse on fertile (red) days. It’s a solid option for women seeking a non-hormonal and data-driven form of contraception.
7. Can Femometer help me detect hormonal imbalances?
Yes, to some extent. Femometer allows you to log basal body temperature trends, LH surge results, and menstrual cycle symptoms. Unusual patterns—like no ovulation over several cycles or irregular temperature shifts—can indicate potential hormonal imbalances. While not a diagnostic tool, Femometer can prompt users to seek medical advice when things seem off.
8. Is there a free version of Femometer?
Yes, Femometer offers a free version of its app, which includes basic cycle tracking and BBT logging. However, advanced features—such as fertility analysis, AI predictions, and access to educational resources—may require an in-app purchase or subscription. Still, the free features are enough for many users starting their fertility tracking journey.
9. Can I use both apps at the same time?
Technically, yes. You could use Femometer for in-depth tracking and data collection, while simultaneously using Natural Cycles for fertility window interpretation. However, it may be redundant to track the same data in two apps. Most users find it more convenient to stick with one platform that matches their specific goals—either planning or preventing pregnancy.
10. Which app is better for women with irregular cycles?
Femometer may be more beneficial for women with irregular cycles because it incorporates multiple data points such as BBT, LH tests, and cervical mucus. This multi-layered approach improves cycle predictions even when ovulation is not consistent. Natural Cycles is less accurate with irregular cycles unless paired with consistent tracking and additional support like the Oura Ring.
11. Is Natural Cycles suitable for women with PCOS?
Natural Cycles may not be ideal for women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) due to cycle irregularity and unpredictable ovulation. Its algorithm is most effective with stable cycles and consistent temperature readings. Femometer might offer better support in this case by allowing manual hormone tracking and additional ovulation indicators.
12. Do either of the apps require internet access?
Both Femometer and Natural Cycles require internet access for full functionality. While you can enter or sync some data offline, features like cloud storage, algorithm updates, and syncing with devices (like the Oura Ring or smart thermometer) require a stable internet connection.
13. Can I trust the data privacy of these apps?
Both apps prioritize user privacy. Natural Cycles complies with international data protection regulations and uses encrypted data storage. Femometer also emphasizes user data security and transparency. Still, users should review each app’s privacy policy to understand how their health information is stored and used.
14. Do Femometer and Natural Cycles offer customer support?
Yes, both companies offer customer support via email, in-app messaging, and FAQ sections. Femometer also includes helpful in-app articles and guides for new users. Natural Cycles has a comprehensive support portal and active social media presence for questions and community engagement.
15. Where can I read more comparisons of fertility tracking tools?
You can explore other helpful comparisons of fertility tracking devices, including tools like Inito, Mira, Kegg, Ava, and Tempdrop, across dedicated fertility tracking platforms and blogs. These resources provide insights based on hands-on experiences, side-by-side feature breakdowns, and use-case scenarios to help you make informed choices.
Final Thoughts
Both apps offer smart ways to track your fertility, but they serve different purposes.
- Choose Femometer if you want detailed hormone tracking and a smart thermometer without a subscription. It’s good for understanding your body and planning a pregnancy.
- Choose Natural Cycles if you’re looking for a hormone-free birth control option backed by science and FDA approval.
Your choice depends on your lifestyle, goals, and how much effort you want to put into tracking.
Explore more tools and comparisons at OvulationCalculator.com.ng.