Should you trust the new Apple Watch Series 8 to track your ovulation?

The new Apple Watch Series 8 is promising to give users insights into their menstrual cycle to help them track ovulation.  

Your body temperature changes depending on the phase of your menstrual cycle. Known as the basal body temperature, right before ovulation the temperature is usually at the lowest point. After ovulation, it rises slightly.

Using two sensors on the device, the built-in menstrual cycle tracking app will check users’ temperature at the wrist every five seconds overnight helping them monitor ovulation.

Apple has announced that watchOS 9 and iOS 16 will also include changes to the cycle tracking app that flag any abnormalities in a user’s menstrual cycle based on the data they input about their periods.

Such deviations could be a signal of health conditions like fibroids or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), said Sumbul Desai, vice president of health at Apple, during the launch event.

“If you’re trying to conceive, knowing if and when you ovulated can inform your family planning with your healthcare provider.”

The tech giant announced its new features just months after women’s health apps came under scrutiny following data protection concerns.

The US supreme court’s decision to end the constitutional right to abortion along with reports revealing developers’ data collection practices left women worried that soon their data could be used against them.