Natural Cycles, the FDA-cleared fertility tracking app founded by Nobel Prize-adjacent physicist Dr. Elina Berglund Scherwitzl, made its biggest move since launch with a January 2026 dual release: the NC Band wearable and NC Perimenopause app mode. Together, they extend the platform from birth control and fertility tracking into the $24 billion menopause market.

Why It Matters

Natural Cycles' perimenopause pivot, backed by a purpose-built wearable and a proprietary algorithm trained on nearly 200,000 women's data, could set a new standard for hormone-health tracking. With 2 million U.S. women entering menopause annually and a $24 billion addressable market, the company is positioning itself as the data backbone for an underserved population that traditional healthcare has largely ignored.

The NC Band is a lightweight wrist-worn device designed specifically for Natural Cycles — not a general fitness tracker repurposed for health data. Worn overnight, it continuously measures skin temperature, heart rate, and movement via Bluetooth 5.0, with data automatically syncing to the app each morning. It offers up to 14 nights of battery life per charge (USB-C, 2.5 hours), is IP65 splash-resistant, and replaces the company's thermometer for daily temperature measurement. Valued at $129.99, it is included free with the annual Natural Cycles plan ($149.99); existing users can upgrade at a 25% discount ($97.49).

NC Perimenopause represents the first new app mode powered by its own dedicated algorithm since the company was founded. The NC Menopause Algorithm analyzes cycle patterns, symptoms, and biometric data — including temperature and heart rate from the NC Band, Oura Ring, or Apple Watch — to estimate whether a user is in early, mid, or late perimenopause. A Cycle Report feature generates summaries that users can share directly with healthcare providers.

The expansion responds to overwhelming user demand: in a survey of approximately 5,000 users over age 40, more than 90% reported having low to medium knowledge of menopause, and four out of five felt they needed more support around perimenopause. Natural Cycles planned to present research drawn from a study of nearly 200,000 women at the Menopause Society's Annual Meeting.

Dr. Berglund Scherwitzl stated: "Natural Cycles was built on the belief that understanding your body should be both empowering and accessible... The NC Band brings that vision to life." The company now counts over 5 million registered users worldwide, supported by more than 20 peer-reviewed studies.

Sources

Update — 2026-03-14

Initial entry — story first created.