Oura's Assessment of Preparedness Now Includes Menstrual Cycle Factors
Embrace the evolution of your wellness journey with Oura's smart ring update, now taking menstrual cycle data into account for assigning daily readiness scores. This long-awaited feature addresses historical inconsistencies, particularly during the luteal phase, a common irritant for users who track their cycle and utilize the platform's advanced Cycle Insights feature.
If you're not tracking your cycle or can't differentiate between the follicular and luteal phases, you may not notice any changes. However, this upgrade is significant for the dedicated Cycle Insights users, who will experience more accurate readiness scores and ultimately, a more empowering user experience.
smart ring, is finally taking menstrual cycle data into account when assigning readiness scores—a feature whose absence has baffled users for years. The ring’s app was notorious for assigning lower-than-expected scores during the luteal phase of users’ cycles, but that is changing thanks to an update to the Readiness score algorithm that Oura
Zooming in on Biology
.
Before delving into the nuances of the Oura algorithm update, it's essential to garner some basic knowledge regarding menstrual cycles and biology. In essence, menstruation is not the whole story; it is merely one aspect of a larger, 28-day cycle (average) in individuals with regular periods, not on hormonal birth control. This cycle is comprised of two distinct parts: the follicular and luteal phases.
, the feature of the Oura app that uses temperature data to keep track of ovulation, menstruation, fertile window, and follicular and luteal phases.
During the follicular phase, an ovarian follicle matures to host and release an egg cell (ovulation). Egg release marks the shift into the luteal phase, a period where the empty follicle generates hormones, elevating temperatures and initiating temperature changes that your Oura ring can detect.
feature of the Oura app to track when you are in the first half of your cycle (the follicular phase) versus the second half (the luteal phase).
Algorithm Adjustments
, Latin for “yellow thing.” (Scientists are so creative.) In its honor, the second half of the cycle is called the
Oura's algorithm update focuses on distinguishing between the follicular and luteal phases, recognizing that certain biometric changes, such as skin temperature, respiratory rate, resting heart rate, and heart rate variability, are associated with the luteal phase [1][3].
but that’s a discussion for
Previously, these detectable variations in biometrics might have triggered unwarranted negativity in your daily readiness score, which was interpreted as a potential sign of stress or sickness. With the new algorithm, these cycle-related changes will no longer be misconstrued, enhancing the Readiness Score's accuracy and personalization for users who track their cycles.
.
Oura predicts that roughly 35% of its female users with a regular cycle will experience a noticeable improvement in their Readiness Scores, with 81% fewer days of overly-low scores [3].
about the change, the luteal phase tends to have a few detectable differences from the follicular phase (from the ring’s point of view):
Turning on Cycle Insights
and
To reap the benefits of the new algorithm, users should be familiar with the Cycle Insights feature, which requires tracking the start dates of periods and the employment of temperature detection to identify the luteal phase.
(according to the comments: yes).
To activate Cycle Insights, visit the settings menu in the app, and navigate to the Women's Health section. Here, users can enable Cycle Insights and define any relevant background information, like whether you're using hormonal contraception or understand your typical cycle duration.
, I don’t blame you—but you’ll have to decide whether it’s worth it to get that slightly more accurate data. Oura has a
Although some users might feel apprehensive about divulging this reproductive data in the current political climate, it's crucial to be informed about Oura's reproductive data privacy approach. Based in Finland, the company is subject to GDPR regulations and has publicly committed to resisting requests for data from legal authorities [2]. Additionally, users can manually delete their Cycle Insights data within the app's support section.
, noting that they are subject to GDPR regulations (since they are based in Finland) and that they plan to fight any requests for data from legal authorities. The support page for Cycle Insights includes
Harness the power of personalized health insights by embracing Oura's menstrual cycle data-integrated Readiness Score algorithm, enabling women to gain a deeper understanding of their bodies and cycles with unparalleled accuracy.
, which you can do at any time.
Sources:
[1] Oura (2023). Urging Oura: Luteal Phase is not a Sickness
[2] Oura (2023). Oura's Commitment to Reproductive Health
[3] Oura (2023). Updating the Readiness Score Algorithm: Our Approach
- Many dedicated users of Oura's Cycle Insights feature will appreciate the new update, as it addresses historical inconsistencies during the luteal phase, a common complaint among users who track their menstrual cycle and rely on the platform's advanced Cycle Insights feature for more accurate readiness scores.
- Some users may experience more accurate readiness scores and a more empowering user experience due to the Oura smart ring update, which now takes menstrual cycle data into account when assigning daily readiness scores. However, it's essential to note that anyone else who does not track their cycle or can't differentiate between the follicular and luteal phases may not notice any discernible changes.
- If you're a dedicated user of Oura's Cycle Insights feature and track your menstrual cycle, you might be interested in knowing that roughly 35% of other female users with a regular cycle are expected to experience a noticeable improvement in their Readiness Scores with the new algorithm, resulting in 81% fewer days of overly-low scores.
