iOS and watchOS devices already support menstrual cycle tracking through the Health app for women to get a better picture of their health. Now, the new Apple Watch Series 8, SE 2, and Ultra have taken menstrual cycle tracking to the next level with advanced wrist temperature sensing technology.
Several women’s health issues are related to menstrual cycles like changes in hormones, and heavy or irregular periods, which can also impact ovulation and lead to infertility. Therefore, the new wrist temperature sensing technology is a big leap in women’s health.
The menstrual cycle is an important marker of health, and many physicians consider it a vital sign. Apple Watch Series 8 features innovative new temperature-sensing capabilities that give women further insights into their health, designed with the same privacy protections as with all other health data.
Apple Watch Series 8 wrist temperature sensors provide ovulation estimates for fertility planning
As Nighttime wrist temperature is a good indicator of overall body temperature, the latest Apple Watch models feature a two-sensor design; one sensor under the display and the other on the back, nearest the skin to reduce bias from the outside environment for accurate body temperature readings.
Integrated with the Health app, the new sensors record wrist temperature every five seconds during sleep to measure changes in temperature as small as 0.1° C and store data in the Health app which also shows nightly shifts in users’ baseline temperature caused by illness, exercise, or jet lag.
The new wrist temperature sensing capabilities provide ovulation estimates to help with family planning.
Utilizing the new temperature-sensing capabilities in Apple Watch Series 8, users can receive retrospective ovulation estimates. Knowing when ovulation has occurred can be helpful for family planning, and Apple Watch Series 8 makes it easy and convenient by providing these estimates in the Health app. Temperature sensing also enables improved period predictions. – Apple
Furthermore, Cycle tracking will notify users of deviations in their logged cycle history like irregular, infrequent, or prolonged periods, and persistent spotting, which can be symptoms of underlying health conditions on iOS 16 and watchOS 9 updates.
However, users must keep in mind that the new temperature-sensing feature is not a medical device and is not intended for use in medical diagnosis, treatment, or any other medical purpose. And the Cycle Tracking app is meant to be used as a form of birth control and data from the app should not be used to diagnose a health condition.
Apple Watch Series 8, SE, and Ultra with new wrist temperature sensing tech are available for pre-order at Apple.com. Apple Watch Series 8 and SE will be available and Apple Watch Ultra beginning Friday, September 23.
