Clearblue® and Natural Cycles° Hormone-Free Birth Control Starter Pack

For some, the fertility journey is as easy as a chance encounter and an unexpected discovery. For others, it’s a meticulously planned next step or an ongoing preventative effort. Whether or not you’re on your path to parenthood, one thing is clear: birth control is not one-size-fits-all. The new Clearblue® and Natural Cycles° Birth Control Starter Pack takes the guesswork out of the process.

What does taking charge of your reproductive journey mean to you?

There have been many advancements in women's health and the world has changed a lot since birth control became readily available in the U.S. However, how to prevent pregnancy remains an important conversation for women worldwide. Clearblue® and Natural Cycles° have teamed up to bring you a hormone-free birth control starter kit. Talking about birth control, fertility and hormones may make us feel vulnerable and emotional. However, it’s okay to have real talk about menstrual cycles, and real talk about birth control options.

Understanding your menstrual cycle phases

The average menstrual cycle lasts between 23-35 days, beginning with the first day of your period and ending with the day before your next period starts.¹ Menstruation is the first phase of the cycle and usually lasts 3 to 7 days. The next phase is the Follicular Phase, when one follicle keeps growing and your body releases estrogen to prepare for ovulation.

Luteinizing hormone (LH) plays an important role in fertility. During the Ovulation Phase, LH surges. (The Clearblue® Digital Ovulation Tests included in the convenience kit can help identify this LH surge!) This surge forces your follicle to rupture and release its egg. Ovulation usually occurs 12 to 16 days before the start of your next period, when an egg is released from one of your ovaries and moves along a fallopian tube towards your uterus.

In the Luteal Phase, the follicle changes into a corpus luteum and begins making more progesterone in case your uterus receives a fertilized egg. Progesterone produced by the corpus luteum following ovulation causes a woman’s basal body temperature (BBT) to rise slightly by around 0.5-1 degrees Fahrenheit. If the egg is not fertilized, estrogen and progesterone levels drop, the uterine lining begins to break down, and then once it leaves the body it becomes the start of the next menstrual cycle.¹

What Is the Clearblue® and Natural Cycles° Birth Control Starter Pack?

The Clearblue® and Natural Cycles° Birth Control Starter Pack is a hormone-free birth control convenience kit. The starter pack includes a code to activate a 3-month subscription to the Natural Cycles° app, 15 Clearblue® Digital Ovulation Tests, and 1 Digital Basal Body Thermometer.

The Natural Cycles° algorithm analyzes Basal Body Temperature (BBT), historical cycle data and optional ovulation test results to calculate your fertility status for that day: Green Day (‘Not fertile’) or Red Day (‘Use protection’). Using the optional Clearblue^® Digital Ovulation Tests detects the surge in luteinizing hormone (LH) to identify peak fertility (highest change of conceiving). The LH surge precedes ovulation by 24-36 hours.

Get the most out of the Clearblue® and Natural Cycles° Starter Pack by following these three simple steps:

1. Every morning when you first wake up, measure your BBT using the Digital Basal Thermometer then add your reading into the Natural Cycles° app.
2. On the days you use a Clearblue® Ovulation Test, add the results to your Natural Cycles° app.
3. Allow the app to calculate your fertility status for that day. You'll see a Green Day for 'Not fertile' and a Red Day for 'Use protection.' On Red Days, it’s important to either abstain from sex or use protection (like condoms) in order to prevent pregnancy.²

Note: Natural Cycles° is 93% effective with typical use. No method of contraception is 100% effective. Does not protect against STIs.²

What is the right birth control for me?

Speak to your healthcare professional regarding which birth control is right for you. There is now an array of contraceptive methods, each with its own unique benefits, from hormone-free birth control to ones that help with less symptomatic periods and those that protect against sexually transmitted diseases.³ Only you can decide which method is best for you, a decision your healthcare professional can help you navigate by providing you with the pros and cons of each method.

Answers to common questions

How effective is the Natural Cycles° App?

Natural Cycles° is 93% effective with typical use which means if 100 women use this method for 1 year, 7 will get pregnant.⁴ Typical use includes all unintended pregnancies, such as due to having unprotected sex or using withdrawal on a Red Day, as well as pregnancies that occur while the method is used as intended.

Is the kit suitable for me?

The Clearblue® and Natural Cycles° Birth Control Starter Pack is suitable for anyone 18 years and older with a menstrual cycle. It’s most suitable for women who are looking for an effective, hormone-free birth control method.⁴ The kit does not protect against STIs. On Red Days, it’s necessary to either abstain from sex or use protection (like condoms) to prevent pregnancy.

Note: Clearblue® Digital Ovulation Tests are not suitable if you do not have menstrual cycles, if you have recently been pregnant, reached menopause, have polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) or are taking certain fertility drugs. They can be used if you are taking clomiphene citrate.

How do I know if the app will work on my phone?

To find out if your phone is compatible and the app is available in your country, please check the information in your app store.

Where can I find more information?

For more information on the Birth Control Starter Pack, visit www.clearblue.com/nc-clearblue-birth-control-kit.
For more information specifically on the Natural Cycles° app, visit www.naturalcycles.com.

Related Articles:

• When to start testing for ovulation? 
• What is family planning?
• Am I ready to have a baby? 12 questions to ask.