Samsung’s Galaxy Watch5 is now offering improved period tracking features through a new partnership with Natural Cycles. The smartwatch’s temperature sensors will make better predictions, thanks to a new algorithm developed by Natural Cycles, which leverages body temperature and other fertility indicators to make fertility predictions. This feature will be available to smartwatch owners globally, including North America, Europe, and Asia.
Samsung’s Health app, which powers the Cycle Tracking feature, will use the data collected by the smartwatch to provide advanced period-tracking features to users. The data is encrypted and stored on the device, ensuring privacy and security.
Natural Cycles’ Fertility Technology
The Natural Cycles app has helped millions of women take control of their fertility, and this partnership will allow Samsung to offer temperature-based cycle tracking through a smartwatch for the first time. The new skin temperature-based cycle tracking capabilities will come to the Samsung Health app on the Galaxy Watch5 and Watch5 Pro in the second quarter, with support in 32 markets, including the U.S., the U.K., and Europe.
According to Dr. Raoul Scherwitzl, co-founder and co-CEO of Natural Cycles, this partnership will allow Samsung to leverage Natural Cycles’ fertility technology and offer temperature-based cycle tracking to its users.
Manual Period Tracking vs Temperature Tracking
Samsung had been late to market in launching its period tracking feature, adding it to its Health app in 2020, long after other competitors such as Apple, Fitbit, Garmin, and third-party apps. The manual period tracking method is reliant on historical data to make predictions, which can only go so far. With the ability to track temperature changes, Samsung’s period tracking accuracy is expected to improve.
Apple’s Temperature Tracking Caution
Apple introduced its temperature tracking feature on the Apple Watch Series 8, but cautions its customers that the feature should not be used as birth control or to diagnose health conditions. Apple points out that overnight temperature tracking can be impacted by other factors, like the sleep environment, and that body temperature naturally fluctuates when sleeping. Instead, Apple says temperature tracking is used to provide improved period predictions and retrospective ovulation estimates only.
Samsung doesn’t share these cautions in its own announcement, but it is likely that a doctor would suggest that this method should not be used to determine fertility on its own. However, it could be useful in combination with other methods, including consistent AM basal temperature readings using a thermometer, other ovulation tests, and manually entered period tracker data.
Partnerships to Boost Health App Capabilities
Samsung is attempting to keep up with a market where Apple has been leading, but instead of creating an algorithm in-house, it has chosen to bring in a partner to compete. This is not the first time Samsung has used a partnership to boost its Health app capabilities, previously announcing a deal with Calm to upgrade the app’s Mindfulness section with content.
Conclusion
Samsung’s Galaxy Watch5 is now offering advanced period tracking features, thanks to its partnership with Natural Cycles. The new skin temperature-based cycle tracking capabilities will come to the Samsung Health app on the Galaxy Watch5 and Watch5 Pro in the second quarter, with support in 32 markets globally. This partnership allows Samsung to leverage Natural Cycles’ fertility technology and offer temperature-based cycle tracking to its users, improving accuracy in period tracking compared to manual period tracking methods.
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