Fertility Tracking with Wearables: Empowering the Femtech Health

Femtech is transforming how people track, understand, and act on their reproductive health. What began as calendar apps and basal thermometers has evolved into an ecosystem of intelligent, sensor-equipped wearables that passively collect data on skin temperature, heart rate variability (HRV), sleep patterns, and even hormone levels. This new generation of fertility wearables addresses a growing need for precision, personalization, and privacy in reproductive care, especially for navigating ovulation irregularities, fertility planning, or menstrual disorders.

A recent systematic review published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (2024) underscores the growing credibility and applicability of wearable devices in reproductive health monitoring. The study highlights how wearables can reliably track physiological indicators such as skin temperature, HRV, and sleep cycles to assess ovulation and cycle phases, offering clinically relevant insights in real-world conditions. This validation of wearables in scientific literature supports a broader movement toward individualized reproductive care. The findings put pressure on health tech developers to create tools that are not only accurate but also secure, privacy-preserving, and capable of integrating with diverse health systems.

Previously, we have talked about how Oura rings personalize pregnancy. In this article, we explore how wearable fertility trackers work, the technology behind ovulation prediction, the evolving femtech landscape, and how Thryve enables femtech platforms with scalable, compliant data infrastructure. From user needs to backend support, we provide a comprehensive overview of how digital health players can participate and lead the next generation of personalized reproductive care.

What Is a Wearable Fertility Tracker?

A wearable fertility tracker is a device designed to monitor physiological signals linked to the menstrual cycle, fertility windows, and hormonal fluctuations. These devices continuously collect data, offering a hands-free alternative to traditional manual tracking methods.

Core Features:

• Skin Temperature Monitoring: Subtle variations in skin temperature correlate with the luteal phase and ovulation. Check out our EDA blog post!
• Heart Rate Variability (HRV): Changes in HRV may indicate hormonal shifts and ovulatory patterns. 
• Sleep Quality & Timing: Disruptions in sleep can reflect hormonal imbalances or cycle-related changes. We have already covered how vital sleep is. 
• LH (Luteinizing Hormone) Levels: Some smart sensors detect LH spikes that precede ovulation.

Notable Examples:

• Ava Bracelet: FDA-cleared wearable that tracks skin temperature, HRV, respiratory rate, and perfusion.
• Oura Ring: Measures temperature trends, HRV, and sleep to detect fertile windows.
• Tempdrop: Worn overnight to track basal body temperature with high accuracy.
• Natural Cycles + Oura Integration: Combines algorithmic ovulation prediction with biometric data.

These tools are a significant upgrade over manual BBT charting or symptom logging. They reduce user burden while improving accuracy, especially important for users with irregular cycles or those undergoing fertility treatment.

Technology Behind Ovulation Prediction

Ovulation prediction is no longer guesswork. Today’s fertility wearables leverage advanced sensor technology and data-driven models to identify the most fertile window with increasing precision. These devices collect biometric signals across multiple cycles and apply AI-based analytics to provide tailored, dynamic insights.

• Signal Pattern Recognition: Algorithms detect micro-trends in metrics such as skin temperature, HRV, and sleep disturbances that often precede or coincide with ovulation.
• Model Training Across Populations: Datasets collected from diverse users improve the algorithm’s ability to predict ovulation accurately, including for individuals with irregular cycles.
• Adaptive Learning Models: Some platforms employ self-adjusting systems that refine predictions based on the user’s historical and real-time physiological data.
• Multi-sensor Integration: Combining multiple data sources—e.g., temperature, HRV, sleep, and hormonal levels—results in higher prediction confidence and context-aware fertility insights. Check out HRV blog post to know more! 

For femtech developers, this translates into the ability to deliver highly personalized cycle tracking, boosting user engagement and trust. For users, it offers the benefits of accurate timing, reduced uncertainty, and a better understanding of their unique reproductive rhythms.

Cycle Tracking Meets Femtech Innovation

Cycle tracking has become a gateway to broader health literacy and agency. Today’s femtech tools extend far beyond ovulation prediction to enable proactive, whole-person care:

• Hormonal Trend Analysis: Advanced analytics detect hormonal irregularities that may indicate perimenopause, thyroid dysfunction, PCOS, or stress-related cycle disruptions—enabling early intervention or specialist referral.
• Behavioral Nudging: Personalized notifications and content prompt users to adjust activity, nutrition, or recovery practices according to their hormonal phase, making health habits cycle-aware and biologically aligned. We have already covered how wearable data can lead to behavioral changes. 
• Mental Health Monitoring: Many platforms track correlations between hormonal shifts and mood volatility, helping users and care teams identify patterns linked to PMS, PMDD, or burnout.
• Personalized Content & Coaching: Context-aware educational modules and virtual coaching deliver insights and support in sync with each user’s unique cycle, promoting empowerment and continuous engagement.

These expanded capabilities move femtech from simple fertility awareness to a broader model of cyclical health literacy. For health innovators, this opens the door to comprehensive offerings, from condition management to lifestyle optimization, all grounded in reproductive data.

Privacy and Ethics in Reproductive Data

Cycle tracking apps and fertility platforms have faced intense scrutiny over how they handle sensitive health data, especially in the wake of heightened public awareness around privacy and reproductive rights. For B2B platforms, product managers, and clinical partners, safeguarding this data is a cornerstone of product credibility and long-term user engagement—not just a checkbox for regulatory compliance.

Key areas of focus include:

• Data Minimization: Only collect what’s necessary for core functionality and meaningful insights, reducing risk while streamlining user experiences.
• Clear Consent Protocols: Ensure that users are not only giving consent, but fully understand how, where, and why their reproductive data is being used—and can opt out at any time.
• On-Device Processing: Where feasible, perform biometric analysis locally on the device to prevent unnecessary data transmission and reduce cloud dependency.
• Interoperability with Care Systems: Enable seamless, secure integration with healthcare providers and EMRs while preserving data de-identification and patient autonomy.
• Transparency & Audit Trails: Give users full access to data histories, the ability to revoke permissions, and clear visibility into data usage policies.

Thryve’s infrastructure supports these principles by design, helping femtech teams navigate evolving privacy expectations, comply with global data regulations like GDPR and HIPAA, and scale responsibly in sensitive markets.

Thryve’s Role in Femtech Product Development

Wearables are no longer niche gadgets. They’re becoming essential tools in the next wave of personalized, preventive health. For fertility tracking, this means real-time data, adaptive predictions, and empowering health journeys that extend from conception to menopause. Femtech founders, product managers, and digital health innovators have a rare opportunity: to meet users in moments that matter, with insights that are accurate, ethical, and actionable. Thryve’s API provides the backend intelligence needed to power femtech innovations. For developers and clinicians building apps that track menstrual cycles, fertility, or hormonal wellness, Thryve delivers:

• Cycle-Specific APIs: Access standardized, cycle-related data from multiple wearable sources.
• Signal Harmonization: Normalize skin temperature, HRV, and sleep metrics into interoperable formats.
• Predictive Analytics: Apply AI models to forecast ovulation and identify pattern anomalies.
• GDPR-Compliant Infrastructure: Ensure all cycle and fertility data is processed securely and ethically.

By partnering with a platform like Thryve, they gain access to the infrastructure needed to launch and scale reliable reproductive health solutions across global markets.

Book a demo with us to improve fertility tracking on a bigger scale! 

Source

Kaminetsky, J., & Benedict, C. (2024). The validity and utility of wearable devices for monitoring fertility and ovulation: A systematic review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 26, e45139. https://doi.org/10.2196/45139