Yono Labs, funded through a Kickstarter campaign, have developed an in-ear wearable device they say will help women keep track of their ovulation cycles and predict their fertility window when trying to get pregnant.
Yono is worn in the ear to measure basal body temperature (BBT). A woman wears the comfortable silicone-encased earpiece (similar to an ear bud) all night where data is collected multiple times to determine lowest BBT.
The trickiest part when trying to get pregnant is monitoring the BBT, says Vanessa Xi, CEO and founder of Yono Labs.
However, according to the start-up, with Yono the temperature is taken in the closed and controlled environment of the ear canal, the sensor captures the most accurate data without being affected by the ambient temperature.
The Yono device collects 70 to 120 data points each night to determine the lowest temperature while resting. The connected Yono smartphone app collects and analyses the information.
Xi says they are developing apps for iOS and Android, which will be available in October, and are also planning to develop a Windows app.
When a woman's body has finished ovulating and when the ovary has released an egg, the BBT slightly increases, says Xi. However, a woman's most fertile period is days after the BBT increases, which is quite tricky to monitor without a special device, she adds.
"I created Yono out of my own personal challenges with conception and I saw first-hand the need for technology to accurately give me the data I needed. YONO is a wearable that gives women precise information - it is very discreet, easy to use and takes the guesswork out of getting pregnant."
While there are many healthcare technology companies, not many focus specifically on women's health, says Xi.
"A few companies have developed apps that help women track their menstrual cycle. Yono wants to do more than that. It will help women with collecting data, not just sorting it."
The device monitors the user's most fertile days and provides helpful tips should the user need to talk with her doctor about next steps, says Xi.
The in-ear wearable is available for pre-sale through the Kickstarter campaign Web site.
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