inne Minilab receives EU certification for contraception after successful clinical validation
We are proud to announce that the inne Minilab has received official EU and UK certification as a natural contraceptive method. A new app mode tailored for contraception will also be available in September.
Clinical study confirms effectiveness
An independent clinical trial conducted from May 2022 to April 2023 included 300 participants, covering 1,467 cycles (112.85 woman‑years). The results are clear:
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100 % effectiveness under perfect use (Pearl Index 0)
- 92 % effectiveness under typical use (Pearl Index 8)
What do "perfect use" and "typical use" actually mean?
These terms are standard in contraceptive research — and they matter.
Perfect use refers to using a method exactly as intended, without missing steps. For inne, that includes:
- Measuring regularly on the important days — especially around ovulation
- Following the app’s guidance
- Either abstaining or using protection on days marked as high probability of pregnancy
Typical use reflects what happens in everyday life when things don’t go exactly to plan. That might mean missing a test, overlooking a fertile-day warning, or not using protection when indicated.
In inne’s clinical study, a Pearl Index of 0.0 was achieved under perfect use.
This means that no pregnancies occurred when the method was used correctly throughout the study. However, as with any contraceptive method, a residual risk of pregnancy outside the study setting cannot be completely ruled out.
With typical use, inne reached a Pearl Index of 7.98. This means that 8 out of 100 women using inne as contraception for one year could become pregnant.
The takeaway: inne is highly effective when used consistently and as intended. The typical-use data reflects the unpredictability of everyday life and that no method is 100 % effective outside of controlled conditions.
How inne works
The inne Minilab measures progesterone levels in saliva, tracking the hormone surge that follows ovulation. The workflow:
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inne Progesterone Strip: Collects a saliva sample
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inne Reader: Reads the inne Strip to measure the progesterone level
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inne App: Interprets hormone curves to determine ovulation and fertile days
inne tracks the progesterone rise that follows ovulation to determine the end of your fertile window. As long as no rise is detected, the app assumes you may still be fertile and clearly marks those days with a high chance of pregnancy.
Advantages over other natural methods
Unlike basal body temperature tracking which rises due to increasing progesterone levels but can be distorted by illness, poor sleep, alcohol, or change in measurement timing, inne measures the hormone itself. That makes it more reliable and user‑friendly, with fewer false signals.
How does inne compare to other methods?
| Method | Perfect Use | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| inne Minilab | 100 % | 92 % |
| Combination pill | ≥ 99.7 % | 91–93 % |
| Male condom | 98 % | 82–87 % |
| Temperature Method | 99.2–97 % | 96–80 % |
Who can use the Minilab?
inne is reliable only if all criteria have been met consistently for at least three cycles:
- Not pregnant
- Not breastfeeding
- Off hormonal contraception for three full cycles
- No medications that affect the menstrual cycle
- No diagnosis of PCOS
- No endometriosis diagnosis
- No menopausal symptoms
- Cycle length consistently between 22–35 days
- At least 18 years old
Frequently asked questions
Why isn’t typical use 100 %?
Because real-life use includes missed tests or not acting on fertile-day alerts, which can lead to risk just like any other user-dependent method.
Can inne be used on its own?
Yes. With the upcoming app mode and correct use, inne functions as a standalone contraceptive method.
Why is measuring progesterone effective?
Progesterone rises after ovulation and that’s exactly what inne tracks. But inne doesn’t just look backwards. Over time, the system learns your individual hormone patterns and uses them to anticipate your fertile window. This allows inne to identify which days are likely infertile even before ovulation occurs.
As long as no progesterone rise is detected, the app assumes you may still be fertile particularly around the expected time of ovulation. Once progesterone clearly increases (a sign that ovulation has occurred), inne marks the following days as infertile with confidence.
This makes inne comparable to temperature-based fertility awareness methods: progesterone is the reason your body temperature rises after ovulation. But unlike temperature tracking, inne measures the actual hormone behind that shift – so illness, alcohol, or poor sleep won’t interfere with the results.
