Thirty-two-year-old Sofia was able to detect her pregnancy using a smart ring before she even took a home pregnancy test. The wearable device, which tracks health data like body temperature, alerted her to changes in her body. However, while some women find this technology helpful, experts warn it can also cause a lot of worry.
Sofia had previously lost two pregnancies. In both cases, she noticed changes in the data from her Oura ring. During her first pregnancy, she checked the app every morning. One day, she saw her body temperature drop, which prepared her for the miscarriage. A similar drop happened during her second pregnancy.
After these difficult experiences, Sofia and her husband decided to take a break from trying to have a baby. But during this break, her ring sent her a notification about "minor signs of strain." She also saw that her temperature was high again. When she took a pregnancy test, it was positive. She now has a healthy five-month-old baby boy.
Although her third pregnancy was successful, Sofia felt very anxious. She woke up early every morning just to check the app for any temperature drops. The stress became so high that she had to take the ring off for the rest of her first trimester.
Other women have had similar experiences. A woman named Ravika also used a smart ring and suffered a miscarriage. She said that if she tries to get pregnant again, she will take the ring off as soon as she gets a positive test to avoid feeling too anxious.
Doctors also suggest using caution with these devices. Dr. Stuart Lavery, a fertility specialist in London, explains that it is normal for people to want to understand their bodies early. However, he warns that there is not enough research yet on how reliable smart rings are for tracking pregnancy. Without more data, checking these devices too often can make anxiety skyrocket.
Dr. Chris Curry from Oura says that pregnancy is a very uncertain time, especially for first-time mothers. She explains that the ring is only a support tool, not a replacement for doctors, and advises women to take a break from the app if they feel too overwhelmed.