There are really only a few things you need in order to chart using fertility awareness: knowledge (this can be learn as you go!), something to chart on, and a thermometer if you’re using temperatures as one of your markers. If you want to go low-cost, you can get a thermometer for $15 or less, and chart on paper! But there are a few apps out there that have the possibility of making your charting life easier, and I personally think Read Your Body (iOS/Android) is one of the best ones around. So here’s my Read Your Body app review!
I think the best way to let you know what I think about this app as a professional is to share all of the things I love about this app. So here goes, bullet point style
Necessities
- Manual interpretation
- Easy import and export features
- Local data (stored on your phone)
Nice to haves
- Can chart up to two temperature methods per chart
- Syncs with Tempdrop
- Customizable charting – symptoms, categories, etc.
- Affordable (I put this in nice to have since technically an app itself is a nice to have – you can chart on paper)
So let’s dig into a few of these points, and how Read Your Body (RYB) fulfills them!
Manual Interpretation
Manual interpretation of charts is the single most important thing to practicing fertility awareness successfully, especially if you’re avoiding pregnancy. In RYB, you can manually mark temperature shifts, coverlines, and peak days. On top of that, the data you collect is highly customizable (this is in the nice-to-have section). For example, if you chart different mucus categories than standard, you can set up your own custom categories!
Easy Import/Export
Importing and exporting is super simple with Read Your Body. You can even import from other charting apps. The app supports importing from specific other charting apps, but it’s also relatively easy to take the data from another app and reformat to what it needs to look like in RYB. Exporting is a simple click, and this is how you will back up your data which leads us to the next point…
Data Stored Locally
This isn’t a deal-breaker for me, actually. But I know it’s a deal breaker for a lot of charters. The data on RYB is stored locally on your phone. That means you need to either set it up to automatically backup to a location of your choice, or remember to do so at least once per cycle. If you don’t and lose your phone (or drop it in water…oops?), you won’t have access to any data since you last backed it up. But it also means RYB can’t do anything with your data, since they don’t have it.
Multiple Temperatures
So this likely my personal preference, but I love that I can chart multiple temperatures in a single app! I personally chart with Tempdrop most cycles, and depending on how I’m feeling, I may also choose to wake up to take my temperature each morning. I love seeing the comparison.
Customizable Categories
You can customize almost anything in this app: cervical mucus categories, secondary symptoms, lifestyle activities. It’s incredibly nice to have the ability to chart absolutely anything I want to.
Affordability
Once again, this isn’t under Necessities since a charting app alone is a nice-to-have. The cost to use the app is quite low – a few coffees a month, max.
Example chart from RYB.
RYB is going to be my app for life unless something extreme happens to either it or another amazing app comes out. It provides everything I want in an app – including that it syncs with my Tempdrop! I backed them when they did their Kickstarter, so I have lifetime access to the app. If you weren’t a part of their Kickstarter, the app is a small fee either monthly or yearly (depending on your preference). I would happily pay to use it if I didn’t have lifetime access. And that is all for my Read Your Body app review. If you have any comments or questions, reach out to me on Instagram.
About the Author
Hi! I’m Liza, the owner and founder of Cache Valley Baby & Family. I do a lot of different things, including postpartum doula support, fertility awareness instruction (with a focus on conception), infant feeding support, and perinatal class instruction. I have a passion for working with families and women.
In my perinatal classes and postpartum support, I’ve worked with families from all walks of life, supporting them through their unique journeys. I particularly enjoy watching people become more confident in their own abilities as they go through my classes.
I love teaching fertility awareness. Because of the rest of my services, my focus is mainly on charting for conception, but I’m also experienced and happy to teach those charting to avoid pregnancy or to track their health. I have experience helping people chart with PCOS, thyroid disease, and more. I trained as an instructor through NFPTA.
All of my classes can be taken online from anywhere around the world, and I also hold local classes in Cache Valley, Utah. If you’d like to work with me, go ahead and reach out!
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