For those who monitor their health with wearable technology, there’s a growing recognition that both pregnancy and menstrual cycles have historically offered limited insights. However, this landscape is evolving, with Oura leading the charge through innovative announcements and updates to its software.
Collaboration with Scripps Research Digital Trials Center on Pregnancy Study
Oura has revealed a collaborative study with the Scripps Research Digital Trials Center to explore the physiological transformations that occur during pregnancy. This research will analyze data from 10,000 Oura Ring users who have been pregnant in the past three years, providing valuable insights into complications associated with pregnancy such as postpartum depression, miscarriage risk, and preterm labor.
Utilizing Oura’s advanced technology, the study aims to enhance maternal health outcomes and broaden understanding in areas that have traditionally received insufficient attention in clinical research. Interested participants can sign up for the study via the Oura App.
Enhanced Readiness Score Reflects Hormonal Changes During Menstrual Cycles
In a significant update, Oura has enhanced its Readiness Score algorithm to factor in menstrual cycle-related hormonal fluctuations. By acknowledging these natural hormonal shifts instead of categorizing them as indicators of stress, this update delivers a more precise evaluation of well-being for menstruating individuals.
Oura reports that this enhancement is expected to notably decrease the number of days in which users feel their menstrual cycle adversely impacts their Readiness Score.
Addressing Menstrual Health Disparities Through Research
Alongside the partnership with Scripps, Oura is also backing a Stanford-led initiative that focuses on the menstrual health disparities present among underrepresented populations.
This study, titled the Study on Typically Ignored Groups of Menstruating Adults, is directed by professors from the Stanford University School of Medicine. Its goal is to address critical deficiencies in research pertaining to reproductive health, especially for Black women, breastfeeding mothers, and other demographics that have historically been marginalized in clinical studies.
