Are Fertility Apps More Effective Than Contraceptives for Preventing Pregnancy?

 

The use of technology to track fertility and plan pregnancies is becoming increasingly popular among women. Gone are the days when birth control pills were the only option. Nowadays, apps like 'Natural Cycles' are gaining popularity among women who want a natural approach to contraception. These apps use algorithms to predict the fertile days of a woman's menstrual cycle, based on body temperature. The developers of 'Natural Cycles' claim that their app has a success rate of 93%, which is similar to commonly used birth control pills. However, some women have complained that they got pregnant despite using the app. Experts suggest that condoms are still the most effective way to prevent pregnancy and protect against sexually transmitted infections. Despite this, the use of fertility tracking apps such as 'Flo' and 'Clue' is on the rise, with millions of users worldwide. It's important to note that while these apps can be helpful, they should be used correctly for maximum effectiveness.

"App's are  not suitable for all women"

According to the UK's national health agency, the method of tracking fertility through identifying signs and symptoms of fertility during the menstrual cycle, such as changes in temperature, cervical mucus, and variations in menstruation, can be up to 99% accurate if used consistently and correctly. However, Dr. Annabel Sowemimo, who is associated with a sexual health clinic in England, says that this method is not suitable for all women. She warns that "if your lifestyle isn't stable, if your sleep pattern is irregular, all of these things can make it difficult for the app to work and make its accurate results less effective." Dr. Sowemimo advises that this method is not recommended for women who have irregular periods, or those who have recently given birth.

Presenting with an exaggerated effect,

Annabel confirms that there are many other factors that are concerned about the technology used for the fertility optimization approach, as well as the fact that some apps rely on subscriptions, so controlling and earning benefits on production is a complete commercial strategy.

Therefore, some apps present their app with an exaggerated effect or make it more effective than reality.

"We have seen that some applications have real potential, but before they have reliable evidence or statistics, they have already come to the market very quickly," she says.

She further adds that "this is because there is a lot of pressure from investors (to market the product)."

Why are Apps so popular?

April , who lives in Leicester's Twycross , has been using a natural method of fertility observation for almost a decade. For eight years, she tested various hormonal contraceptives because she felt they were not right for her. After this realization, she decided to use the natural method instead.

She says, "As the years went by, I felt that the (contraceptive pill) wasn't so necessary that I should accept the damage it was causing to my body."

"I felt sluggish, irritable, and my face was constantly breaking out with spots and acne, and then (I thought) I don't want to exacerbate the anxiety with my hormones."

In April, she records her body temperature on her phone in an app first thing in the morning.

"I prefer to take a complete survey of the situation rather than just getting information from one app and then being told which days I'm fertile," she says.

"I trust my body a lot and feel completely confident in this way."

She says, "I won't criticize the (contraceptive) method because there is always a risk in everything."

"If you have any doubts and are planning to avoid pregnancy, you will have to use an alternative method to prevent pregnancy. It is said that even condoms are not 100% effective."

The UK's National Health Service states that the common side effects of contraceptive pills include mood changes, nausea, breast tenderness, and headaches. They also say that the risk of serious side effects such as blood clots and cervical cancer is very low

"I found it helpful in understanding my body," says Helen, who lives in the city of Nottinghamshire, in northeastern England, and has been practicing natural fertility awareness for three years. She stopped using hormonal contraceptive drugs when she was 30 years old.

She says she had been taking birth control pills for many years, but she felt that these drugs were affecting her mood. "It made me think about trying to completely stop using hormonal birth control. I felt much better about myself, but it took two years for my periods to return to normal," she says.

Helen, who is now 33, says she does not intend to have children in the near future, but she believes that if she becomes pregnant, she is "mature and financially stable enough" to have a child.

She says, "I'm very happy that I stopped taking hormonal birth control before having children because I didn't know it would take so long for my body to return to normal."

Now she tracks her menstrual cycle using an app on her phone. "I have gained more information about my cycle and my body through this app," she says.

Helen says, "It has helped me understand the expected changes in my body during this month, what is normal, what is possible..."