"The FDA Approved An App To Prevent Pregnancy. Can An App Do That?" - Rachel Siegel
Natural Cycles became the first app approved by the government to prevent pregnancy. The Swedish-based company had been cleared in Europe in 2017 and is an emerging name within the “Femtech” industry – a catch-all for “female health technology.” This app is marketed as a natural method of contraception that is powered by a smart algorithm. It sells the idea of empowering women. Laura MacIsaac, MD, associate professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive science at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, said Natural Cycles was “a little more exciting” in that it tracks both menstrual calendars and basal body temperature. But she cautioned against forms of contraception that require such intense maintenance and attention, especially for women seeking long-term pregnancy protection. Even women who obsessively comply with the program will be fertile for a stretch of every month, she explained. She added that contraception methods that are highly labor intensive are also hard to stick with.
- Laura MacIsaac, MD, Associate Professor, Medical Education, Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai