NC° Band from Natural Cycles
In this article
What's the lowdown?
Natural Cycles is a non-hormonal, CE-marked and FDA-cleared digital contraceptive.
Natural Cycles is 93% effective with typical use and 98% effective with perfect use.
Natural Cycles has launched its own wearable called the NC° Band.
NC° Band is designed to be worn overnight to continuously measure biomarkers such as temperature and heart rate.
NC° Band automatically syncs with the NC° app in the morning. You do not need to measure or wake up at the same time each day when using NC° Band, and it’s not meant to be worn during the day.
NC° Band is a more affordable wearable option compared to other devices that are compatible with Natural Cycles.
Using the NC° Band simplifies your experience by removing the need to manually log temperatures, this can support more consistent tracking compared to using a thermometer.
The Natural Cycles app is a non-hormonal, CE-marked and FDA-cleared digital contraceptive. The Natural Cycle app works by using the NC° Fertility algorithm to analyse your overnight temperature data (or daily basal body if measured with a thermometer) and your menstrual cycle information, to identify your fertile and non-fertile days.
On “Green Days”, you are not fertile. On “Red Days”, you can be fertile and you should avoid sex or use protection such as a condom to prevent pregnancy.
Natural Cycles is 93% effective with typical use which includes all unintended pregnancies and reflects the way a method is used in everyday life. With perfect use it is 98% effective which only includes pregnancies due to condoms breaking, or the app giving a wrong Green Day.
What is NC° Band?
NC° Band is a new wearable option for Natural Cycles users to measure their temperature. You can now choose from measuring with an NC° Bluetooth Thermometer (or a regular thermometer) or one of three wearable options:
- NC° Band
- Oura Ring
- Apple Watch
NC° Band makes measuring your temperature easy overnight and has no extra subscription fees. You wear it to bed and it records your temperature, heart rate, and movement data while you’re asleep.
It’s designed for comfort, and the battery lasts for up to 14 nights. NC° Band automatically detects when you are asleep, so all you have to do is wear it to bed. With continuous overnight recording, you can easily and conveniently sync your data to the NC° app.
Natural Cycles has noticed that users of the app who have a wearable like the Oura Ring or Apple Watch are more consistent with their tracking – and more satisfied with the method. This insight helped inspire the NC° Band, which was developed to make fertility tracking even more seamless and automatic for users who prefer a dedicated, integrated wearable.
How to use NC° Band with Natural Cycles?
Simple! Wear NC° Band overnight, and when you open the Natural Cycles app the next morning, your temperature data will sync automatically via Bluetooth. The device connects directly to the app, with no third-party integrations required, keeping the process simple, secure, and private.
How much does NC° Band cost?
Normally £79.99, NC° Band is included at no extra cost for a limited time when new users buy an annual Natural Cycles subscription (£89.99/year or £12.99/month). The Lowdown also has a 15% discount on an annual subscription using this link or the code Lowdown15 at checkout. **FYI – This is an affiliate link.
NC° Band pros
- Overnight temperature tracking without having to use a thermometer
- Affordable alternative to other wearable options
- Comfortable to wear with an easy to adjust band
- Only needs to be worn at night
- Long 14 night battery life
- NC° band sizing is simple as it comes in one size
- No additional subscription cost
NC° Band cons
- Fewer data points (like exercise and sleep) can be tracked compared to alternatives
- Slightly longer charge time than alternatives
Who can use Natural Cycles with NC° Band?
- People over 18 years old
- People unable to use other types of contraception due to medical conditions
- Those wanting a form of contraception that doesn’t interfere with their periods
- Those happy to abstain from sex or use condoms on Red Days
- Those with conditions like endometriosis or PCOS who may benefit from detailed cycle tracking, which can help identify irregularities
Who can’t use Natural Cycles with NC° Band?
- People under the age of 18
- People who frequently travel across time zones or consistently get very little sleep may want to explore whether the Natural Cycles app and NC° Band fit their needs. More information on irregular sleeping patterns can be found here
- Those that don’t want a form of contraception that needs to be used daily
- Those who would prefer not to experience a regular period
- Those wanting a form of contraception that also offers protection from sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
How effective is Natural Cycles when used with NC° Band?
The effectiveness of Natural Cycles remains the same whether you use an oral basal thermometer, the NC° Band, the Oura Ring, or the Apple Watch. Natural Cycles is 93% effective with typical use and 98% effective with perfect use.
Is NC° Band waterproof?
While the band has IP65 waterproof protection and can handle splashes, you should not shower, bathe, or swim while wearing it.
However, as it is designed to be worn overnight while you sleep, hopefully this wouldn’t be a problem!
What’s NC° Band battery like?
NC° Band has enough battery life to be used for 14 nights and takes around two and a half hours to be fully charged.
Does NC° Band track steps?
Although NC° Band tracks motion during sleep, it doesn’t track steps.
NC° Band v Oura Ring v Apple Watch
Wearables that work with the Natural Cycles app include the Oura Ring and Apple Watch. Whilst the Natural Cycles and Oura Ring integration helps women with the day to day logistics of tracking, Oura Ring isn’t accessible for everyone due to a starting cost of £249 for a Gen 4. And Apple Watch – while it offers other features like calling and texts – starts at £340 for a series 8.
NC° Band has been designed as an affordable alternative to devices like Apple Watch and Oura Ring. Its design aims to broaden access, enabling more women to use Natural Cycles.
| NC° Band | Oura Ring | Apple Watch | |
| Cost | £79.99 or included with a yearly subscription for a limited time | £270 | £340 |
| Indicators tracked | Body temperatureMovementHeart rate | Sleep qualityActivity levelsStressHeart rate and variabilityBody temperatureRespiration rateBlood oxygen levels | Sleep qualityActivity levelsNoise levelsHeart rate and variabilityBody temperatureRespiration rateBlood oxygen levels |
| Battery life | Up to 14 nights | Up to 7 days | Up to 3 days |
| Charging time | 150 minutes | 80 minutes | 75 minutes |
So is NC° Band worth it?
NC° Band offers many advantages over checking temperature with a thermometer, and is cheaper than alternative wearables. If the Natural Cycles app is the best contraceptive option for you, then NC° Band is a fantastic way to make the method more affordable and convenient.
Who is NC° Band available to, and where can I buy it?
At the moment, NC° Band is available for users in Europe, the US, Canada, and Australia.
For a limited-time launch offer, NC° Band is included at no additional cost when new users in these countries sign up for an annual Natural Cycles subscription. Existing Natural Cycles users can still purchase NC° Band separately in-app through the Buy Extra Supplies section in the top menu.
And please remember to come back and leave a review about Natural Cycles are your experience with NC° Band when you’ve tried it out!
The Lowdown
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This article has been medically reviewed for factual and up to date information by a Lowdown doctor.
