Finding My Rhythm: A Personal Journey with Natural Cycles and Oura Ring

May 27

It feels like just yesterday I was navigating the beautiful chaos of becoming a new mom. My daughter is almost two now, and during this incredible journey, I’ve found a true ally in managing my health and family planning: Natural Cycles paired with my Oura Ring.

My path to this particular approach actually began a bit earlier, back in 2020. I had decided to transition away from my hormonal IUD. My deepest desire was to allow my body to truly regulate itself, to find its own natural harmony and balance – what we call homeostasis – without the interference of augmented hormone levels. And let's be honest, the very goal of hormonal birth control is to alter those natural rhythms.

Initially, I started by taking my basal body temperature (BBT) every morning with an oral thermometer. It was a good start, but then I discovered an armband that monitored my temperature overnight via my brachial artery. This was fantastic because it meant one less thing to "remember" in the mornings!

Fast forward to postpartum life. Between exhaustion, learning to be a mom, and simply trying to keep up, I often found myself forgetting to put that armband on before bed. It quickly became clear: tracking BBT data is only useful if you’re actually collecting it! That’s when I started looking into the Oura Ring. I saw that it paired with Natural Cycles, which is significant because it's the only BBT app that is FDA-approved for birth control. I decided to give the ring a try. I truly love how easy it is to charge, wear for multiple days, and how seamlessly it syncs with my Natural Cycles app.

For the past two years, this combination has been my preferred hormone-free method for avoiding pregnancy and simply tracking my cycle. It’s given me such a profound understanding of my body.

Your Period: More Than Just a Cycle, It's a Vital Sign

I’ve come to view my period not just as a monthly occurrence, but as my fifth vital sign. Just like your heart rate or blood pressure, it offers crucial insights into your overall health. With Natural Cycles, I can look back at my BBT charts from months ago or notice subtle, abnormal shifts in my temperature from just the past few days. This information empowers me to check in with myself: am I getting sick? Do I need to adjust how I’m processing stress more effectively?

It’s truly incredible how stress can wreak havoc on our hormonal cycles, and having this data allows me to be much more proactive in supporting my body.

Whenever someone asks me about my Oura Ring, I absolutely love sharing the stats it provides – from sleep quality to heart rate variability – and how I use all of that in conjunction with the Natural Cycles app to better support my body with a holistic approach. It's about gathering information to live more in tune with myself.

Supporting Your Cycle, Supporting Your Care

On a professional note, I also find it incredibly beneficial when patients are already tracking their cycles. Having that detailed understanding allows us to work together to curate their care more precisely, offering extra support exactly when needed during specific times of their menstrual cycles. It helps us personalize their wellness journey even further.

If you’re interested in taking a more active role in understanding your cycle and hormones, I genuinely encourage you to explore Natural Cycles. They even have paperwork you can download to explore getting Natural Cycles reimbursed by your insurance company, which is a great benefit.

To help you get started, here’s a link for 20% off Natural Cycles, and you can also choose between a free NC° thermometer or an Oura Ring discount. It’s a wonderful step toward truly knowing your body.

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