Hand holding phone on yellow bedsheets the phone screen has a red circle with the text 'peak fertility' in the center

One app, many journeys

Jen on the roof terrace at Natural Cycles headquarters.

Written by Jennifer Gray

Jennifer Gray

Jennifer Gray is an award-winning writer with more than five years’ experience covering reproductive topics ranging from birth control to planning pregnancy. She is passionate about providing women with accurate information grounded in science they can use to take charge of their own health - while also dispelling myths that exist within the field of women’s health. She holds a Master of Science from the University of Edinburgh and currently lives in Ireland.

Last updated:

Mar 24, 2023

4 min read

While most of our Cyclers choose to use Natural Cycles to prevent pregnancy, everyone’s fertility journey is different. This is always at the front of our minds as we continue to develop the NC° app. In today's post, we’re going to take a look at some of the less talked about ways you can use Natural Cycles. We’ll take a look at switching between app modes to suit fertility goals, and we’ll also cover the feature we’ve put in place for those who experience pregnancy loss.

Switching to NC° Plan Pregnancy

Most of our Cyclers rely on Natural Cycles as birth control but if you choose to switch modes to start trying for a baby, the app will look a bit different. Instead of seeing only green and red days, you’ll see a gradient of pink colors that indicate how likely you are to be fertile. This helps those trying to conceive to time sex on their most fertile days more precisely.

The app has a couple of different features when you’re using it to plan a pregnancy. For one, it will prompt you on the best time to take a pregnancy test based on your elevated temperature data. You’ll also have access to more plan-focused articles and customized messages featuring tips and tricks.

Unlocking NC° Follow Pregnancy

When you log a positive test in the app you’ll be able to access one of our less talked about modes: NC° Follow Pregnancy. You can also do this by toggling between modes via app settings.

While it’s not required to measure after conception - and some Cyclers prefer not to - you can still access the app and get your hands on week-by-week info on the development of your baby, and the changes happening in your body.

When you start following a pregnancy, we add a 9-month discount on your next renewal so you can continue using the app as birth control or to plan another pregnancy. We want to be there for you throughout your journey and so each app mode is tailored to educate and support you along the way.

Why we built NC° Recovery Mode

At Natural Cycles, we’ve always understood that everyone’s path is different. We want our Cyclers to experience a smooth and seamless journey - but we also know that life doesn’t always go that way.

Our own Co-Founder Elina Berglund experienced pregnancy loss when planning pregnancy with Natural Cycles herself. We built NC° Recovery Mode so others going through similar experiences could have a softer, gentler time. While we don’t want to cause any unnecessary upset in covering this topic - the reality is that pregnancy loss is quite common and it’s estimated that for women over 30, one in five pregnancies end in miscarriage.

Anyone who’s tried for a baby - or even thought about it - will know that there are so many products, apps, and services advertised to pregnant people or those trying to conceive. But we don’t see many products designed to support pregnancy loss, despite it affecting so many of us.

NC° Recovery Mode is a completely optional mode, where you’re invited to use a lighter version of the Natural Cycles app. There are no prompts to measure or add data, and your fertility status is hidden until you feel ready to switch back to planning or preventing pregnancy.

This feature also provides specifically tailored content that’s there for Cyclers who want to understand more about the emotional or physical impact of a miscarriage.

Since we launched NC° Recovery Mode last year, we’ve received words of thanks from so many users who found this kinder experience useful in the aftermath of pregnancy loss. And while we hope you never have to use this feature, we want you to know we’re dedicated to improving your experience using the app in every way possible. That means thinking about the darker days too.

How do I switch modes?

We do not encourage you to switch between NC° Birth Control and NC° Plan Pregnancy until you feel ready to use that mode as intended. This is because switching modes can affect the algorithm, and some of your data may look a little different than it did before.

When you’re ready to switch modes you can do this by visiting your settings and clicking on ‘mode’. Here you’ll have the option to select between birth control, planning pregnancy, or following a pregnancy. Keep in mind that NC° Recovery Mode is an extension of our plan mode, and you’ll only be able to access it if you log that a pregnancy has ended in the app.

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