Interpreting Wearable Data for Women’s Health: BBT, RHR, HRV, SpO2, and More

Our analysis of over 20 studies illustrates how female health apps can provide timely and precise advice across various life stages, including reproductive health, fertility and ovulation tracking, pregnancy monitoring, menopause management, and more. Additionally, we’ve explored ways to effectively visualize this data.

By leveraging wearable data to account for each woman’s unique health journey, apps have the opportunity to deepen user engagement, differentiate themselves in the market, and ultimately enhance women’s health outcomes through informed, personalized care.

Personalization Opportunities

Fertility and Ovulation Tracking: Use BBT, RHR, and HRV data to predict ovulation, assist with fertility planning, and monitor reproductive health.

• Basal Body Temperature (BBT):
  BBT is an important metric for ovulation tracking. Prior to ovulation, temperatures typically range between 97.0°F and 97.5°F (36.1°C–36.4°C). Around ovulation, a slight temperature drop may occur, followed by a noticeable rise due to progesterone release. This post-ovulation temperature shift can confirm that ovulation has occurred.
• Resting Heart Rate (RHR):
  Studies show that RHR tends to increase during the ovulatory phase of the menstrual cycle, rising by approximately 1.6% from the follicular to luteal phases. Tracking these changes can improve the accuracy of ovulation predictions, supporting fertility planning.
• Heart Rate Variability (HRV):
  HRV can fluctuate during different phases of the menstrual cycle, especially during ovulation and menstruation. A recent study indicates that high-frequency HRV decreases notably around ovulation compared to other phases, indicating a physiological response to hormonal changes Apps can use HRV to provide personalized health insights related to stress levels, recovery, and fertility cycles.

Pregnancy Monitoring: Track key metrics like heart rate, SpO2, and respiratory rate during pregnancy, offering early insights into potential complications.

• Heart rate:
  A study involving 4,279 pregnant women found that median heart rates progressively increased from 82 bpm at 12 weeks to a maximum of 91 bpm around 34 weeks of gestation. This increase is crucial for monitoring overall health and detecting abnormalities that may signal complications.
• Respiratory Rate:
  That subtle changes in respiration occur during pregnancy. The median respiratory rate at 12 weeks was recorded as 15 breaths per minute, remaining stable throughout gestation. Monitoring respiratory rates can help identify trends and flag any abnormalities that may require medical attention, as respiratory changes can signal complications.
• Blood Oxygen Levels (SpO2):
  Monitoring SpO2 levels is crucial during pregnancy to ensure adequate oxygenation for both the mother and fetus. The same study noted a decrease in SpO2 from a median of 98% at 12 weeks to 97% at 40 weeks. This decline underscores the importance of tracking blood oxygen levels to detect potential hypoxia or other issues early in pregnancy

Menopause Management: As HRV and sleep patterns change during menopause, apps can provide tips for symptom management, like improving sleep or stress reduction techniques.

• Heart Rate Variability (HRV):
  A recent research has shown that lower HRV in postmenopausal women is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Postmenopausal women exhibit significantly lower HRV parameters during sleep compared to younger women, indicating that tracking HRV can offer insights into cardiovascular health and stress levels during menopause.
• Sleep Quality and Duration:
  Sleep disturbances are common among menopausal women, with studies indicating that 40-60% report issues such as nighttime awakenings. The likelihood of experiencing sleep disturbances increases during the menopausal transition, affecting overall quality of life. Apps can utilize sleep data to recommend lifestyle adjustments aimed at improving sleep hygiene during this phase.

Lifestyle Recommendations: Apps can offer personalized recommendations for exercise, sleep, and nutrition based on activity levels and sleep quality throughout the menstrual cycle stages.

• Sleep Quality and Duration:
  Research shows that poor sleep is often linked to menstrual health problems like irregular cycles and more severe premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Apps using sleep data can suggest changes to improve overall sleep quality and reduce cycle-related symptoms.
• Activity Levels:
  Monitoring physical activity during the menstrual cycle can help women optimize their workouts, avoiding overexertion during menstruation or high-intensity training during PMS. Apps can offer tailored exercise plans based on hormonal fluctuations, ensuring better energy management and recovery.  
• Stress Levels:
  Monitoring stress is essential as it can affect hormonal balance and menstrual regularity. Wearables that track HRV, heart rate, and sleep quality provide insights into stress levels. Apps can then recommend stress-reducing activities, such as mindfulness exercises and meditation, tailored to various phases of the menstrual cycle or life stages like pregnancy and menopause.

Best Wearables for Women’s Health

Oura, Whoop, Garmin, Polar, Biostrap: These wearables are highly recommended for tracking multiple metrics like BBT, RHR, HRV, SpO2, respiratory rate, and sleep quality, making them suitable for comprehensive fertility, pregnancy, and menopause management.

Apple HealthKit, Fitbit, Samsung Health: Also offer robust support for tracking key metrics but may not cover as many specific use cases for women’s health as Oura and Whoop.

Conclusion

Recognizing the individuality of each female body sets your app apart in a crowded market of health tracking applications. Rather than merely tracking menstrual cycles, focus on delivering personalized experiences that elevate women’s health management to a new level. By integrating with Spike, you can easily access valuable data collected from over 500 devices, providing a comprehensive array of insights allowing for real-time, data-driven guidance that enhances women’s reproductive health. We hope this article has clarified how these insights can enhance the development of female health apps.

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