WHOOP partners with Natural Cycles for fertility tracking

Wearable fitness brand WHOOP has announced a new partnership with Natural Cycles, the FDA-cleared fertility tracking app, to bring menstrual cycle insights and hormone-free birth control options to its members. The collaboration, first reported by MobiHealthNews, follows a similar integration by rival Oura Ring and marks WHOOP's entry into the increasingly competitive women's health tracking space.

As part of the deal, WHOOP members will receive a one-year subscription to Natural Cycles at no extra cost. The app uses basal body temperature data, which WHOOP devices already collect during sleep, to identify fertile windows and provide personalised cycle insights. For users, this means the wearable they already wear can now double as a tool for cycle awareness and contraception planning.

How the integration works

Natural Cycles, which received FDA clearance in 2018, relies on algorithms that analyse daily temperature readings to detect ovulation. WHOOP's continuous skin temperature sensing makes it a natural fit for the app, which typically requires users to take manual temperature readings each morning. With this partnership, the data flows automatically, removing a key friction point for users.

The companies have not yet detailed the exact technical integration, but similar collaborations suggest that WHOOP's temperature data will sync with the Natural Cycles app via an API. Users will still need to log their periods and any relevant symptoms within the Natural Cycles interface, but the core temperature tracking becomes hands-off.

A growing trend in femtech

This move places WHOOP alongside Oura, which announced a comparable partnership with Natural Cycles earlier this year. The trend reflects a broader shift in the wearables industry, where menstrual health is no longer an afterthought but a central feature. For years, cycle tracking apps operated standalone, but device makers now see the value in bundling them with existing hardware subscriptions.

WHOOP's business model, which is subscription-based, makes the free year of Natural Cycles a strategic play. The company is essentially adding value to its existing membership without raising prices, potentially attracting new users who prioritise reproductive health. The partnership also aligns with WHOOP's recent push into women's health research, including studies on pregnancy and postpartum recovery.

What this means for users

For current WHOOP members, the offer is straightforward: claim the one-year Natural Cycles subscription through the WHOOP app or website. After the promotional period, users will have to decide whether to pay for Natural Cycles separately, which typically costs around ₹7,000 to ₹10,000 per year depending on the plan. The app also offers a pregnancy mode and a post-pregnancy tracking feature, which may appeal to new mothers.

It is worth noting that Natural Cycles is designed as a birth control method, but it is not for everyone. The app's effectiveness depends on consistent use and accurate data, and it does not protect against sexually transmitted infections. Users with irregular cycles or certain medical conditions should consult a healthcare provider before relying on it as their primary contraceptive.

The bigger picture

The partnership is part of a larger consolidation in the femtech sector, where standalone apps are increasingly being absorbed into broader health ecosystems. Natural Cycles has already partnered with other device makers, and this latest deal strengthens its position as the default fertility tracking solution for wearables. For WHOOP, the collaboration fills a gap in its feature set, which has historically focused on recovery and strain rather than reproductive health.

Analysts will be watching to see if this move boosts WHOOP's subscriber numbers, especially among women, who make up a growing share of the fitness tracker market. The company has not disclosed how many members will take up the offer, but early adoption numbers could influence future partnerships in the women's health space.

Looking ahead, WHOOP is expected to roll out the Natural Cycles integration to all members over the coming weeks. The company has not confirmed whether the free subscription will be extended beyond the initial year, but given the competitive landscape, a renewal offer would not be surprising. For now, users can take advantage of the deal and see how the two platforms work together in practice.