My review of Apple Watch and Natural Cycles: Effortless measuring, more insights, less stress

Disclaimer: This is one Natural Cycles user’s experience coming off hormonal birth control. Everyone's experience is different, and we encourage you to talk to your healthcare provider when considering switching birth control.

My decision to go hormone-free

After more than 10 years on hormonal birth control, I knew I wanted to try something different. I was curious about how my changing hormones had affected my mood, energy levels, and body — and I wanted to better understand my natural cycle after coming off the birth control implant.

Getting there wasn’t straightforward. It took 11 months for my period to return, and since then, regulating my cycle has been an ongoing journey. Throughout that time, Natural Cycles has helped me better understand what’s going on with my body. When it comes to my favorite features, I’ve especially appreciated the informational articles in the Learn tab and the option to download my Cycle Report to share with my gynecologist.

Why I chose Apple Watch

When Natural Cycles launched its Apple Watch integration, it immediately caught my attention. I’d previously used a basal thermometer, but it never quite fit my lifestyle — especially because I tend to wake up several times during the night and often felt unsure whether I was measuring at the “right” time in the morning. The idea of tracking my temperature automatically while I slept felt like exactly what I had been looking for.

I started using Apple Watch with Natural Cycles in December 2023, and honestly, I bought this specific wearable because of the integration. I loved the idea of having an easier, more seamless way to track my temperature overnight without needing to think about it every morning.

A routine that feels effortless

What surprised me most was how smooth the integration felt from day one. Everything syncs automatically with the Natural Cycles app, so I never have to manually transfer data or jump between apps. It all just happens in the background.

These days, my routine is simple. I wear my Apple Watch throughout the day, and before bed, I make sure it’s fully charged while I get ready for sleep.

In the morning, my temperature and fertility status are already updated automatically in the NC° app. Since I sleep with my phone outside the bedroom, I highly appreciate not having to think about adding my temperature manually or even opening my phone to start the syncing process. In the morning I enjoy a few screen-free minutes, journaling before getting out of bed, then charge my Apple Watch while I get ready for the day and put it back on before leaving the house.

Better sleep, less stress, more insights

I’ve always struggled a bit with sleep, so being able to view my sleep patterns alongside my temperature trends and fertility status has given me a more holistic picture of my health throughout my cycle.

Using Apple Watch with Natural Cycles has genuinely simplified things for me. Instead of worrying about when to measure my temperature or whether interrupted sleep might affect my results, everything happens automatically while I sleep.

And surprisingly, sleeping while wearing my Apple Watch hasn’t bothered me at all. The first couple of nights felt a little unusual simply because it was something new, but after that, I stopped noticing it completely.

For me, the combination of Apple Watch and Natural Cycles fits naturally into my lifestyle. It gives me insights into my cycle and overall health in a way that feels supportive, easy, and low effort — which is exactly what I was looking for.

If I had to call out one thing, the biggest difference for me with this routine has been how much less stressful tracking my fertility feels now. If you’d like to try this seamless integration for yourself, use my referral code to get 20% off Natural Cycles annual subscription for use with your Apple Watch, or claim your free NC° Band and try overnight measuring with our own screenless wearable.