Latest news with #ŌURA
Techday NZ
5 days ago
- Health
- Techday NZ
Oura app enhances Pregnancy Insights with personalised tracking
ŌURA has introduced an updated Pregnancy Insights feature in its app, offering women detailed information about the physiological changes that occur during pregnancy. The new features build on the company's current suite of tools related to women's reproductive health, including Cycle Insights, Fertile Window, and Period Prediction. The updated offering seeks to address gaps left by traditional prenatal care, which typically relies on periodic check-ins and provides limited guidance on real-time bodily and health changes during pregnancy. The enhanced Pregnancy Insights experience integrates continuous, individualised tracking of key biometrics such as temperature trends, resting heart rate (RHR), heart rate variability (HRV), and respiratory rate. The system also provides educational content and daily tools to help women navigate every phase of their pregnancy. Accumulating data from more than 10,000 pregnancies, the app aims to offer mothers insights not only about fetal development but also about their own changing health patterns. Features Among the new capabilities, ŌURA has refreshed gestational age tracking with an updated homecard, incorporating trimester rings and expandable weekly insights. This improvement aims to enhance both visibility and usability for expectant mothers monitoring their health. For new members who begin using Oura during pregnancy and do not already have biometric data recorded, the app now initiates a calibration period of between seven and fifteen days. This approach is designed to create a more individualised baseline before providing Pregnancy Trends, ensuring data relevance for each user. The introduction of a new Trend View lets members visualise how central biometrics fluctuate throughout pregnancy, either by trimester or across the entire pregnancy period. This is paired with reference ranges from anonymised population data, clarifying which changes are in line with typical pregnancy patterns. The company states that while their product is not a diagnostic device, ongoing visibility of these trends may provide reassurance and prompt more informed conversations with healthcare providers if unusual patterns are observed. A new "Keeping Track" tagging system now provides a location for members to log symptoms, experiences, and emotions, prompting users to reflect and keep records based on scientific literature about their current gestational age. The company's tag library has also been expanded to include specific symptoms such as Braxton Hicks contractions, nausea, food aversions, pelvic pain, and skin changes, which helps users contextualise the impact of symptoms on their biometric data. Education and context ŌURA has developed integrated educational content for this feature with input from medical professionals, including the company's Medical Advisor and Reproductive Endocrinologist Eleni Jaswa. This content is tailored to clarify changes in sleep, recovery, and overall well-being throughout pregnancy, offering practical guidance alongside the biometric data. New updates also encompass contextualised messaging within Readiness, Sleep, Rest Mode, and Recovery Mode insights. These now interpret biometrics such as HRV, RHR, and temperature changes in light of the evidence-based physiological changes expected during pregnancy. Additional features connect the Pregnancy Insights function with Oura Advisor, where users can discuss pregnancy to access more personalised support. The integration also extends to reproductive health history, allowing members to view how their physiological data changes before, during, and after pregnancy. Full visibility is provided into past and current cycles, including pregnancy phases, expanding the relevance of the app for users at different life stages. Continued focus ŌURA is marking this product update as a key step in its ongoing strategy to develop digital health support for women, following its partnership with Natural Cycles and research collaborations with institutions such as Scripps Research Digital Trials Centre, Stanford University, University of California, Berkeley, and University of California, San Francisco. Oura is deeply committed to protecting member privacy, especially when it comes to sensitive women's health data, and has technical and organisational safeguards to keep data safe and secure. Members maintain full control over their data rights, with transparent privacy settings and the ability to opt in or out of features at any time. As Oura expands into clinical partnerships with leading health providers, data sharing with third parties is only permitted if and when members choose to allow it. These collaborations are built on trust, clinical integrity, and a shared commitment to advancing care without compromising individual privacy. The updated Pregnancy Insights feature is now available to all Oura members using iOS or Android devices in Australia and New Zealand.
Refinery29
07-08-2025
- Health
- Refinery29
If You're Itchy & Uncomfortable It Might Be Bacterial Vaginosis
If you've ever experienced bacterial vaginosis, otherwise referred to as BV, you'll know how uncomfortable it is. But you'll also know, it's very common and can be easily treated with an antibiotic. Our collective understanding of BV isn't so clear though. While currently it's not classed as a STI by official health bodies, it is linked to sex and research from March this year argues that it fits the definition of being a STI. So in the months or years to come, we might see how we categorise BV change. Prof Catriona Bradshaw, who led on this groundbreaking trial, said: "Our trial has shown that reinfection from partners is causing a lot of the BV recurrence women experience, and provides evidence that BV is in fact an STI. Part of the difficulty in establishing whether BV is sexually transmitted has been that we still don't know precisely which bacteria are the cause, but advances in genomic sequencing are helping us close in on that mystery." For now, the best thing to do is understand how BV presents in the body, and what you can do about it. What is bacterial vaginosis? BV is the most common vaginal infection among women and people with vaginas, according to Dr. Kate McLean, chief medical officer at Evvy. "It's not caused by a single 'bad' bacteria, but rather by a disruption in the vaginal microbiome. This imbalance can lead to a variety of symptoms, but sometimes BV presents without any noticeable signs." McLean says that although BV is often treated like a "single diagnosis", it actually is a broad umbrella term covering a range of issues, which is why BV looks different person to person. Common symptoms include a thin, greyish-white vaginal discharge, a strong "fishy" odor, vaginal itching or irritation, and a burning sensation in the vagina or sometimes during urination. However, up to 84% of people with BV may experience no symptoms at all, McLean adds. BV can have broader health risks for women, including infertility, IVF failure, premature birth (if pregnant), and STI contraction. So if you think you have signs of it, or something just doesn't feel right down there, it's important to go to a doctor. How to treat bacterial vaginosis BV is usually treated with antibiotics. However, recurrence can be common. More than 50% of patients experience BV again within six months, McLean adds. This is why it's important to see your GP. Sometimes, especially in those who are asymptomatic, it can go away on its own. Dr. Christine Curry, Clinical Director for Women's Health at ŌURA, says how long this will take a "quite individualised". She says it's worth considering if it's even wise to wait it out if you are experiencing symptoms. "If the discharge, pain, itching or odor are making it hard to work, exercise or have sex, it may be worth talking to your doctor about a course of antibiotics. A lot of people don't realise that having BV means that the vagina is overall pretty inflamed. All of that inflammation makes getting or giving sexually transmitted infections (STI) more likely." There is a higher chance of getting an infection with chlamydia or gonorrhoea. How to prevent bacterial vaginosis Sexual activity is a huge trigger for BV, including unprotected sex, sex with a new partner, or sex with multiple partners. "This is due to the bacteria in semen (and its higher pH) as well as the bacteria in/on the penis, vagina, or mouth of your partner," McLean says. But it isn't just sex. Smoking, douching, and hormonal changes also play a role in a person's susceptibility of getting it. McLean says to avoid using scented products down there, avoid using period products for longer than advised, to wash sex toys and cover them with a condom during partnered sex, and use condoms and dental dams during sex. What's the difference between BV and a yeast infection? "While both can cause discomfort, BV and yeast infections have different causes and require different treatments," McLean says. "BV is an overgrowth of bacteria and often causes a fishy-smelling discharge. Yeast infections are caused by an overgrowth of Candida fungi and typically result in thick, white discharge itching and irritation." Confusing the two is common, but treating one as the other can worsen symptoms. Will BV one day be classed as a STI? That remains to be seen. One thing preventing this, according to Curry, is that people who aren't sexually active can still get BV. Although, sexual contact is highly linked with BV.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
ŌURA rolls out glucose app linked with Dexcom's CGM Stelo
ŌURA has signalled an entry into the consumer diabetes space, offering a new glucose feature for its ring that uses insights from Dexcom's over-the-counter (OTC) continuous glucose monitor (CGM) Stelo. The integration between the Oura smart ring and Stelo is the culmination of a partnership between ŌURA and Dexcom in November 2024. The diabetes device giant invested $75m into Finland-based ŌURA to enable data flow between their respective products. The Glucose feature on the Oura app will show daily glucose readings set against periods of meals, sleep, stress, and activity. Data will be extracted from Stelo, the first biosensor approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use without a prescription. Oura will also provide insights to users on how glucose interacts with meals, stress, and daily movement. This, the ring developer says, will help patients learn lifestyle habits that help them maintain or achieve optimal glucose levels. 'Personalised guidance and insights are essential for helping people understand how their lifestyle choices affect their body, while also encouraging them to make informed health decisions that can improve their overall quality of life,' said Jake Leach, executive vice-president and chief operating officer at Dexcom. The glucose feature was launched alongside Meals, an AI-powered tool that provides nutrition information from photographs of food. When launched, Meals and Glucose will be available on iOS and Android for US-based Oura users, with plans to launch Meals internationally later this year. The partnership between ŌURA and Dexcom has signalled a new chapter in the consumer health and medical device sector convergence. ŌURA is fast becoming a household name in the wearable technology sector, thanks to its smart ring. The device measures sleep, stress, and cardiovascular data, among others. It spurred the company to nearly double its annual sales in 2024 to reach around $500m, with 2.5 million rings sold worldwide. Dexcom, meanwhile, is a significant player in the diabetes medical device market, occupying around 74% of the CGM market share in the US, according to analysis by GlobalData. Experts have previously said the partnership between the two companies has the potential to improve adherence and behaviour changes, both critical for long-term diabetes management. One of the key financial aspects of the partnership was that both Dexcom and ŌURA would co-market and cross-sell each other's products. That is indeed now a reality, with new and existing Oura members able to purchase Stelo directly from the smart ring developer for $99. The CGM can be bundled with or without a ring, representing a model example of consumer health and medtech product combination, though this is currently only available in the US.
Business Wire
06-05-2025
- Health
- Business Wire
ŌURA Redefines Metabolic Health Tracking with Two New AI-Driven Features: Meals and Glucose
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ŌURA, maker of the world's leading smart ring, today announced a significant expansion of its product experience through the introduction of two new metabolic health features, Meals and Glucose. With these new product capabilities, ŌURA takes a holistic, AI-driven approach to metabolic health by combining meal insights with glucose data from Stelo by Dexcom, the first FDA-cleared glucose biosensor available without a prescription in the United States, directly in the Oura App. These new features empower members with personalized insights and actionable guidance and are a major milestone in ŌURA's journey toward becoming a fully integrated health solution. 'Our product roadmap for this year is built on a robust investment in AI-forward offerings that enable a deeper understanding of the dynamic interplay of key health factors,' said Holly Shelton, chief product officer at ŌURA. 'The addition of nutrition-focused features to our product experience was a natural next step, especially considering how personal diet—and its impact on health—can be. Our bodies all process food in different ways, which is why we're leveraging a unique combination of ŌURA's extensive biometric tracking, generative AI, and Stelo glucose data to address a critical need for more individualized and accessible metabolic health solutions. By integrating nutrition information with activity, stress, and sleep, we're empowering members with a deeper understanding of how their daily habits influence their wellbeing.' Metabolic health plays a critical role in overall vitality, affecting everything from energy levels and mood to long-term disease risk. While conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and obesity are on the rise—with over 800 million people globally living with obesity and nearly half a billion adults living with prediabetes—metabolic dysfunction can impact individuals even in the absence of a formal diagnosis. Poor metabolic health has been linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, kidney disease, and more, and may also contribute to everyday symptoms such as fatigue, brain fog, and decreased physical performance. As a result, supporting metabolic health is essential not only for managing disease but also for optimizing how individuals feel and function in daily life. Proactive management through lifestyle changes can dramatically reduce these risks and symptoms; however, metabolic processes are intricate, and factors like genetics, hormones, and environmental influences can play a role. This complexity can make it difficult to pinpoint the most effective strategies for optimizing metabolic health. Through its new Meals and Glucose features, in addition to its existing feature set spanning sleep, stress, activity, heart health, and more, ŌURA provides a comprehensive and integrated metabolic experience, setting it apart from existing offerings and directly responding to the growing demand for more personalized and holistic metabolic management tools. Meals After months of testing and supportive feedback in Oura Labs, Oura's innovation hub, Meals has transitioned to a permanent feature in the Oura App. By simply taking a picture, members can quickly log their food and see how effectively their meals and snacks fuel them through AI-powered food recognition and comprehensive nutrition analysis. Unlike traditional meal tracking apps that emphasize calorie counts, Meals focuses on macronutrients and is designed to help members better understand how their dietary choices affect their health, empowering them to develop sustainable habits aligned with their goals. When members take or upload photos of their meals in the Oura App, ŌURA analyzes the dish to provide an immediate overview of its contents. Once analyzed, Oura Advisor provides guidance and feedback on nutritional choices so members can learn how to build satiating, nutrient-dense meals to avoid energy slumps and cravings. Meals also includes a Nutrition Breakdown component, which categorizes key nutritional elements like protein, fiber, processing level, added sugars, total fats, and total carbs to provide an informational, at-a-glance summary. Oura's guidance avoids penalizing food choices, instead presenting non-judgmental insights that help members make informed choices based on their health objectives, whether that's improving energy levels, maintaining metabolic health, or enhancing dietary balance. Glucose Through ŌURA's strategic partnership and integration with Dexcom, a global leader in glucose biosensing, Oura members can now purchase a Stelo directly from to receive 24/7 glucose insights and gain a better understanding of their metabolic health. Stelo, a small biosensor worn on the back of the upper arm, leverages Dexcom's most accurate¹ glucose sensing technology and reveals how lifestyle factors can affect glucose. Prior to Stelo's launch in August 2024, glucose biosensors were only available with a prescription, and often involved significant out-of-pocket costs for those without insurance coverage. Since receiving FDA-clearance, Stelo has expanded access to this technology, giving more people valuable information about their health. Members who integrate Stelo with Oura will see their daily glucose readings in the context of their meals, sleep, stress, and activity through a new Glucose feature in the Oura App. 'Personalized guidance and insights are essential for helping people understand how their lifestyle choices affect their body, while also encouraging them to make informed health decisions that can improve their overall quality of life,' said Jake Leach, executive vice president and chief operating officer at Dexcom. 'By integrating with ŌURA, we're bringing the first glucose biosensor and smart ring integration to the market, providing a one-of-a-kind and personalized metabolic health experience that allows users to better understand the link between activity, sleep, stress, nutrition, and their glucose. Through this partnership, we're once again redefining the wearable technology category in the pursuit of empowering people to take control of their health.' Within the Glucose feature in the Oura App, contextual graphs and insights from Oura Advisor help members understand the interplay between meals, stress, daily movement, tags, and glucose so members can learn lifestyle habits that help them maintain or achieve optimal glucose levels. The feature will also provide a new key metric, 'Time Above Range,' which tracks how long glucose stays above the target range and provides an AI-powered analysis of glucose trends for that day. 'Our approach to metabolic health and glucose monitoring is uniquely ŌURA,' said Shyamal Patel, senior vice president of science at ŌURA. 'Meal-induced glucose spikes can vary significantly due to factors like sleep, stress, exercise, and meal timing, which is why it's important to approach metabolic health holistically rather than focusing exclusively on diet. Instead of avoiding specific foods based on one spike, we encourage members to observe patterns, experiment with habits, and discover what helps them maintain better glucose balance over time. With this approach, members can maintain a healthy relationship with food while building long-term habits that support metabolic health.' AI-Powered Health Insights Meals and Glucose join the suite of features supported by ŌURA's AI-powered health coach, Oura Advisor. Oura Advisor is a holistic LLM designed to give Oura members personalized, contextual, and empathetic guidance. In addition to integrating with various features in the Oura App, Oura Advisor can answer general health questions and pull in charts of a member's Sleep, Readiness, or Activity data to guide and support them in making changes that align with their health goals. 'AI has been part of the Oura experience since its inception, powering our core features and driving the personalized experience our members have come to know and love,' said Shelton. 'With the launch of Meals, Glucose, and Oura Advisor—and the strategic integration of AI across all three—we're taking a pivotal step forward in connecting the dots to deliver the most personal and holistic health platform available. This launch is a significant milestone in our goal to continuously innovate and give members agency over their health.' Pricing and Availability At launch, Meals and Glucose will be available on iOS and Android for Oura members based in the United States, with plans to launch Meals internationally later this year. Oura Advisor currently provides the most personalized responses about Oura data related to Sleep, Activity, Readiness, and Resilience. Oura Advisor intelligence will be released across additional Oura features in the coming months. New and existing Oura members will be able to purchase Stelo directly from for $99. Each Stelo order includes two sensors for a wear-time of up to 15 days each. Stelo can be purchased bundled with or without a ring and will be available in the United States only. Stelo is cleared by the FDA for adults not on insulin who are 18 or older * in the United States interested in tracking their glucose, and for people with Type 2 diabetes not using insulin or those with prediabetes. Both Oura Ring and Stelo are eligible for purchase with FSA/HSA funds. To learn more about Oura's metabolic health features, visit here. Stelo Safety Information: For full information on risks and benefits, visit 1 Dexcom, Data on File, 2024. * Adults 18 years or older not on insulin. About ŌURA: ŌURA delivers personalized health data, insights, and daily guidance with Oura Ring, the leading smart ring that helps you live healthier, longer. Guided by a mission of changing the healthcare paradigm from sick care to preventative health, ŌURA makes wellness and recovery a daily practice through sleep, activity, readiness, stress, resilience, women's health, and heart health. Millions of Oura members around the world use Oura Ring as a personalized health companion that meets them where they are. ŌURA is building the most scientifically validated wearable; the lightweight and comfortable Oura Ring is validated against medical gold standards and driven by continuous monitoring of 50+ individual health and wellness biometrics and insights. Thousands of teams, research organizations, and concierge medical practices manage the health of their populations with ŌURA, and its ecosystem includes 800+ partners across women's health, metabolic health, fitness, behavioral health, and more. ŌURA was founded in 2013 in Finland and has offices in Oulu, Helsinki, San Francisco, and San Diego. For more information, please visit and connect with ŌURA on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok. Oura Ring is not a medical device and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, monitor, or prevent medical conditions/illnesses.
