Anyone looking for an alternative to hormonal contraception or who has a specific desire to have children should consider natural family planning (NFP). Natural family planning (NFP) is characterized by the fact that it is used without any kind of hormone intake. NFP generally describes hormone-free and safe methods for contraception or planning a pregnancy. NFP and the symptothermal method are often used synonymously. However, the symptothermal method is actually just one type of natural contraception that falls under the umbrella of NFP. Here are the most important questions and answers about the symptothermal method:

What is the symptothermal method?

The symptothermal method is based on calculating cyclical fertility and thus on determining the fertile or infertile window.

In addition to the daily measurement of basal body temperature (wake-up temperature), another symptom of fertility ( cervix or cervical mucus ) is observed and documented.

How do I start using the symptothermal method?

You can start natural cycle tracking without a prior doctor's visit, training, or major purchases. All you need is a basal thermometer to measure your core body temperature and a way to record it, such as an app.

The Ovy app takes all the rules of the symptothermal method into account, thus replacing the time-consuming and error-prone recording with pen and paper. To use this, select the "Track Cycle" mode in your settings . In this mode, no additional parameters such as ovulation test results are included. Furthermore, the prediction is more precise, and fertility is assumed if there is insufficient data.

To optimize the natural method, Ovy has also developed a compatible Bluetooth® thermometer that measures for exactly three minutes .

Can the symptothermal method replace the pill?

The Pearl Index provides information about the effectiveness of contraceptive methods. Studies show that when basal body temperature is recorded daily over several cycles, with double monitoring using another fertility indicator, the symptothermal method, when used perfectly, has a Pearl Index of 0.4. This means that, on average, out of 100 women who used it for one year, 0.4 women became unintentionally pregnant.

However, safety cannot be guaranteed for those who do not follow the rules correctly or are negligent in their continuous use. Rules of thumb are: know and study your own body well in order to perceive symptoms or signals, and measure and date them continuously and daily.

What should be considered when using it?

• The female cycle varies from woman to woman. Therefore, each cycle is unique. Anyone choosing this method should be prepared to listen to their body, pay attention to its signals, and consistently track their cycle.
• The use of the symptothermal method for contraception requires that an additional contraceptive, such as a condom, is used during sex on fertile days.
• The use of the symptothermal method does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases.
• If emergency contraception is used (for example, the morning-after pill), this can be noted in the Ovy app under "Medications". After taking it, irregularities in the menstrual cycle may occur, and fertility assessment may be limited.
• If your period is more than a week late after using emergency contraception, you should take a pregnancy test or see a doctor directly.
• The temperature measurement must be taken every morning at approximately the same time, and the body's signals and changes must be recognized and recorded in order to ensure an accurate calculation.
• The Ovy app does not replace medical diagnosis and treatment; it serves solely for informational purposes and is not intended to encourage self-diagnosis or self-treatment. Please always consult a doctor if you have health problems.

How do I know if I am fertile or not?

At the beginning of the cycle, infertility can only be assumed if a temperature peak occurred in the previous cycle (5-day rule, minus-8 rule) or if there have been at least 12 cycles to date (minus-20 rule). If this is not the case, according to the rules of the symptothermal method, infertility cannot be assumed at the beginning of the cycle, and therefore fertility is assumed from the first day.

Towards the end of the cycle, according to the rules, one must assume a possible fertile phase until it can be ruled out. According to the symptothermal method, fertility is only ruled out when two conditions are met: the temperature method is complete and the cervical mucus method or the cervix measurement method is complete.

The Ovy app shows you daily whether you are "fertile" or "not fertile":

How do I read the cycle graph correctly?

The cycle chart helps you better understand your cycle. You can export it from your profile and take it with you to your next doctor's appointment.

Here's a brief explanation:

• The numbers 6-1 mark the six low temperatures that were detected using this method.
• The dashed line indicates the highest of these six low temperatures.
• The next three high temperatures should lie above the dashed line and are indicated by a triangle. If an exception to the temperature rule applies, the fourth value is indicated instead.
• ehM stands for "first elevated measurement" and separately marks the first of the three high temperatures.
• The turquoise area is then the area where ovulation is likely to occur according to the temperature method.

Can I use the Ovy app immediately after stopping the pill?

The Ovy app can be used immediately after stopping the pill, however, it can take a few months for your body to regulate its cycle. In this case, you can use the symptothermal method, on which the Ovy app is based, to monitor your cycle and determine when it returns to normal. It's important that you activate the " Post-Pill Mode " in the introduction or in your profile.

In post-pill mode, the cycle is evaluated according to separate rules after discontinuing the pill. For the calculation, an additional elevated temperature value is required: instead of three, four consecutive measurements must be higher than the highest of the six previous measurements .

In the first cycle after stopping hormonal contraception, you are automatically in post-pill mode, and the Ovy app will analyze your cycle separately. To ensure this, select "No, but in the last cycle" when asked if you are currently using hormonal contraception during registration. Post-pill mode ends automatically after one cycle, i.e., with the start of your first regular period .

After stopping the pill, it's important to get to know your body again without artificial hormones and to correctly interpret its signals. Those who wish to use the symptothermal method for contraception should assume fertility from the day they stop taking the pill and continue using contraception until a cycle has been successfully evaluated using the additional rules and the woman feels confident using the method.

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