In recent years, a notable shift has been occurring in contraception choices, as women are increasingly turning away from hormonal methods like the pill and opting for more natural alternatives such as fertility tracking apps. This change has sparked conversations about the complexities of finding birth control that not only fits into personal lifestyles but also minimizes unwanted side effects. As many women reveal their experiences, it’s clear that navigating contraception is not always a straightforward journey.
Health experts, including Dr. Paula Baraitser, medical director at the NHS-partnered SH:24, highlight that what works in your twenties may not suit you in your thirties or forties. Fertility tracking apps, which use natural indicators like body temperature to predict ovulation, are becoming a popular option for women seeking to avoid pregnancy without hormonal intervention. These apps help users track their menstrual cycles and identify when they are most fertile, allowing them to avoid unprotected sex or use condoms during high-risk periods.
For some women, the transition to natural methods follows years of frustration with hormonal contraception. As Dr. Baraitser notes, responses to hormonal treatments like the pill can be highly individual. While some women benefit from hormonal methods such as better control over acne or more predictable periods others experience negative side effects, such as mood swings, changes in libido, or weight gain. As a result, many women are turning to fertility tracking as a more appealing option, despite the potential risk of unintended pregnancy.
One such woman is Georgia, a 25-year-old from Bristol. After using the pill for nearly a decade, Georgia decided to try a fertility tracking app. She reports that coming off the pill improved her mental health, specifically her mood and emotional regulation. “I struggled a lot with my moods on the pill, I felt completely out of control,” she shares. “After I came off, I noticed a massive difference in how I felt about life and myself.” For Georgia, the decision to use a tracking app, despite the risk of pregnancy, was a step toward reclaiming her body and wellbeing.
But not everyone’s experience with natural contraception has been as smooth. Emily, 39, from Glasgow, had an abortion in 2021 after using a fertility tracking app. Despite feeling better mentally after coming off the pill, she found that the app’s predictions didn’t work for her. A health issue led her cycle to become irregular, which contributed to an unintended pregnancy. “The stakes felt too high,” Emily says, reflecting on her decision to opt for a different form of contraception, the copper coil, after her abortion. Although the coil has been effective in preventing pregnancy, Emily now suffers from increased pain during her periods and ovulation, leaving her frustrated by the limited options available to women.
For Freya, 26, the experience of using fertility tracking was also fraught with difficulty. After being on hormonal contraception since she was 15, she sought to use a fertility app to help her mental health and opted for condoms during the fertile window. However, she found herself pregnant within three months and had an abortion, which she describes as mentally and physically distressing. Freya now feels wary about relying on natural contraception, as “the risk is just too great.”
Alice, 41, from Farnborough, shares a similar concern. Having experienced side effects from the pill, such as mood swings and weight gain, she now uses a fertility app to track her periods. However, she no longer relies on it as her primary method of contraception, instead opting for condoms with her husband. Alice also expresses frustration about the lack of better options for women and girls, pointing out how contraception responsibility seems to fall solely on women, even immediately after childbirth.
Fertility tracking apps are gaining popularity, but they are not without their limitations. Dr. Baraitser emphasizes the importance of consistent, correct use of these apps for accurate predictions. Tracking body temperature, for example, requires precise measurement at the same time every day, often before getting out of bed or eating. While some newer technologies, like smartwatches that monitor temperature continuously, may improve the process, the challenge remains. Even with perfect use, fertility tracking apps are about 93% effective, which is slightly better than the 91% success rate of typical pill use.
For women considering fertility tracking, experts like Anatole Menon-Johnson of Brook sexual health clinics recommend finding a provider who is willing to listen to concerns and allow for experimentation with different methods. He acknowledges that it may take time to find the most suitable form of contraception, as each woman’s body and needs are unique.
While the journey to finding the right contraception can be filled with trial and error, it’s clear that for many women, the decision to “take the risk” and ditch the pill is a deeply personal choice driven by the desire to regain control over their bodies and mental health. The stories shared by women like Georgia, Emily, and Freya reflect the ongoing struggle for better, more individualized options in contraception options that prioritize women’s health, autonomy, and wellbeing.
