Which Fertility Tracking App is Right For You?
- Written by Alex Levine
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Fertility Tracking basics
Fertility Apps Can Help Track Fertility
The mobile revolution has extended to many parts of our life, and is just starting to dramatically improve pregnancy and fertility outcomes. Fertility apps now enable women to pinpoint the best time to conceive, track cycles, and beyond. These new apps are arriving at the same time that attitudes towards openly discussing fertility among women and between partners are changing. Right now, new providers such as Ava, Daysy, and Natural Cycle are the leading fertility apps, and leading this mobile app and data-driven revolution.
As usage of these apps climb, it’s also becoming clear that people are interested in using these apps for different purposes. These apps can not only help couples get pregnant, but also help them avoid getting pregnant. One major advantage of using these new apps is the cost and time savings. Previously, women had to rely on expensive in person visits to get this same information. Now, women can do everything with the touch of a few buttons, which is exactly what we like!
Are you interested in learning more about tracking fertility using these apps? We’ll do an indepth comparison between Natural Cycles vs Daysy vs Ava in this article so you can find which app is the best one for your needs.
Studies show that 60% of women are using these apps to avoid pregnancy, while others may simply want to understand their bodies and cycles better.
How effective is fertility tracking?
Fertility tracking has become more and more effective with the ability of apps and computers to ingest and digest (can computers digest?) information. Newer apps like Natural Cycles, Daysy, and Ava are very accurate according to their creators, and use technology to learn and adapt to individuals’ changes.
What is fertility tracking? Fertility tracking is used to determine when a fertility window opens, by tracking ovluations to find the optimal time to get pregnant. With sufficient use, apps like Natural Cycles, Daysy, and Ava can use data provided to them in order predict when the optimal time to get pregnant (or avoid getting pregnant) is. In 2017, a study for Natural Cycles, found that “the efficacy of a contraceptive mobile application is higher than usually reported for traditional fertility awareness-based methods.”
The main methods used by fertility apps include three different methods:
- Daily oral basal body temperature to identify ovulation
- Cervical fluid consistency
- Urinary LH levels
What is basal body temperature?
Basal body temperature refers to your body’s temperature when it’s fully at rest. Your basal body temperature increases just after ovulation, so tracking it can help you identify which days you’re ovulating. This can, in turn, tell you which days you should have sex if you’re trying to conceive (or which days to abstain, if you’re trying to stay child-free). Most women’s basal body temperature is between 97 to 97.5 degrees Fahrenheit before ovulation; after ovulation, it typically ranges from 97.6 to 98.6 F. But other factors can impact basal body temperature, too
What is Cervical Fluid Consistency?
Cervical mucus (CM) is secreted by glands found in and around the cervix. Hormonal changes throughout a person’s reproductive cycle change the amount and consistency of this mucus. Cervical mucus may also be called cervical fluids or ovulation discharge. The job of cervical mucus is twofold. Most of the time, it prevents things, such as dirt, germs, or sperm, from entering the uterus through the cervix. However, around the time when ovulation occurs, it also aids in reproduction. CM nourishes and helps transport sperm through the cervix into the uterus to facilitate the potential fertilization of an egg.1 If the discharge is very watery and stretchy and resembles raw egg whites, you are likely to ovulate soon and optimal fertility.
What are Urinary LH Levels?
Hormone levels shift across your menstrual cycle to gear your body up for ovulation — including luteinizing hormone (LH), which is produced by the pituitary gland. At the onset of your menstrual period, your body has low levels of important reproductive hormones, such as LH, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and the estrogen estradiol (E2). In the two-ish weeks after your period starts, the dominant follicle develops. It contains the egg that will eventually get released — and the follicle produces more and more E2 as it develops. Around 24-48 hours before the egg is released, there are large hormone surges of LH and FSH which will trigger the follicle to release an egg (read: ovulation).If there’s an LH surge, chances are pretty high that ovulation is coming, which is a fertile time!
Key differences | Get started | |
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Natural Cycles | Choose Natural Cycles if you want a budget-friendly option with all the features of other competing apps. They are also one of the leading apps working on a “completely anonymous experience”.One downside: you have to manually record your daily basal body temperature (BBT) into the app. | Get started |
Daysy | Choose Daysy if you want an almost entirely error-free app. Daysy determines your fertility with a remarkable 99.4% accuracy. And, it automatically syncs with your smartphone app to give fertility statistics and reports. | Get started |
Ava | Not thrilled by the idea of measuring your BBT right when you wake up before you can even go to the bathroom? We recommend Ava, a bracelet that you wear during your sleep, allowing it to collect data overnight.Ava is only for those looking to get pregnant and track their pregnancy progress. Ava is not for someone looking for a contraceptive device. | Get started |
Our In-Depth Comparison
How to choose between Natural Cycles, Daysy, and Ava
Natural Cycles, Daysy and Ava are all possibly great options for you fertility tracking needs. Our comparison is designed to help you choose the options that fits your needs. We also review each options later on. The bottom line is that fertility tracking is a personal and individual process. Not only are we all different but our needs are too. Determining the best fertility tracking app for you should include an in-depth understanding of the tradeoffs between options matched to what you and your partner are looking for. These tradeoffs include the cost, process, features and utilities for each that offer women the ability to select options ranging from a bracelet to a thermometer to track fertility. Let’s compare Natural Cycles, Daysy, and Ava!
Best fertility tracking apps: Natural Cycles vs Daysy vs Ava | Natural Cycles | Daysy | Ava |
---|---|---|---|
Price | Annual: $89.99 Monthly: $9.99 | $299 | $279 to $359 |
Device/Hardware | Thermometer | Thermometer | Fertility Bracelet |
Efficacy | 98% with perfect use 93% with typical use | 99.40% | 90% |
Cycle tracking and ability to identify fertile window | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Tracking device stores your data | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
Tracking device automatically syncs to the app? | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
Fertility cycle report/statistics | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
PMS, pain and other menstrual cycle tracking | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
Effective for irregular cycles | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
IOS/ Android compatible app | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
FSA/HSA Eligible | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Pregnancy tracking | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
FDA Cleared | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Geographic Availability | Ships to countries all around the world EXCEPT: Mexico, Argentina, Columbia, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Chile | US, Europe, and Canada | US |
Website | Natural Cycles | Daysy | Ava |
Natural Cycles Basics
Is it worth it? We discuss
Natural Cycles was the first FDA-approved mobile app for understanding women’s fertility windows in order to help with birth control and pregnancy planning.
Like many ideas, the idea for Natural Cycles fulfilled a need that the cofounders had – to find an effective method of natural birth control that didn’t include the use of hormones. Co-Founders Elina and Raoul began to document Elina’s own temperature and together they created an algorithm that determined fertile days. Not only did the algorithm work for contraception, but it also helped them plan successful pregnancies. Since then Natural Cycles has been a leader in empowering women to learn more about their bodies.
How does Natural Cycles work?
Natural Cycles uses readings of basal body temperature to figure out what your fertility status is. You use the thermometer to read your temperature, and then you input the temperature into the app. The algorithm reads this information and calculates fertility windows. Natural Cycles can also use two other types of data to predict fertility: Cycle Length and Luterizing Hormone (LH)
Basal body temperature (BBT) is a method to detect ovulation. Basal body temperature is your temperature when you’re fully at rest. Ovulation causes a slight increase in basal body temperature. Based on this temperature, you’ll likely be most fertile during the two to three days before your temperature rises. By tracking your basal body temperature each day, you may be able to predict when you’ll ovulate. Natural Cycles uses a proprietary algorithm that measures basal body temperature over time, “learning the pattern of your unique cycle to work out daily fertility status” The algorithm doesn’t require that you measure BBT every day, but getting into a routine will help to allow the app and algorithm to understand your cycle better.
The other types of data that can be used by Natural Cycles include menstrual cycle length and Luteinizing hormone (LH). By reading fluctuations and irregularities of cycles, Natural Cycles can help forecast your fertility. The app can also recommend when to take an optional luteinizing hormone (LH) test. LH levels spike immediately before you ovulate. An LH test is performed by using a urine test strip, which may be purchased at your local drugstore or through the Natural Cycles app. Together the Natural Cycles app is a comprehensive way to determine fertility.
Using clear colors (green or red), the Natural Cycles app tells you whether you are fertile (red) or not fertile (green). Therefore the color scheme gives you the traditionally “good-to-go” color (green) when you’re not fertile. In this way, Natural Cycles is designed for the couple trying to avoid pregnancy. However, if you’re trying to conceive, you should look for red, which in this case is the color…of baby?
How much does Natural Cycles Cost?
Natural Cycles is billed on a subscription basis, either monthly or annually. If you choose an annual subscription you receive a basal thermometer. If you choose the monthly subscription, the thermometer must be purchased.
There are two subscription plans available for Natural Cycles app. The current prices are:
- Annual: $89.99 (includes the thermometer)
- Monthly: $9.99 (thermometer at an additional cost)
But check here for the latest prices. If you want to test Natural Cycles before paying for the service, you may try it out in a free demo mode by installing the app.
How do you use Natural Cycles?
Step 1: Download the App
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/natural-cycles-birth-control/id765535549
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.naturalcycles.cordova&hl=en_US&gl=US
Step 2: Choose your plan
Natural Cycles offer various plans that can help you meet your long-term goals:
- NC Birth Control (preventing pregnancy)
- NC Plan Pregnancy (finding fertile days)
- NC Follow Pregnancy (monitoring pregnancy)
Step 3: Buy a Basal Thermometer (or skip this step if you sign up for the annual plan, they will send you one!).
Basal thermometers are more sensitive than regular fever thermometers, as they show two decimals (which is significant, by the way!).
Step 4: Setup the App and begin temperature readings.
Temperature readings must be taken first thing in the morning, before you start moving for the day. This means, you guessed it, when you’re still in bed even before you can use the bathroom! It’s recommended to forgo taking your temperature on days when you are feeling sick and assume your temperature has risen due to illness.
Step 5: Enter your temperature into the Natural Cycles App.
You’ll enter your morning basal temperature into the app, along with some data about your cycle to track symptoms and learn more about your unique menstrual cycle. For example, there’s space for you to add information about any PMS, pain, sex drive, or mood changes. You can use those symptoms and a graph feature to see patterns.
Is Natural Cycles FDA approved?
Yes! Natural Cycles was approved by the FDA as the first app-based birth control in 2018.
Is Natural Cycles covered by insurance?
Natural Cycles is not currently covered by insurance but can be purchased with FSA or HSA.
How accurate is Natural Cycles?
According to their website: “Natural Cycles is 93% effective with typical use, 98% effective with perfect use. Natural Cycles does not guarantee that you cannot get pregnant, it only informs you whether and when you can become pregnant based on the information that you enter into the application.” No method of contraception is 100% effective. But because Natural Cycles if FDA approved, they are required to monitor this effectiveness rate on a regular basis, so we know this is legit.
When compared to birth control methods like hormonal birth control pills or IUDs, Natural Cycles is less effective, but it’s more effective than methods such as condoms or withdrawal with no other form of contraception. The main benefit of Natural Cycles is the non-hormonal aspect – if this is your goal, to refrain from using hormones to control cycles, Natural Cycles is a great way to better know your body and help to prevent (or aid!) pregnancy.
Natural Cycles Reviews
What customers are saying
Natural Cycles was the first FDA-approved mobile app for understanding women’s fertility windows in order to help with birth control and pregnancy planning.
Like many ideas, the idea for Natural Cycles fulfilled a need that the cofounders had – to find an effective method of natural birth control that didn’t include the use of hormones. Co-Founders Elina and Raoul began to document Elina’s own temperature and together they created an algorithm that determined fertile days. Not only did the algorithm work for contraception, but it also helped them plan successful pregnancies. Since then Natural Cycles has been a leader in empowering women to learn more about their bodies.
I have been using Natural Cycles for 6 months now, and it was the best decision | ever made. I learned more about my body and what a menstrual cycle really is, including all the phases. It is so easy to use and keeps me in tune with my body. The best part is that I am off of a birth control pill, and my body can go through its cycles completely naturally!" - Heidi Meyer
Bria Keffer
Trust Pilot
Hope Beaver
Google Play Store
"LIFE CHANGING I have been on hormonal birth control for 8 years consecutively. I was 18 years old when I first started and although my periods became more regular and I felt more at ease by preventing unwanted pregnancies, I discovered many reasons why the birth control pill is NOT good for my body. I suffer from hypothyroidism, I was diagnosed at age 11. My periods were never regular and when I began taking the birth control pill, I felt like all my issues were "gone." It took me 8 years to discover that I do not NEED a synthetic hormone in my body. I stopped birth control 3 months ago and have used this app along with my basal body thermometer each morning to track my temperature. The app does ALL of the work for me! I have NEVER had regular periods in my life! (Except while being on the birth control pill) I have had 3 menstrual cycles since stopping birth control. All of which were predicted by the app. I now know when I'm ovulating! It's such a great way to prevent and plan pregnancies!! I highly recommend this method if you are looking for a natural, inexpensive, and safe method of birth control. I will never go back to using the hormonal pill! You will learn so much about your body and feel AMAZING." - A lison Fabian
Chanel Marie
Apple App Store
The Verdict
Our experience with Natural Cycles
Many of those coming to Natural Cycles are looking for hormone-free birth control and cycle tracking.
They may also be tired of their current system of trying to track their fertility on their own. Our bodies are different, and while Natural Cycles has positive reviews overall, it might work differently for you.
We recommend taking a look at the fine print, and we did see some reviews that discuss being charged for a renewal that they didn’t expect – so always be aware!
Ava Tracker Basics
Ava Bracelet and App Tracker Overview
Starting in 2014, Ava has been focused on providing data-driven insights to help women with infertility. Focusing on their wearable device, Ava has published more than 30 peer-reviewed clinical papers and has become the first wearable fertility tracker with FDA clearance.
One unique aspect of Ava is the way that it measures temperature: through the wrist. Ava has done research to compare the difference between reading basal body temperature through the mouth and through the wrist and has found wrist skin temperature was potentially more accurate (you can check that article out here).
If you’d like to learn more about Ava, you can read our full review below. We’ve also compared Ava to Natural Cycles and Daysy so you can help find the right tracker for yourself.
How does Ava Fertility work?
Ava is a wearable fertility tracker. While you sleep, Ava collects continuous data, so you don’t have to lift a finger. The device tracks signs of hormonal changes. It tracks these changes through measuring different vital signs that are highly correlated with these hormonal changes:
- Skin temperature
- Resting pulse rate
- Blood circulation through tissues/perfusion
- Breathing rate
- Heart rate variability
When you wake up, after letting Ava collect data while you sleep, you use your phone to sync the bracelet with you app to see the results. These results are designed to help you understand the timing of your 5-day fertility window, where sex is most likely to result in pregnancy. Unlike Natural Cycles and Daysy, Ava is specifically designed to help couples become pregnant. Ava very explicitly says that Ava, it is not to be used as a contraceptive device, which means it is not approved to prevent pregnancy.
One major benefit on Ava is that the technology allows it to give real time results, without having to manually take your temperature each morning. Ava relies on machine-learning algorithms trained on 3.5-million cycles of data to offer the most accurate findings for the widest range of women’s cycles. These algorithms can quickly process physiological signals that act as markers for your fluctuating hormone levels, so Ava can detect which phase of the menstrual cycle you’re in.
The Ava app is also able to tell you additional information about your health. The Ava app displays sleep, physiological stress, resting pulse rate, and temperature, which are all aligned with keeping you in the best physical state for baby-making. Ava also provides cycle reports, with an overview of length, luteal and follicular phase length, ovulation, and menstrual flow so you can have the information yourself, or can access all of your prime information to share with a doctor.
Ava states that nearly 30% of sub-fertile women report pregnancy within one year of using Ava Fertility.
How do you use the Ava Fertility Tracker?
Okay, so you’ve done the research and now you’ve gotten your new Ava bracelet, now what do you do? We break it down for you.
- Make sure it’s charged. The Ava bracelet must be charged for at least 4 hours before first use (until LED light is solid green)
- Make sure you have the Ava App. You can download Ava Fertility app (App Store or Google Play)
- Create an Ava account
- Login to the App and setup your Ava account
Customize the App. You’ll be asked a set of questions about your body and your preferences. Make sure to answer these questions fully to optimize your experience and the accuracy of the recommendations. - Pair the Ava bracelet with the App. Follow the tutorial upon downloading the app to pair bracelet
- Put on the Ava bracelet. Before bed, attach the Ava bracelet to your non-dominant wrist. Some ideas to make sure you get the best data:
- Avoid putting excessive lotion on the wrist you are using
- The placement of the white sensor should be behind the wrist bone
- Tighten the band enough that it doesn’t slide and the sensor is flush to the skin
- Be sure to attach it to the same wrist every night for consistency!
- Wake up and sync! In the morning, open the Ava app and tap the “sync my data” button on the app’s home screen. The App will then (in real-time) confirm your fertility indication (low, high, or peak fertility).
How accurate is the Ava Tracker
Using the bracelet and app, Ava Fertility recorded a year-long clinical study in which 89% of fertile days were identified. During your cycle, you can conceive on six different days. Ava Fertility detects five of them, therefore you’ll always know the most suitable time to try to conceive.
How much does the Ava Tracker cost?
Ava offers three packages, all of which include access to both the app and the fertility bracelet:
Package | Cost | What’s included |
---|---|---|
Ava Fertility Basic | $279 | Ava Fertility BraceletIn-app cycle, fertility, and pregnancy tracking Ava’s online community membership |
Ava Fertility Plus | $309 | Ava Fertility BraceletIn-app cycle, fertility, and pregnancy trackingAva’s online community membership A full refund (if not pregnant within 12 months) E-book: Ultimate Guide to Getting Pregnant |
Ava Fertility Premium | $359 | Ava Fertility BraceletIn-app cycle, fertility, and pregnancy tracking Ava’s online community membership A full refund (if not pregnant within 12 months)E-book: Ultimate Guide to Getting Pregnant |
Is Ava Tracker covered by insurance?
Ava Tracker Reviews
What customers are saying
As a person who loves data, I simply was using my Ava for more information while TTC. I also was using two different OPKs to track my ovulation and let me tell you, my Ava bracelet was SPOT ON! I was completely shocked & delighted when I woke up one morning (about 5 days before I was supposed to ovulate) and when I synced, my Ava alerted me that it adjusted my timing based on my reading and it thought I was ovulating that day! Low and behold, both of my OPKs were positive for peak LH in my urine! The bracelet caught the changes completely accurately. I was amazed.
Emily
Trust Pilot
Maria Angelica Perez
Google Play Store
The Verdict
Our experience with the Ava Tracker
Ava bracelet users love how simple the device is to use and how much more convenient it is than other fertility trackers.
Instead of manually running tests every morning, the bracelet does all the work for you. There have been some complaints that data cannot be synced, but the customer service department was also praised in how it helped customers troubleshoot.
Daysy Tracker Basics
Daysy App and Dasys Thermometer Overview
Daysy’s vision is to help women connect with their own “body intelligence” through fertility tracking. Similar to Natural Cycles, Daysy uses BBT and menstruation data to help women understand their most fertile days. Daysy relies on a combination of technologies:
- A precise BBT temperature sensor
- A unique, intelligent algorithm based on a database of 5 million menstrual cycles
- An intuitively designed tracking App.
How does Daysy work?
Daysy is user friendly, and the application makes the process easy and efficient. Like Natural Cycles, you regularly take your BBT when your wake up and you put in your menstruation cycle days.
Daysy’s unique, precise BBT thermometer stores your data immediately after you take your temperature, and then calculates your fertility status. This is a key feature; Because the thermometer connects via bluetooth, and the temperature is automatically transferred, you don’t have to worry about forgetting what your BBT was before transferring your data. Trust us, this can happen, especially if the information is recorded later in the day! If on the off chance you do forget what your BBT temperature was one morning, you can always turn on the Daysy thermometer and it will remind you.
When starting to use Daysy you will go through a learning phase with the app. During the learning phase, Daysy gets to know your body, and the algorithm will use the data you give it to begin to forecast your ovulation. Your fertile window is five days before your ovulation date, and Daysy will let you know when your fertile window is going to begin.
Depending on whether you’re trying to get pregnant or prevent pregnancy you should pay careful attention to the colors in the Daysy App:
- Red light = fertile or possibly fertile
- Red flashing light = your predicted day of ovulation
- Green light = not fertile
- Yellow light = cycle fluctuations (Daysy is in its learning phase)
- Red, green, yellow = possible pregnancy
If you’re using Daysy as a contraceptive, then the lights make intuitive sense:
- Green = go for it!
- Red = there’s some risk
- Flashing red = don’t do it
If on the other hand, you’re using Daysy to get pregnant, it works too! Timing is critical when trying to conceive, and Daysy allows you to have a better understanding of your most fertile days, and even a predicted ovulation day.
By using the Daysy thermometer alongside the DaysyDay app, you help reduce (or even eliminate) the doctor visits, pee strips, intricate algorithms, or guessing, so you can focus more on the baby-making, and less on the calculations. Just like Natural Cycles, you should skip measurements when you are feeling ill or when you’re taking medication that could influence your cycle or body temperature rhythm doesn’t require that you measure BBT every day, but getting into a routine will help to allow the app and algorithm to understand your cycle better.
The other types of data that can be used by Natural Cycles include menstrual cycle length and Luteinizing hormone (LH). By reading fluctuations and irregularities of cycles, Natural Cycles can help forecast your fertility. The app can also recommend when to take an optional luteinizing hormone (LH) test. LH levels spike immediately before you ovulate. An LH test is performed by using a urine test strip, which may be purchased at your local drugstore or through the Natural Cycles app. Together the Natural Cycles app is a comprehensive way to determine fertility.
Using clear colors (green or red), the Natural Cycles app tells you whether you are fertile (red) or not fertile (green). Therefore the color scheme gives you the traditionally “good-to-go” color (green) when you’re not fertile. In this way, Natural Cycles is designed for the couple trying to avoid pregnancy. However, if you’re trying to conceive, you should look for red, which in this case is the color…of baby?
How much does the Daysy Tracker Cost?
The Daysy fertility tracker costs $299. This price includes the DaysyDay app, and the Bluetooth thermometer. You can buy additional online educational courses and accessories available for purchase in combination.
Is Daysy FDA approved?
Daysy is currently registered with the FDA in the LHD category (fertility diagnostic/ proceptive).
Is Daysy covered by insurance?
Daysy Tracker Reviews
What customers are saying
"I can't say enough good things! I can't say enough good things about the support behind Daysy! I had a bit of an issue with mine and it was super easy and quick to get fixed with their warranty. Everyone that I chatted with was very friendly and prompt with their replies. Even checking in while it was getting fixed to make sure to have my latest data to keep it updated. Thank you so much!"
Kelse White
Trust Pilot
Kayla Bear
Google Play Store
"The app is overall good and does the job of measuring your data. I was annoyed however with the fact that I repeatedly had to resign into the app in the morning before I could sync my data. I also had to repeatedly convert my units of measurement back to what I wanted almost weekly. And even though I had the bedtime reminder setting shut off, a rimder for bed time still popped up nightly."
Kassandra Chappell
Google Play Store
The Verdict
Our experience with the Daysy Tracker
Like Natural Cycles, people come to Daysy to find hormone-free fertility options. We found the online reviews of Daysy to be overwhelmingly positive when it comes to tracking fertility.
But all of our bodies are different, so you’ll need to find the device that works best for you. Another consideration is that like Natural Cycles, Daysy requires you to use the device as intended, which means taking measurements with the thermometer.