Uploaded May 2024 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
Dr. Lucky Sekhon sat down with NBC News Now to address the recent trend on social media of using basal body temperature (BBT) tracking as a form of birth control.
The verdict? BBT monitoring is not reliable for people with very short or long, irregular cycles - it works best if cycles are every 26-32 days and very regular and predictable. The efficacy of this Fertility Awareness method with typical (realistic) use is unfortunately not consistent or reliable - failure rate (unplanned pregnancy) is from 2-34%. The efficacy is improved if BBT tracking is combined with other cycle tracking methods such as monitoring cervical mucus changes, calendar tracking, and even using ovulation predictor kits. When you look at the data on all methods of preventing unplanned pregnancy, using Fertility Awareness methods alone have much higher rates of failure than other forms of contraception (barrier methods, birth control pills/patches/rings/IUDs).
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Dr. Lucky Sekhon sat down with NBC News Now to address the recent trend on social media of using basal body temperature (BBT) tracking as a form of birth control.
The verdict? BBT monitoring is not reliable for people with very short or long, irregular cycles - it works best if cycles are every 26-32 days and very regular and predictable. The efficacy of this Fertility Awareness method with typical (realistic) use is unfortunately not consistent or reliable - failure rate (unplanned pregnancy) is from 2-34%. The efficacy is improved if BBT tracking is combined with other cycle tracking methods such as monitoring cervical mucus changes, calendar tracking, and even using ovulation predictor kits. When you look at the data on all methods of preventing unplanned pregnancy, using Fertility Awareness methods alone have much higher rates of failure than other forms of contraception (barrier methods, birth control pills/patches/rings/IUDs).
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