"You may have seen chunky gold or silver rings popping up on the fingers of everyone you know or people you see on social media recently. If you’ve been wondering what they are, we’re here with the answer. They’re Oura rings, the latest fitness wearable craze that seems to get more popular by the day. So, are they actually worth their $300-$500 price tag? Three of our editors set out to test them for four months so that we could report back to you with an incredibly in-depth Oura ring review.
As consumers, we’ve seen review after review of the Oura ring as a fitness tracker. But here at The Everymom, we were more curious about the features that were designed specifically for women. With Cycle Insights, Pregnancy Insights, and Natural Cycles (the first FDA-approved birth control app) integration to offer, it seemed to us that the Oura ring could be more than just your average health tracker.
That’s why we decided to test the Oura ring with a specific focus on these features. One editor would hone in on Cycle Insights for family planning, one would test Natural Cycles integration, and one pregnant editor would concentrate on Pregnancy Insights. After four months of testing, we’re sharing our personal experiences with each of these things. Keep scrolling for a review of the Oura ring and its women’s health features.
Dr. Neta Gotlieb
Oura’s resident women’s health expert, Dr. Neta Gotlieb is a Product Manager and Clinical Research Scientist who’s driven by a desire to support women with intuitive, useful features and easy-to-understand data and insights. At Oura, Dr. Gotlieb has led the teams who developed innovative women’s health features, such as Cycle Insights and Pregnancy Insights.
What is an Oura ring?
An Oura ring is a first-of-its-kind smart ring, designed to provide you with a holistic picture of your health. As you wear it, it continuously collects data on more than 20 biometrics, including heart rate, body temperature, blood oxygen levels, and more. According to Dr. Neta Gotlieb, a clinical research scientist at Oura, “Oura offers a suite of health features, including Daytime Stress, Resilience, Cardiovascular Age, and Cardio Capacity to help all members manage different aspects of their health that contribute to overall wellness and longevity.”
An Oura ring aims to provide you with the most personalized health data possible. “With each woman comes a unique version of ‘normal.’ Rather than base your averages on impersonal population benchmarks—like ‘hit 10,000 steps’ or ‘the menstrual cycle lasts 28 days’—Oura gets to know you and provides personalized baselines and insights. Whether your sleep took a hit after a night out or you’re prioritizing balance in your wellness routine, Oura helps you reach your goals by delivering the best 360-degree view of your health,” says Dr. Gotlieb.
How can women use an Oura ring to better understand their health?
The Oura app offers both Cycle Insights and Pregnancy Insights, which allow women to better understand their reproductive health. “Women’s health research continues to be a significant area of investment at Oura to empower every woman with the body literacy they need to care for themselves and understand their health,” says Dr. Gotlieb.
Cycle Insights tracks your monthly cycle and highlights whether you’re in your follicular or luteal phase so that you can learn more about how your body changes within each phase, according to Dr. Gotlieb. “Insights can be used to help members adjust their lifestyle choices, including sleep, nutrition, and activity, to align with their physical and mental needs during every cycle phase,” she says.
With Pregnancy Insights, “Oura provides members with a view of their pregnancy journey, including gestational age, weekly pregnancy insights, and educational cards, to understand sleep and vitals throughout pregnancy,” says Dr. Gotlieb. “As the body adapts to accommodate a growing baby, sleep patterns and health markers change, too.”
Oura Ring Cycle Tracking Review
Why did you become interested in trying the Oura ring?
I’ve had an Apple Watch for several years and loved using it to track my daily steps and weekly workouts, as well as receive text, phone, email, and calendar notifications when I’m away from my phone. But, I never liked sleeping with my Apple Watch on (it’s just too bulky!). So, I was missing out on sleep insights, which have always interested me. I was additionally very excited about Oura’s cycle tracking features. Plus, the Oura ring is very unassuming and pretty for being a fitness tracker. I liked the idea of having something dressier to wear during occasions when I previously always took my Apple Watch off.
What has your experience been like using the Oura ring for its cycle insights features?
After being on birth control for about 15 years, I stopped taking oral contraceptives about a year ago with the hope of learning more about my cycle ahead of trying to conceive. I’m embarrassed to admit that I really didn’t know a lot about the different phases of the menstrual cycle. I had a lot to learn in terms of tracking my cycle for fertility and overall health. Thankfully, the Oura ring helped me do just that in a really easy-to-understand format with the Oura app. After tracking my cycle in the app for 60 days, Oura was able to predict when my period would arrive each month (so helpful!), track my typical cycle length, and tell me what phase of my cycle I was in on a given day.
When it comes to tracking my cycle for fertility, however, the Oura ring’s most valuable feature was its ability to take my basal body temperature each morning. Before I started wearing the Oura ring, I had been using ovulation strips and taking my temperature orally each day. But, tracking my BBT in this way left lots of room for error and led to inconsistent data month-over-month. Now, I simply wear my Oura ring overnight (which I’d do anyway to track my sleep data). It automatically takes my temperature each morning and tracks its patterns over time.
“With the Oura app, I can easily see when my temperature increases during my follicular phase—which indicates ovulation occurred—and plan my efforts to conceive accordingly. I can’t express how much of a game-changer the Oura ring has become when it comes to family planning and allowing me to easily learn more about my menstrual cycle.”
With the Oura app, I can easily see when my temperature increases during my follicular phase—which indicates ovulation occurred—and plan my efforts to conceive accordingly. I can’t express how much of a game-changer the Oura ring has become when it comes to family planning and allowing me to easily learn more about my menstrual cycle. These features really help the Oura stand out compared to other fitness trackers. I’d highly recommend it to any woman who’d like to learn more about cycle tracking and fertility.
What has your overall experience been like while wearing it?
Just like any new piece of jewelry, it took me a little while to get used to wearing the Oura ring every day, and especially overnight. The Oura sizing kit was so helpful to test out the best fit for my ring before it arrived. I started by wearing the ring on my pointer finger as it felt most comfortable there, but I sometimes wear it on my middle finger, too. And I don’t notice a difference in the data collection when I switch its placement. In the beginning, the ring felt bulky and definitely bigger than other rings I typically wear, but I got used to the size quickly. Now, I hardly notice I’m wearing it and actually get so many compliments on it.
The Oura ring comes in several styles and color options, which I appreciate. I selected the gold and love that it fits in seamlessly with my other everyday jewelry. I quickly got used to wearing it overnight, too, which was a relief, considering I usually hate wearing any jewelry while sleeping. Considering the amount of data it collects, this little ring is an amazing fitness accessory that doesn’t look like a typical tracker, which I love.
How does it compare to other fitness trackers you’ve tried?
I’ll admit that I didn’t stop wearing my Apple Watch immediately after I got the Oura ring. I was using the two trackers for totally different things: the Apple Watch for workouts and phone notifications and the Oura ring for sleep data and cycle tracking. When it comes to tracking and logging daily workouts and activities, though, the Oura ring quickly had an edge over my Apple Watch. Why? Because the Oura Ring didn’t require me to remember to set a workout (it does it automatically) and additionally tracked activities like housework, which was so cool!
Any time I was picking up my kitchen, folding laundry, or vacuuming, the Oura ring tracked those movements and counted them toward my daily activity goal—a feature I came to really appreciate. Over time, Oura’s automatic (and pretty spot on, to be honest) tracking of my workouts and activities allowed me to stop wearing my Apple Watch and not look back.
I also love how detailed the Oura ring’s sleep insights are. Seeing details like total time asleep, total time in bed, my sleep efficiency score, overnight resting heart rate, breathing regularity, average oxygen saturation, and movement throughout the night were all so fascinating to read night after night. And those data points don’t even include the bulk of what my daily sleep score was calculated from, like sleep efficiency, restfulness, and REM versus deep sleep.
“This may seem like so much information and, in a way, it is. But once I understood what all of these different metrics meant and how they all contributed to a good night’s sleep (or not), I was hooked on this data.“
This may seem like so much information and, in a way, it is. But once I understood what all of these different metrics meant and how they all contributed to a good night’s sleep (or not), I was hooked on this data. It’s so interesting to see how long it takes me to fall asleep on certain nights or how different daily activities impacted my sleep that night. I also love the Oura app’s Body Clock feature that tracks my chronotype and whether the midpoint of my sleep schedule is aligned with my personal body clock. If not, it gives me suggestions on how I can achieve that. How cool is that?!
In addition to everything I’ve already mentioned, I think Oura’s daily stress summary, heart rate tracker, readiness score, and resilience tracker are all really cool (and helpful!) data points. Overall, the level of metrics and detail that the Oura ring offers users makes this device stand out amongst other similar trackers on the market. It really is such a cool thing to have and wear.
What did you like and dislike about it?
I’ve already mentioned so many of the features that I’m obsessed with—and truly mean it! The only thing about the Oura ring that I slightly dislike is a few quirks with the sleep tracking that seem kind of inevitable. For example, I sometimes wind down at night by reading or scrolling on my phone in bed before actually going to sleep. The Oura ring, understandably, doesn’t realize that I’m still awake during this timeframe and not actively trying to fall asleep. As a result, sometimes this may then negatively impact my sleep score.
I haven’t had anything similar happen with the activity tracking, though, where the ring incorrectly tracks the length of workouts, which is super helpful. Overall, I think the Oura does a great job of tracking my data, which is pretty amazing given its tiny package.
Final thoughts
It’s really easy for me to sing the many praises of the Oura ring because, after wearing it for a few months, I totally get the hype. As I’ve said, I think the level of data tracking is really impressive and the app is really easy to navigate despite the high amount of information it provides each day. The Oura ring is not inexpensive, especially compared to other fitness trackers that offer similar features and data. And you have to consider that the app requires an additional cost of $5.99 per month to access the full breadth of your personal data.
It’s an investment for sure, but the ring’s sleek and unassuming look—especially compared to other fitness trackers—makes the Oura extra-special and worth the money, in my opinion. If you’re willing to make the investment, I highly recommend the Oura ring. Especially for women looking for an easy way to track and learn more about the menstrual cycle, fertility, and natural family planning.
Oura Ring Pregnancy Insights Review
Why did you become interested in trying the Oura ring?
I’ve always been an activity tracker girl. I distinctly remember having a clip-on FitBit wayyy back in the day when “10,000 steps a day” had just become a thing. I really try to prioritize my health through exercise, diet, and sleep. So, I was excited to be able to track these priorities in even more detail during my pregnancy. I was also just curious how pregnancy would affect my overall wellness and recovery. How long into pregnancy could I maintain the same level of fitness? How would my sleep cycles change as my bump got bigger (and my bladder got smaller)? Could being more aware of my stress levels throughout the day help me prioritize relaxation in the final weeks of pregnancy?
What has your experience been like using the Oura ring for its pregnancy insights features?
I really enjoy using the Oura ring as an overall experience. I started wearing the ring at 32 weeks pregnant, so I was already well into my third trimester. The pregnancy insights were really interesting, and I loved getting a sneak peek into what was happening in my body and what to expect over the next few months. It’s always comforting to know that what you’re experiencing is “normal,” especially during pregnancy. Plus, it’s always fun to jump on the app and see how many days left until we meet our little one! I would have loved to have worn the ring throughout the full pregnancy so I could really see the changes happening in real time. I am very excited to continue wearing it into the postpartum phase (although I’m already nervous to see the drop in my sleep score…)!
“The pregnancy insights were really interesting, and I loved getting a sneak peek into what was happening in my body and what to expect over the next few months. It’s always comforting to know that what you’re experiencing is ‘normal,’ especially during pregnancy.”
What has your overall experience been like while wearing it?
I’ll be honest: I was nervous at first to wear something 24/7, especially while sleeping. I don’t typically sleep in any jewelry, so I was worried about it feeling bulky or uncomfortable at night. However, I can happily report that I barely noticed it at all while sleeping. I also really appreciate the battery life. I just charge it for 20-30 minutes every few days, and it’s always good to go.
One note for other pregnant moms who are considering trying it: The swelling is real, especially towards the end of the third trimester. I was originally wearing it on my right index finger, but have since had to switch to my left hand because it got a liiiiittle too tight on my right. I also like opening the app throughout the day to check on my stress and activity levels and adjust my plans for the rest of the day if necessary. If things look good, I may take a longer walk in the afternoon. If my sleep score is low and my stress levels are high, I may opt for an afternoon nap instead.
How does it compare to other fitness trackers you’ve tried?
I have been a loyal Apple Watch user for the last several years and, transparently, have continued to wear my watch even with the Oura ring. Because I don’t sleep in my watch (way too bulky for me!), I do feel like I get a more complete picture of my well-being from the Oura ring. However, I do prefer the Apple Watch for working out. I have to take off the ring for any weight-lifting exercises, and it has been easier for me to select different types of workouts on my watch.
“My Apple Watch and sport band can really take a cute outfit from 100 to 0 QUICK, but I love that the Oura ring just blends in with the rest of my accessories.“
On the plus side, the Oura ring syncs the activity from my watch, so I still get credit for my workouts in the Oura app, even if I wasn’t wearing the ring during the activity. The other thing I appreciate about the Oura ring—which I think is probably a major reason why so many women make the switch—is how much more subtle it is to wear throughout the day. My Apple Watch and sport band can really take a cute outfit from 100 to 0 QUICK, but I love that the Oura ring just blends in with the rest of my accessories.
How does Natural Cycles work with Oura ring?
“In 2018, the FDA cleared Natural Cycles to become the first contraceptive app, making birth control history,” according to Dr. Neta Gotlieb. “With the integration with Oura Ring, Natural Cycles takes birth control one step further, providing women with an innovative and effortless experience to plan or prevent pregnancy without hormones.”
Using an Oura ring with Natural Cycles means that you do not need to physically take your temperature with a thermometer every day. “The partnership between Natural Cycles and Oura eliminates friction in the non-hormonal birth control process by providing a seamless alternative to measuring body temperature manually,” says Dr. Gotlieb. “It works by analyzing body temperature and other key fertility indicators to determine your daily fertility status to plan or prevent pregnancy naturally.”
Oura Ring with Natural Cycles Review
Why did you become interested in trying the Oura ring?
I have always been interested in tracking my workouts and daily activity. As a prior Apple Watch and Fitbit user (more on that later), I’ve tried a lot of different things to get a better picture of my overall health. When I first learned about the Oura ring, four major things stood out to me: 1) the sleek, stylish design; 2) the fact that it was just a ring versus something to wear on your wrist; 3) the sleep tracking features, and 4) the ability to link it with Natural Cycles and not have to worry about manually taking my temperature every morning.
What has your experience been like using the Oura ring with Natural Cycles integration?
It’s important to know that using an Oura ring with Natural Cycles is a big investment. In addition to the purchase of the ring and your monthly Oura membership, Natural Cycles costs $120 billed annually or $14.99 billed monthly. For me, it felt worth it to invest in my health, as this is also my chosen birth control method.
I have now been using my Oura ring with Natural Cycles for four full cycles, and I have nothing but great things to say about it so far. The Natural Cycles app is incredibly easy to use, and adding in the Oura ring to automatically track your temperature means that you really don’t have to do anything (other than confirming the dates of your period in the app). After you sync your Oura data in the morning, it automatically syncs to the Natural Cycles app. Then, you can see your status for the day. When using it for birth control (versus pregnancy planning), this means red for “use protection” or green for “not fertile.” You can also track additional data in the app, such as your period and its symptoms, sexual activity, mood, and more.
When using an Oura ring with Natural Cycles, you do have to be extra careful about making sure your ring is charged and you wear it every night, or you risk losing out on data that can then affect your Natural Cycles algorithm. However, much like if you miss a day of a hormonal birth control pill, if this happens, Natural Cycles will give you a red status to ensure that you are using a backup form of contraception.
“I have always wanted to take [cycle tracking] to the next level with Natural Cycles, but I knew that consistently taking my temperature with a thermometer every morning would be a struggle. The Oura ring has allowed me to do this without even thinking about it and makes me feel like I have much more control over and a better understanding of my body.”
Prior to Natural Cycles, I was cycle tracking in a basic period tracking app, which really has no way of knowing exactly when you’re ovulating. I have always wanted to take it to the next level with Natural Cycles, but I knew that consistently taking my temperature with a thermometer every morning would be a struggle. The Oura ring has allowed me to do this without even thinking about it and makes me feel like I have much more control over and a better understanding of my body.
What has your overall experience been like while wearing it?
I have truly loved my experience with the Oura ring, and I don’t see myself going back to any other tracker or birth control methods anytime soon. I genuinely enjoy opening up the app to check my sleep and readiness scores each morning. It’s also been amazing to have a better understanding of my overall health and how certain things affect my body’s readiness and resilience. For example, if my sleep schedule gets off kilter on a weekend, I can use the guidance of the app to adapt the next day for recovery and work toward getting back on track.
Similarly to Meagan, I was slightly worried about having to wear a piece of jewelry all the time, especially to bed. Historically, I’ve had to take all of my jewelry off before going to sleep, so I wasn’t sure how it would feel. But I got used to it incredibly quickly. Plus, the ring is so light that you don’t really feel like you’re wearing anything at all. With the ring sizing kit, you can make sure you have the most comfortable fit before making the commitment.
Of course, the biggest benefit for me has been leveling up the cycle tracking that I was already doing. I have more peace of mind knowing that there is science behind the data I have and that it will just continue to get better with time. As someone who didn’t have great experiences on a few different hormonal birth control methods, I really appreciate that this is an option for me.
“As someone who didn’t have great experiences on a few different hormonal birth control methods, I really appreciate that this is an option for me.”
How does it compare to other fitness trackers you’ve tried?
Like both Julia and Meagan, I was an Apple Watch user for years. And prior to that, I had a few different Fitbit models throughout my college years. However, I’m someone who can get overstimulated by certain sensory triggers, so I didn’t love constantly wearing something on my wrist. I also couldn’t stand it buzzing and did not need to be even more dialed into my phone, so I always had all of the notifications silenced. Which, looking back, kind of defeats the purpose of having an Apple Watch at all. And there was just no chance I was wearing it to bed, so I never got any sleep data from it.
I have absolutely loved the difference in physically wearing an Oura ring compared to wearing a tracker on my wrist. It is very comfortable and inconspicuous, and I got used to wearing it very quickly. There is also so much more data to explore in the Oura app. I’ve never had a better understanding of my sleep quality, my cycle, my stress levels, and my readiness for the day. I appreciate the automatic activity tracking and being able to log a workout afterward if it was not automatically detected.
However, I can see why people who are very into physical fitness might like other trackers’ workout-tracking features more. The data you get from Oura for a workout is sufficient, but I do think the Apple Watch has a leg up when it comes to providing you with more detail—especially for logging runs and walks.
Final thoughts
I’d recommend the Oura ring to anyone who is interested in learning more about your overall well-being or looking for something easier (and more stylish!) to wear than your traditional fitness trackers. But even more than that, I can’t recommend looking into the Oura ring with Natural Cycles enough for those who have had challenges with hormonal birth control. My personal experience with it has been amazing, but, of course, always talk to your doctor before making any major changes when it comes to your health.
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Julia Poulter, Senior Managing Editor
With more than 10 years of editorial experience, Julia is passionate about bringing motherhood stories to life and providing moms with interesting and informative parenting content. Prior to joining The Everygirl Media Group in 2019, she served as Executive Editor at Closer Weekly. As The Everymom’s Senior Managing Editor, Julia helps manage the brand’s editorial calendar and content strategy.
Meagan McCormick, Director of Marketing
Meagan brings 10+ years of experience in social media, public relations, and marketing to The Everygirl Media Group. After starting her career in the wedding industry and then moving into interiors, Meagan brings a balance of creativity and visual aesthetics to the strategic world of marketing. As the Director of Marketing for both The Everygirl and The Everymom, Meagan oversees all things social media, email, and video for internal projects and various brand collaborations.
Jessica Welsh, Commerce Editor
As Commerce Editor, Jessica oversees and edits all shopping content on The Everymom—including everything from mom fashion to product reviews. She also writes in-depth styling stories, trend reports, capsule wardrobes, gift guides, and more. She has created editorial content for major brands such as Nordstrom, Old Navy, and Kohl’s, and was previously a regular contributor to The Everygirl. Jessica believes that fashion should be accessible to everyone, so she is very determined to scour the internet for the best looks for less and affordable finds.