Apps, Devices and Tech for Fertility Awareness
Many apps, devices, and various tech are available for tracking fertility, it is important to know a couple of things before choosing to use one. What are you using Fertility Awareness for? Are you trying to conceive, wanting to avoid conception, or just wanting to track your cycles?
Which thermometer works for Fertility Awareness?
The basic tech needed to practice the Sympto-thermal Method (STM) is a basal body temperature thermometer – with so many thermometers available, which one is best?
At Natural Fertility NZ, we want to make learning the Sympto-thermal Method as accessible as possible, and so recommend a simple oral thermometer that reads to the 10th degree (for example 36.3 or 36.8).
Some things to consider when choosing a thermometer:
- We have found through testing that the quick read thermometers are less precise, as they are designed to quickly check for a fever, look for one that has a 60 second read time
- A thermometer with a flexible tip is more comfortable to use
- Thermometers advertised as ‘fertility’ or ‘ovulation’ thermometers read to the 100th degree (36.34 or 36.82) are generally more expensive, however they usually have the flexible tip, and a longer read time.
The paper charts we use are at intervals to the 10th degree, so if you do use a thermometer that reads to the 100th degree, you’ll just need to do some rounding.
Wearable thermometers
A new way to take your basal body temperature is using a wearable device that measures your temperature at a set time while you are sleeping. The one that a number of our educators have trialled with their clients and found to be suitable is the Tempdrop. Other devices such as the wearable ring tend to average out your temperature, which makes them unsuitable at this stage to use with the Sympto-thermal Method.
The Tempdrop is a good option if you are a shift worker, or have variable wake times, it also syncs to the Read Your Body App – which is the only app we endorse and recommend (see below).
Apps and Devices
In general it is best not to put your trust in an external app or device that automatically works out when you are fertile, and when you are not. What are you wanting to use an app for?
- If you are trying to get pregnant, you may miss your most fertile days, and won’t have the data to detect any hormonal imbalances
- If you are wanting to avoid conception, they won’t be able to accurately detect when your fertility starts and ends every cycle, leaving you at risk for an unplanned pregnancy.
- If you are just wanting something to track your cycles, or it is for a teen, they will not provide any certainty around when periods are due (especially if cycles are irregular)
How do these apps track fertility?
- Most apps will only consider one biological sign to determine the fertile window, and that is the Basal Body Temperature, therefore they fall into the category of ‘Temperature only’ Methods.
- Others are based on standard calculations, like the ‘calendar method’ and assume that you have a 28 cycle and ovulate on day 14.
- Some include an option to input cervical mucus using a ‘drop down box’ which means that the information is not personalised, and can be misinterpreted.
- Very few include Vaginal Sensation.
- Algorithms and calculations are used, many are self-learning – so they become more accurate as time goes on…. Usually 12 cycles!
With these factors in mind, it is extremely risky to trust any app, device or tech that does all the work for you – especially if you are wanting to avoid getting pregnant. You must have an understanding of your unique fertility first, so that you can ‘override’ any false and misleading calculations.
Read Your Body App for Fertility Awareness
The app that we recommend is Read Your Body (RYB). NFNZ has worked with RYB to create a customised template that lines up with our paper charts. This app does not make any assumptions about your fertility for you, which makes it the safest fertility awareness app available. You can customise the app based on your fertility goals, and keep a backup of your data on your own device.
Once you have learnt how to recognise, record and interpret your signs of fertility, your NFNZ Accredited Educator can show you how to use the Read Your Body App instead of the paper charts.
Learning the method using the paper chart is important for a few reasons, it helps your educator to teach you the method, and it ensures that you fully understand your own unique signs of fertility.
When joining Read Your Body, your educator can give you 3 months free access when using the NFNZ Read Your Body Template. The ongoing monthly subscription for the app is very minimal making it more accessible.