My review of Oura and Natural Cycles: What two years of tracking has taught me
Allie Lewtan
Follows NC° Editorial Policy
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Hi, I'm Allie, a Copywriter at Natural Cycles and a longtime user of both Oura and Natural Cycles. I'm excited to tell you about my experience using Natural Cycles with the Oura Ring. After more than two years of using them together, I can confidently say they've changed the way I understand my cycle and overall health.
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.
Why I switched to Natural Cycles
Before using Natural Cycles, I was on the combined hormonal birth control pill for more than 10 years. The pill worked well for me, but after many years on the same prescription, I found myself thinking about how long it had been since I'd experienced a true cycle without hormonal birth control. That realization made me curious about what my cycle was like off the pill and motivated me to learn more about my reproductive health.
My biggest concern about coming off of the pill was losing a sense of control over my cycle. If anything, my experience has helped me appreciate my body’s natural rhythm. The NC° app helps me understand my cycle, from anticipating my period to understanding how I might be feeling at different points of the month. The personalized insights, daily updates, and breast self-exam reminders have made me feel more connected to my body than ever.
Why I chose the Oura Ring
I've had my Oura Ring for a little over two years. The Natural Cycles integration was actually one of the biggest reasons I decided to get the Oura Ring (long before I worked at Natural Cycles).
At the time, I was looking for a wearable that could help me learn more about my cycle, sleep, and overall health. I'm pretty conscious of my screen time, so I liked the idea of a wearable that could gather insights throughout the day without feeling like another piece of technology competing for my attention.
I first heard about the Oura Ring and Natural Cycles integration through a friend. After asking her countless questions and trying on her ring for myself, I was surprised by how lightweight and comfortable it felt, which ultimately convinced me to give it a try.
More than two years later, it's become such a seamless part of my routine that I rarely think about it. My Oura Ring blends in with the rest of my jewelry and doesn't really look or feel like a piece of technology, like a bulky watch would. It gives me great information about my health and cycle, but it simply feels like another ring I like to wear.
The biggest surprise
One of the things that has surprised me most about using Oura with Natural Cycles is how little effort it requires from me day to day.
My routine is simple. I wear my Oura Ring 24/7, including while I sleep. Overnight, it collects temperature trend data that syncs with the Natural Cycles app, which provides insights about my cycle and fertility status each day. Most days, I leave the Oura Ring on its charger while I shower to keep it charged. Beyond wearing the ring and checking the NC° app, there's not much I need to do.
As someone who is pretty strict about not keeping my phone in my bedroom, I appreciate not having to remember to take my temperature first thing in the morning. The data collection happens in the background while I sleep, making the entire experience feel effortless.
Even after two years, I still find myself eager to check the Oura and Natural Cycles apps each morning. I'm always curious to see how I slept, how recovered I am, and where I am in my cycle. It's a small ritual that encourages me to pause and check in with how I am feeling before I start the day.
Learning to listen to my body
One unexpected benefit of using Oura and Natural Cycles together is that I've developed a more caring and compassionate relationship with myself.
For starters, I love to sleep. Oura has helped me better understand what quality sleep actually looks like for me, while Natural Cycles helps me view my sleep patterns through the lens of my cycle. Learning more about my sleep habits, ideal bedtime, and recovery needs has been surprisingly validating. Rather than feeling guilty when I'm tired in the days leading up to my period, I can see how my hormones affect my sleep, and I feel empowered to prioritize extra rest.
The same is true when it comes to fitness. Insights from Oura and Natural Cycles help me make more informed decisions about how to move my body throughout the phases of my cycle. Some days, that means pushing for an extra challenging cycle or pilates class, while others it means choosing a walk, yoga, or extra recovery time.
I believe that having this data helps me work with my body rather than against it. Understanding where I am in my cycle, along with how well I've slept and recovered, gives me useful context for how I'm feeling day to day. In many ways, the combination of Oura and Natural Cycles has encouraged me to be more flexible, more intentional, and ultimately kinder to myself.
Thinking of trying NC° x Oura?
If you’re looking for hormone-free birth control method that seamlessly fits into your life, you should give Natural Cycles a try. Natural Cycles and Oura each provide valuable insights on their own, but together they’ve helped me better understand the bigger picture of my health. Join me and millions of women who have already made the switch to Natural Cycles today — use my referral code for 20% off your NC° subscription to get started.
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