When the BBC reported a shift in contraception use—from hormonal methods like the pill to natural fertility tracking apps among some women seeking abortions—many others reached out to share their experiences.
Their stories highlight the challenge of finding birth control that aligns with both lifestyle needs and acceptable side effects.
Health experts emphasize that every method has its pros and cons. What works at 18 may not be suitable at 28, 38, or 48, says Paula Baraitser, medical director of NHS-partnered sexual health service SH:24.
Fertility tracking apps are a newer option some people are turning to. These apps use data such as body temperature to predict ovulation, helping users determine when they are most likely to conceive so they can either abstain from sex or use protection on those days.
Trial and error
Dr. Baraitser says some of her patients have turned to fertility tracking apps after struggling with hormonal contraception like the pill.
“Hormones affect everyone differently, leading to both positive and negative experiences,” she explains.
“For instance, oestrogen can help reduce acne, and combined hormonal methods—such as the pill, patch, or ring—can regulate menstrual bleeding. However, some people may also experience mood shifts or changes in libido.”
Finding the right birth control often involves trial and error, switching between methods until one feels right.
She also notes that condoms are the only contraceptive option that both prevents pregnancy and protects against most sexually transmitted infections.
The BBC spoke with several women about their experiences, all of whom remain anonymous to protect their privacy.
Georgia, 25, from Bristol, has been using a fertility tracking app for the past seven months.
She says stopping the pill—after nearly a decade of use—dramatically improved her mental well-being.
While she acknowledges the risk of unintended pregnancy if not used carefully, she says, “It’s a risk I’m willing to take to let my body be how it should be.”
“On the pill, I really struggled with my moods—I felt completely out of control. After stopping, I noticed a huge improvement in how I regulate my emotions, how I feel about life, and how I feel about myself.”
Georgia considered the copper IUD but was put off by the possibility of heavier bleeding, as she already experiences heavy periods.
“I was also very aware that I had been altering my body’s hormones for years, and that really bothered me. I didn’t want to keep doing that.”
As a personal trainer who works closely with women, she finds it frustrating that research on contraception is outdated.
“If you go to the GP, they might just say, ‘Try this.’ But to really know if a contraceptive works for your body, you often have to wait months.”
Ultimately, she says, “It’s come to the point where using a tracking app is a risk I’m willing to take to let my body be how it should be.”
‘Stakes too high’
Emily, 39, from Glasgow, became pregnant in 2021 while using a tracking app as contraception and ultimately decided to have an abortion.
She had stopped taking the pill in 2018 after more than a decade of use, initially starting it at 17 to control acne.
“My mood was low, I was gaining weight and couldn’t lose it, and my libido was practically nonexistent. I decided to take a break, and as soon as I stopped, I felt infinitely better,” she recalls.
Seeking a non-hormonal alternative but wanting to avoid having a coil fitted, she turned to the menstrual cycle tracking feature on her iPhone’s Health app.
In 2021, after four months with her then-partner—now her husband—she discovered she was two months pregnant.
“I had a urinary infection that threw my cycle off slightly. Before I knew it, a couple of months had passed, and I hadn’t had a period. One day, I felt really unwell and thought, ‘Either this is Covid, or I’m pregnant.’ I took tests for both. The pregnancy test came back positive.”
Her partner was incredibly supportive.
“We talked it through, read a lot online, and ultimately decided we couldn’t go ahead with the pregnancy. We barely knew each other at the time and weren’t living together.”
After the abortion, Emily opted for a different form of contraception.
“I know that for tracking apps to be reliable, your cycle has to be extremely regular. I didn’t want to take that risk again.”
She chose the non-hormonal copper coil.
“I’ve always had lower back pain, but since getting the coil, it’s worse during my periods. I also get pain during ovulation. It’s not ideal, but it is what it is.”
She finds the lack of advancements in contraception deeply frustrating.
“It enrages me that, in this day and age, medical research has progressed so much in other areas, yet we’re still relying on a contraceptive pill that’s over 50 years old and a barbaric coil insertion procedure.”
‘Better choices for women’
Freya, 26, stopped using hormonal contraception to see if it would improve her mental health.
“I had been on it since I was around 15, so I didn’t really ‘know myself’ without it,” she says.
She relied on condoms during her fertile window, as indicated by a tracking app.
Within three months, she became pregnant and opted for an abortion—a distressing experience both mentally and physically.
“The fact that I had been using the app instead of my usual contraception made me feel like I couldn’t tell anyone,” she says.
Now, she avoids natural contraception methods. “The stakes feel too high.”
“Why Do Women Bear the Responsibility?”
Alice, 41, from Farnborough, struggled with side effects while on the pill, including low libido, weight gain, mood swings, and irregular bleeding.
Now a mother, she worries about the future her daughter will face.
“Why do women and girls have to bear the responsibility of not getting pregnant?” she asks.
“Immediately after giving birth, you’re asked what kind of contraception you want.”
Her husband is comfortable using condoms, and she now tracks her cycle with a fertility app—but doesn’t rely on it for contraception.
What to Consider with Fertility Tracking Apps
For those interested in using fertility tracking apps as contraception, experts highlight key factors:
- Only one fertility app is officially licensed for contraceptive use in the UK.
- Period trackers are not the same as fertility apps—they don’t predict ovulation or fertility.
- If your cycle length varies, your fertile days will also change, making predictions less reliable.
- Those with irregular cycles may find fertility apps less effective.
- Proper use is essential for reliability—following the app’s instructions exactly is crucial.
Dr. Paula Baraitser explains that body temperature monitoring requires precision.
“After ovulation, your temperature rises—but only slightly. To detect this, you must measure your temperature exactly when the app instructs, often daily, before getting out of bed, eating, or drinking. If you have a busy life, work night shifts, or have young children, this can be challenging.”
New technology, such as smartwatches that continuously monitor temperature, may make this process easier.
However, Dr. Baraitser emphasizes that the app only provides guidance—users must remember and act on the advice themselves.
“Find a Provider That Listens to You”
Anatole Menon-Johansson, clinical director at Brook, a UK-wide sexual health clinic network, advises individuals to weigh the risks of unintended pregnancy.
“Find a provider that will listen to you and allow you to explore and experiment with different contraceptive methods. It often takes a few attempts to find the right one for you.”
How Effective Are Fertility Tracking Apps?
Companies claim that, when used correctly, fertility apps are up to 93% effective, meaning 7 in 100 women using them for a year will become pregnant.
This is slightly better than the 91% effectiveness of the pill with typical use.
However, with perfect use, the pill’s success rate rises to 99%, similar to hormone-releasing coils or implants, which don’t rely on daily user actions.
By
