Many omen seeking to optimize their chances of conceiving are well-acquainted with the idea of monitoring their core body temperature.Some of those solutions can be very costly. Underarm sensors can also be affected by ambient temperature and other external factors, say the makers of YONO, an in-ear thermometer that calculates core body temperature for pregnancy planning.
The patent-pending YONO measures and records core body temperature while sleeping –- particularly basal body temperature, the body’s lowest temperature, which usually happens while sleeping in the early morning hours. Because YONO’s sensor gets placed inside either ear, it’s not impacted by external factors that could affect the temperature, its makers say. The data synchs with the user’s Android or iOS mobile device in the morning.
YONO, which also includes a base station, will start shipping in October, initially just for leasing at the cost of $60 for four months. The system will later lease at retail for $20 a month. YONO will also start shipping for sale in November at early bird pricing that starts at $99 — $50 less than its planned retail price. Its makers set a Kickstarter goal of raising $30,000 by Sept. 17.
There are already sensors on the market that help women monitor their fertility while trying to get pregnant. Examples include OvaCue Mobile, a monitor connecting to iOS devices that measures changes in the user’s electrolyte levels found in their saliva using a sensor that goes on the tongue. Other devices, including DuoFertility, use underarm sensors.
YONO may be a superior option for measuring body temperature and the service pricing may not be as much ofa barrier as it ofteniven that some women may use it for only a few months. On the other hand, it is likely only a matter of time before the cost of such a product comes down to the point where it’s an affordable outright purchase.