ŌURA, the company behind the Oura Ring smart wearable, has announced a new research collaboration with Scripps Research Digital Trials Center focused on analyzing biobehavioral changes during pregnancy. Alongside this research initiative, the company has also introduced an update to its Readiness Score algorithm that now accounts for menstrual cycle-related physiological changes.
The pregnancy study aims to retrospectively analyze pregnancies that occurred in the last three years, investigating physiological changes associated with various aspects of pregnancy and pregnancy-related complications. According to the company, this research could advance understanding of potential warning signs for conditions such as postpartum depression, miscarriage risk, or preterm labor.
“Scientific discovery is a key pillar of our work at ŌURA,” said Shyamal Patel, senior vice president of science at ŌURA. “It enables us to translate cutting-edge research into meaningful health insights and guidance that benefit both our members and the broader scientific community. Updating our Readiness Score to consider women’s cycles is the perfect example of this, and our collaboration with Scripps Research Digital Trials Center represents another important step toward fulfilling our mission. This study will significantly contribute to improving maternal health outcomes and deepen our understanding of the short- and long-term impacts of pregnancy on a mother’s health.”
The research initiative plans to recruit 10,000 participants through the Oura App who have experienced pregnancy while wearing the Oura Ring. Participants will contribute data through their rings, surveys, and optional integration of electronic health records. The study will include all pregnancy outcomes, allowing for comprehensive insights into various experiences and challenges during pregnancy.
Ed Ramos, co-founder of the Scripps Research Digital Trials Center and principal investigator of the study, emphasized the potential impact of wearable technology on maternal health research: “Wearable technologies have the potential to transform our knowledge of maternal health through continuous, real-world insights into the physiological changes that occur during pregnancy. Partnering with Oura on this initiative represents a crucial step in expanding the scope of digital health research to bridge critical gaps in pregnancy health research—especially for populations historically underrepresented in clinical studies.”
In addition to the pregnancy study, ŌURA has updated its Readiness Score algorithm to incorporate cycle-related hormonal fluctuations, providing what the company describes as a more accurate assessment of daily well-being for users who menstruate. With this update, 35 percent of cycling members will see no impact on their Readiness Score during their luteal phase—the phase when many women experience increased heart rate and temperature and decreased heart rate variability, which can be interpreted as signs of strain in non-cycling individuals.
For members who do experience an impact, only three percent of days will show a lower Readiness Score, representing an 81 percent decrease in days that members see their cycle impact their Readiness Scores.
Holly Shelton, chief product officer at Oura, explained the significance of this update: “The menstrual cycle has a profound impact on women’s health and overall well-being, which is why we’re dedicated to ensuring our app features accurately reflect the latest scientific understanding of the physiological changes women experience. By grounding our product in rigorous research, we’re empowering women to confidently navigate their unique cycles with the most accurate and personalized information possible.”
The Scripps collaboration is the latest in ŌURA’s efforts to support women’s health research. The company is also supporting an ongoing study led by Stanford University School of Medicine Professors Engelhardt and Snyder that uses Oura Rings to better understand the physiology of menstrual cycles in underrepresented groups, titled “Study on Typically Ignored Groups of Menstruating Adults” (STIGMA).
