Natural Cycles app gets FDA clearance for first wearable birth control

Apps for tracking fertility have been around for years, but they require people to take their temperature at the same time every day and manually enter the results. One of those apps, Natural Cycles, has now gained FDA clearance to combine their app with a wearable device to provide no-fuss digital birth control.

Natural Cycles performed a proof-of-study using the popular health tracking device Oura, which looks like a regular ring but records the wearer's body temperature, heart rate and other markers related to health and wellbeing. That automatically recorded data then enables Natural Cycles to predict when someone is ovulating and should take additional precautions to avoid pregnancy.

Now that Natural Cycles has gained FDA clearance, the Stockholm-based company will select wearable device makers to partner with before launching the service for use by consumers.