Dr Stuart Lavery, consultant of reproductive medicine at University College Hospital in London, said: “People are understandably using this technology to try to get a greater understanding, and to try and pick up things as early as possible because it has such a profound impact on your life if you’re planning a pregnancy.”
However, “we might be running before we can walk,” he cautioned.
“We probably need a lot more data on the reliability, we need a lot more research… otherwise what happens is your levels of anxiety will just skyrocket,” he said.
“I have no doubt that more people will be using technology, an app-based approach or a wearable-based approach, to try and pick up these things. But I think it should come with quite a big health warning about how much we can rely on them for accuracy.”
She added that if women feel overwhelmed, the company “encourages members to take a break from the app experience, whilst Oura Ring continues to collect data and gather insights”, adding: “The ring is a support tool, not a replacement for your care team.”
Ravika sadly did miscarry. She’s hoping to start trying to conceive again soon – and when she does, her experience has made her rethink wearing her tracker again.
“I didn’t really see myself as being an anxious person, but… I think going forward if it came to a point where I had an inkling that I was pregnant and my stats were low, as soon as that positive pregnancy test was there, I do think it would be the best thing for me to take the ring off.”