Would you leave the responsibility of your birth control to an app?
It appears that contraception too has moved into the 21st century, with a new app that can help you prevent, plan and monitor pregnancies, signing up more than 300,000 users in 161 countries since launching less than six months ago.
It was only a question of time before technology stepped in to improve contraception, and in February 2017, Natural Cycles became the world’s first, and only, app to be certified as a form of birth control. The app works by recording the daily temperature under your tongue. An advanced algorithm then determines whether you are fertile on that day so you accurately know if and when to have protected intercourse which helps to prevent, or plan, a pregnancy – and clinical studies have shown Natural Cycles to be as effective as the contraceptive pill.
Natural Cycles is hormone-free and something about the app really appeals to British women as more of us are using the app, more than any other country in Europe. Either that or we’re just a very amorous bunch!
We’ve certainly come a long way with regards to contraception. In the UK, condoms date back to as early as 1642, and the oldest condoms ever excavated were found in a cesspit located in the grounds of Dudley Castle, West Midlands, and were made from sheep intestines.
The launch of the app means that there are now 16 recognised types of contraception in the UK including the Pill, diaphragm, Intrauterine device (IUD), natural family planning and female sterilisation.
After using many forms of contraception including injections and contraceptive pills, Natural Cycles user, Sara Flykt, said: “Contraception has changed so much in my life and I feel like I’ve been waiting for something like Natural Cycles for years. The app allows me to be more aware of my cycles, without the side effects of hormones, which means I get to know my body in a completely different way. It’s great to be living in the 21st century and have access to this type of modern contraception.”
Natural Cycles app is available to download on the App Store and Google Play Store.
