Customer Reviews (500)

AllisonC214 • 2025-03-27T15:42:00-07:00

There is no option to pair a 3rd Gen thermometer in the app, and it does not Bluetooth pair if you select the 2nd Gen thermometer. I emailed the company to tell them but have not gotten a response. In an effort to support the company (and avoid Amazon and the big box stores), I paid $52 for the 3rd Gen NC brand thermometer, only to be unable to Bluetooth pair it with the app, which has been an enormous source of frustration. The thermometer’s extra features are unavailable unless it’s paired with the app. I ensured my app is up-to-date, deleted and reinstalled it, and have no issues Bluetooth pairing other devices to my iPhone. Disappointing.

MRJ270 • 2025-03-27T06:01:02-07:00

We got pregnant after just 2 months of trying when using this app! We used the app for about a year before trying and successfully avoided pregnancy during that time too. The app is well designed, with clear and helpful guidance and tips. And I love the blog posts which were really helpful to me as we began the pregnancy journey.

VickiD10 • 2025-03-25T23:10:18-07:00

Surprisingly helpful and insightful!

Summary of Key Insights

  • Natural Cycles is a popular app for hormone-free birth control and cycle tracking, trusted by over 3 million women. It boasts scientifically proven effectiveness (93% typical use, 98% perfect use) and FDA clearance. The app is generally well-received, with users praising its accuracy, ease of use (especially when paired with devices like the Oura Ring or Apple Watch), and educational value. However, some users report issues with customer service, automatic subscription renewals, thermometer connectivity, and accuracy for irregular cycles. There are also complaints about the lack of a free trial and the cost of the subscription. The overall sentiment is positive, but the negative reviews highlight areas needing improvement to maintain user trust and satisfaction.

  • Key Strengths: Accuracy (for regular cycles), hormone-free birth control option, educational resources, seamless integration with Oura Ring and Apple Watch (for some users), easy to use interface.

  • Key Weaknesses: Customer service responsiveness, automatic subscription renewals and refund policies, thermometer connectivity issues, accuracy for irregular cycles, cost, lack of a fully functional free trial, limited functionality for pregnancy tracking.

  • Overall Sentiment: Positive, but with significant concerns raised in negative reviews.

  • Quantitative Metrics:

    • Total Reviews: 500
    • Overall Rating: App Store rating can be inferred to be relatively high given the score distribution, but the exact value isn't directly provided.
    • Score Distribution: {"1":119,"2":22,"3":19,"4":36,"5":304}
      • 5-star: 60.8%
      • 4-star: 7.2%
      • 3-star: 3.8%
      • 2-star: 4.4%
      • 1-star: 23.8%

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 500 reviews from the Apple App Store.
  • Time Frame: Not explicitly stated, but assumed to be a recent snapshot of reviews.
  • Analysis Methods:
    • Sentiment analysis was performed by categorizing reviews based on star ratings and identifying positive and negative keywords and themes.
    • Keyword extraction involved identifying frequently mentioned words and phrases to understand user concerns, feature requests, and positive feedback.
    • Thematic analysis was used to group related issues and suggestions into broader categories.

Key User Pain Points

  • Customer Service Issues: Many users complain about unresponsive or unhelpful customer service, particularly regarding subscription renewals and refunds. Some report difficulty contacting a real person and dealing only with AI chatbots.
  • Automatic Subscription Renewals and Refund Policies: A significant number of users are frustrated by automatic subscription renewals without adequate reminders and the strict no-refund policy, even when the app is no longer needed (e.g., after becoming pregnant).
  • Thermometer Connectivity Problems: Some users experience difficulty pairing the Natural Cycles thermometer with the app, leading to frustration and an inability to use the app as intended.
  • Accuracy for Irregular Cycles: Users with irregular cycles report that the app is less accurate in predicting ovulation and periods, which can be problematic for both birth control and family planning.
  • Cost: The subscription price is a barrier for some users, especially given the lack of a fully functional free trial.
  • Inaccurate Period Predictions Some users have reported that the app provides inaccurate period predictions, even with consistent input of data.
  • Lack of Integration with Other Health Rings The app is only compatible with Oura Ring and Apple Watch, leaving users with other health rings unable to sync data.

Frequently Requested Features

  • Cervical Mucus Tracking: Users want the ability to log cervical mucus characteristics within the app to improve accuracy.
  • Customizable Calendar View: Users request a more customizable calendar view, including the ability to toggle between calendar days and cycle days, and display intercourse data.
  • Pain Meter: Users have requested a pain meter to track the severity of pain during periods for doctor's appointments.
  • Ability to Edit the Setup Questions: Users have requested the ability to edit setup questions in case of mistakes.
  • Infertility Treatment Options: Users undergoing infertility treatments like IVF and IUI want more tailored features.
  • More Options for Logging Symptoms: Users want more options for logging symptoms, such as food, exercise, water intake, weight, and allergy symptoms.
  • Option to Turn Off Fertility Focus: Users who are done having children want an option to turn off the fertility focus and just track cycle phases and symptoms.
  • Displaying DPO (Days Past Ovulation): Users who are trying to conceive want to see the number of days past ovulation.

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Hormone-Free Birth Control: Users appreciate having a hormone-free alternative to traditional birth control methods.
  • Ease of Use: Many users find the app easy to use, especially when paired with the Oura Ring or Apple Watch.
  • Educational Value: Users value the educational articles and insights provided by the app, which help them learn more about their bodies and cycles.
  • Accuracy (for Regular Cycles): Users with regular cycles generally find the app accurate in predicting ovulation and periods.
  • Cycle Tracking and Understanding: Users feel more in tune with their bodies and better understand their cycles.
  • Pregnancy Planning Success: Many users have successfully used the app to plan pregnancies.
  • Integration with Wearable Devices: Seamless integration with Oura Ring and Apple Watch is highly valued.
  • Customizability: Users appreciate the app's customizability and ability to track moods, symptoms, and sexual activity.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

High Priority:

  • Improve Customer Service Responsiveness: Invest in better customer service channels and training to ensure timely and helpful responses to user inquiries, especially regarding billing issues and technical problems. Provide a direct way to contact a human representative.
  • Revise Automatic Renewal and Refund Policies: Implement clearer notifications for upcoming subscription renewals and consider a more flexible refund policy, especially in cases where the app is no longer needed (e.g., pregnancy) or the user experiences technical issues.
  • Address Thermometer Connectivity Issues: Investigate and resolve the connectivity problems with the Natural Cycles thermometer. Offer troubleshooting guides and support to users experiencing these issues. Consider improving the thermometer's design and functionality.

Medium Priority:

  • Enhance Accuracy for Irregular Cycles: Refine the algorithm to improve accuracy for users with irregular cycles. Consider incorporating additional data points, such as cervical mucus tracking, to enhance predictions.
  • Implement Cervical Mucus Tracking: Add a feature to allow users to log cervical mucus characteristics.
  • Introduce a Limited Free Trial: Offer a limited free trial with full functionality to allow potential users to test the app before committing to a subscription.
  • Improve Pregnancy Tracking Features: Enhance the pregnancy tracking mode with more relevant information and features.
  • Improve LH Test Capture: Fix the LH test capture tool to allow users to take clear and easy-to-read pictures.

Low Priority:

  • Add More Logging Options: Add options for logging symptoms, such as food, exercise, water intake, weight, and allergy symptoms.
  • Customize Calendar View: Add the ability to toggle between calendar days and cycle days.
  • Develop Integration with Other Health Rings: Explore partnerships with other health ring manufacturers to expand device compatibility.
  • Add a "Pain Meter": Implement a pain meter to track pain during periods.
  • Offer a Senior Discount: Give a discount to long-term app users.

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • Advanced Fertility Tracking App with Personalized Support: A fertility tracking app that combines temperature data with other biomarkers (e.g., cervical mucus, LH levels) and offers personalized support from fertility experts.
  • Subscription-Based Thermometer Rental Service: A service that allows users to rent fertility thermometers on a monthly basis, providing access to accurate temperature tracking without a large upfront investment.
  • AI-Powered Cycle Prediction Tool: An AI-powered tool that uses machine learning to predict cycles with greater accuracy, especially for users with irregular cycles.
  • Wearable Device for Continuous Biomarker Monitoring: A wearable device that continuously monitors key fertility biomarkers, such as temperature, LH levels, and cervical mucus, providing real-time insights into a woman's cycle.
  • Personalized Supplement Recommendations Based on Cycle Phase: An app that recommends personalized supplement plans based on the user's cycle phase to optimize health and fertility.

Trends and Observations

  • Oura Ring and Apple Watch Integration: The integration with Oura Ring and Apple Watch is a significant selling point for many users.
  • Desire for Hormone-Free Birth Control: Many users are seeking hormone-free alternatives to traditional birth control methods.
  • Importance of Education: Users appreciate the educational resources provided by the app, highlighting the need for greater awareness of women's health issues.
  • Negative Impact of Poor Customer Service: Negative reviews often focus on poor customer service experiences, underscoring the importance of providing responsive and helpful support.
  • Recurring Billing Complaints: Complaints about automatic renewals and refund policies are a recurring theme, suggesting a need for greater transparency and flexibility.
  • Emphasis on Natural and Holistic Health: The reviews reflect a broader trend towards natural and holistic health practices, with users seeking to understand and work with their bodies' natural rhythms.

Conclusion

Natural Cycles is a valuable tool for hormone-free birth control and cycle tracking, but improvements are needed to address key user pain points and maintain user satisfaction. By prioritizing customer service, refining the algorithm for irregular cycles, and offering a more flexible refund policy, Natural Cycles can strengthen its position as a trusted and reliable solution for women seeking natural fertility management. The app's strengths in education and wearable device integration should be further leveraged to provide a more comprehensive and personalized user experience.

Based on the analysis, the app should focus on improving customer service and addressing billing concerns as high-priority items. While adding new features is important, ensuring the core functionality and user support are reliable is crucial for long-term success.

Original App Link

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/natural-cycles-birth-control/id765535549?uo=2