A contraceptive app certified in the European Union as a form of birth control was hit with a complaint that blames the company for causing 37 unwanted pregnancies, according to The Verge.
Natural Cycles leverages an algorithm and measures other health data — like body temperate — to help women determine when they may be fertile. While the app has about 700,000 users across the globe, a hospital in Stockholm, Sweden, reported Natural Cycles to the country's regulators at the Medical Product Agency after 37 women sought an abortion at the hospital after becoming pregnant while using the app.
The company hasn't received any information from the hospital but said it is working with the MPA on each case. It has also launched an internal investigation with its clinical department.
However, Natural Cycles reiterated its app's effectiveness.
"No contraception is 100 percent effective, and unwanted pregnancies is an unfortunate risk with any contraception. Natural Cycles has a Pearl Index of seven, which means it is 93 percent effective at typical use, which we also communicate," the company told The Verge. "At first sight, the numbers mentioned in the media are not surprising given the popularity of the app and in line with our efficacy rates. As our user base increases, so will the amount of unintended pregnancies coming from Natural Cycles app users, which is an inevitable reality."