Mira Fertility Tracker Review: The Best Tracker For PCOS?

---

I think you will agree with me when I say, the inability to predict when you are ovulating with PCOS can be frustrating. Irregular cycles are a symptom some women with PCOS suffer from and as someone who has suffered from them, I understand how annoying it can be! It can make conceiving and tracking your cycles more difficult because you are not ovulating at roughly the same time every month.

The inability to predict when I was ovulating or when my period was due made me feel helpless and broken because my body wasn’t working ‘normally’, as it should be. I thought that I would forever live my life guessing my fertile and infertile days.

Ovulation Predictor Kits Predict Your Fertile Window

So, as you may know, Ovulation Predictor Kits (OPKs) are one of the most popular and accurate ways to predict ovulation. They do this by measuring the amount of Luteinizing Hormone (LH) in your urine. During a menstrual cycle, a sudden increase of LH triggers the release of an egg from the ovary. This is defined as ovulation.

Now, it is important to stress here that OPKs do not tell you that you are ovulating. They detect the surge in your LH which occurs roughly 24-48 hours before ovulation. OPK strips typically show two lines or a smiley face to indicate you are fertile. However, they are often inaccurate and not very useful for women who suffer from PCOS and irregular cycles.

Let me explain why.

Why OPKs are Useless for PCOS

Some women with PCOS suffer from irregular cycles. So because of this, you don’t know what days you should be testing to find out your fertile days. The textbook date for when the ‘average’ woman should ovulate is day 14. But this isn’t the case for all women. We are all different.

Not only this, some PCOS women have constantly high LH levels that can be as much three times the normal range. So this means that OPKs may give PCOS women false readings because the OPK might not detect a surge in LH as levels are constantly high.

But not with Mira. Mira is an AI-driven fertility device that tracks your actual hormone levels to tell you exactly when your fertile and infertile days are. The smart health tracking platform has been designed with PCOS women in mind, so it is able to detect the surge in LH above your high baseline.

In this Mira review, I will be discussing my thoughts and experience using Mira for my PCOS. We will look at how you can use Mira to understand your menstrual cycle and I will also show you some of the incredible features the fertility tracker provides. I want to give you enough information so you decide for yourself if Mira is right for you.

I’m trying to conceive with PCOS, but all fertility trackers have failed me. Is fertility tracking pointless for PCOS then?

The short answer is no.

Sure PCOS women may suffer from irregular cycles and may struggle to ovulate, but fertility tracking isn’t pointless. If you are trying to conceive, you won’t want to miss the times where you do successfully ovulate due to inaccurate devices.

The good news is that as technology has improved, fertility trackers have become smarter.

Mira’s Algorithm Accurately Predicts Fertile Days

Ovulation tracking is one of the most accurate ways to predict when you are most fertile. And as a result, increase your chances of conceiving.

So as discussed above, the ‘average’ woman should ovulate is day 14. But Mira understands all women are unique and so they created a learning algorithm that changes fertile days based on hormone levels and cycle patterns.

With Mira, you may find that you do not ovulate on the 14^th day of your cycle. It may be that you ovulate on day 15 or even 18- and that’s okay. But if you don't use devices that can learn your specific hormonal fluctuations, your chances of conception decrease. Because you will be missing your fertile days.

I’m not trying to conceive with PCOS, should I still track my cycle?

Yes. You see tracking your menstrual cycle is more than just knowing when you are fertile. A healthy cycle involves ovulating each month, no matter if you are trying to conceive or not.

You might be wondering.

Why is ovulating each month so important for women?

Well because most of our progesterone is produced during ovulation. Progesterone is needed to prevent estrogen dominance and for optimal thyroid function. But to also block the effects of high male hormones and protect the body against inflammation.

Recommended reading- Progesterone and PCOS: How To Increase It Naturally

But if like many PCOS women, you have cycles where you do not ovulate, ovulation trackers can be useful.

Here’s why.

Ovulation Trackers Can Help Regulate Your Menstrual Cycle

Ovulation trackers give you a reference of your hormones and cycle patterns over a month. Such references can be especially beneficial for women who suffer from PCOS and are trying to regulate their cycles. This is because whilst making dietary and lifestyle changes, to support hormonal balance, you can refer to previous cycles. Your first tracked cycle is your baseline reference that allows you to see if your changes have led to improvements in your cycles. Without a baseline reference, it is more difficult to know if the changes you are making, to help your PCOS and cycles, are truly helping.

So for instance, if you start including more whole nutrient-dense foods and less processed foods. Or if you work on lowering your stress levels by not over-exercising, you can see whether these changes are positively impacting your cycle.

As you can see in Briette Phillips review of Mira, after just one month she was able to discuss the information she learnt about her cycle with her OBGYN. Her doctor then ordered further testing that may help her further understand how she can improve her cycle.

So ovulation tracking is like a book of references that allows you to fully understand the workings of your body. It allows you to see patterns, similarities and where things may be going wrong and fix them.

Mira Fertility Analyzer Review

What is Mira

Mira was founded by Sylvia Kang and Zheng Yang. The team behind Mira are a group of biological scientists, engineers and OBGYN doctors. Their mission is to help women understand and stay on top of their health in the comfort of their own home. As such, the Mira team set about leveraging the latest developments in AI-based analysis, machine learning and digital health into a small compact at-home fertility test kit that makes tracking simple and more accurate.

Personalized Fertility Advice at your Finger Tips

Mira have created a fertility device that has been clinically proven to be as accurate as the lab equipment you find in hospitals. How incredible is that?

The Mira Analyzer measures actual LH levels throughout your cycle. Based on this data, Mira provides you with personalized fertility insights to help you time exactly when you should try to conceive.

So, Mira has successfully taken away the stress and guesswork involved in predicting your fertile and infertile days. You no longer have to regularly request an LH test from your doctor. Manually track your cycle or waste money on OPKs to start trying to conceive or regulate your cycle.

Is Mira Right For You?

Mira is for all women who want to learn and understand their menstrual cycle. It is for the woman trying to conceive who wants accurate and clear data on when she is ovulating and how likely it is for her to conceive. To the woman who is trying to understand her irregular menstrual cycle and wants to take back control of her health.

Ultimately it benefits anyone who wants to use advanced and accurate technology to track and improve their hormonal and reproductive health. If that sounds at all like you then Mira is for YOU.

Features and What to Expect

Provides you with Accurate Actual Hormone Concentrations

Mira is the only FDA and CE certified fertility tracker that allows you to see your actual LH numbers across your cycles. The Mira Analyzer accurately detects the LH in your urine and then provides you with your actual LH concentrations for that day.

Now, for us laymen, these numbers don’t mean much. So, Mira explains exactly what your LH number means by indicating None, Low, Medium and High.

So no more hard-to-read “one line” vs. “two lines”!

Tells you when to Test your LH

When you download the free Mira app, you will be asked to answer a few questions including your fertility goal and cycle history. Based on this information Mira will tell you exactly when to test the LH in your urine. As you can see in photo 2, the calendar in the app adds green dots beside each day symbolizing your ‘testing day’.

The green dots appear occasionally at the beginning of the cycle. Then on each day of your fertile window. Mira’s algorithm, therefore, takes away all the guesswork because you are only testing when necessary.

Mira’s Learning Algorithm Accurately Predicts Ovulation

As mentioned above, not every woman ovulates on the 14^th day of their menstrual cycle. OPKs, for example, are only accurate and useful if your cycles are average and regular. Fertility apps and trackers can also be inaccurate because they tend to base their predictions on the idea that all women ovulate on the same day.

You are Unique

The team at Mira understands we are all unique individuals and so they created technology that wasn’t based on minimal or standardized information. But instead on understanding the individual user in order to provide them with accurate and personalized fertility insights and advice.

How Mira Works

Check this out:

Mira uses a complex learning algorithm that becomes more accurate in predicting your 6 most fertile days every cycle. When starting with Mira, you input your fertility goal and your cycle history. With this information, Mira will generate a prediction for your next cycle. But here’s where the learning algorithm kicks in.

After Mira has started tracking your cycle and recording your actual hormone levels itself it gets smarter and is able to make a more accurate prediction for your following cycle. Then every month Mira will gather more data about you and its algorithm will get better and better at predicting exactly what days you will be fertile.

Mira’s accuracy can be seen in Casey’s review that I have included below. Casey found that all other fertility apps failed to predict her fertile days. She says “thanks to Mira, I was able to figure out that I was ovulating almost a full week after all other apps trackers and calendars were telling me I should have been”.

Or in the case of Bella Mai, she found through using The Mira Fertility Analyzer that she actually ovulates a few days before the average 2 week period.

Mira’s Personalized Fertility Score

Another great feature to note about Mira is that along with an LH level given, you also receive a fertility score.

Based on your changing hormone patterns it can predict your likelihood, on a scale of 1-10, that having unprotected sex may lead to conception. A score of 10 indicates you are ovulating and as a result, have the highest probability of conception.

Further Advanced Charting

You are also able to record details about your cycles, like your basal temperature, cervical mucus and cervical position. Mira provides words that are often used to describe cervical mucus and position, and you select the ones that best describe what you see and feel. This, therefore, helps you predict and see your fertile window more precisely.

Pricing

In this section, we will look at what comes inside the Mira Fertility Starter Kit and how much it costs.

What Comes Inside the Mira Fertility Starter Kit

The Starter Kit is priced at $199.00 and it comes with two boxes, one containing the Mira Analyzer and charging cable. The other including 10 Mira disposable fertility wands and 2 urine specimen cups.

The Mira Analyzer is a sleek egg-shaped looking device that is only 2.6 inches in width (palm-sized) and is optimized for home and on-the-go testing. It’s very discreet and comes with a cover for protection.

Inside the kit, you will also receive a user manual on how to use the device correctly. As well as a one-page step by step instruction sheet on how to get started with Mira.

Automatically Syncs with Mira App

There is a free app that you must first download onto your phone before you can use Mira. If you have an iPhone you can download it from the apple store. Android device users can find it in the Google Play store.

Once you have followed the steps, your Mira analyzer will sync with the app via Bluetooth. Within the app, you will be able to see your very own personalized fertility insights based on the data calculated by the Mira analyzer. So that means no need for manual tracking, because who has time for that-right?!

Mira’s app is very user-friendly and easy to navigate. The data stored in the app is clear, easy to understand and accurate. This, therefore, makes improving the regularity of your cycle much simpler.

How Many Times Each Cycle Do You Have To Test With PCOS?

As mentioned above, you receive 10 fertility wands in your starter kit. The team at Mira says that the exact number of wands you will need every month depends on your cycle length.

The Mira machine algorithm does a great job learning your cycle, therefore, it may ask you to test more or fewer times. A shorter than average cycle may mean you test fewer times. While a longer cycle may need more testing days.

The 10 fertility wands provided when you buy the fertility tracker kit may be enough if you have a regular cycle. But for PCOS, it may not.

For example, if you have a 35-day cycle, you may need to test 12-14 times per cycle.

So, you will need to buy more wands in order to successfully track your cycles every month. So, there is a recurring cost every month from the one-time investment of $199.

Mira sells a pack of 20 Mira Fertility Replacement Test Wands for $45.00.

Ovulation Predictor Kits (OPKs) are cheaper why not buy them?

The Mira Fertility Starter Kit and replacement test wands are a little expensive. So it’s understandable that you may be more prudent about investing your money into this device.

So here’s the thing.

Yes. OPKs are cheap, a pack of 50 LH test strips can be bought for $14.95 or 20 Clear Blue OPKs for $35.98. They are also 99% accurate in predicting when you will ovulate. But, they have the following limitations for women with PCOS and irregular cycles

• They do not measure actual hormone concentrations instead they show a smiley face or two lines if it seems you are about to ovulate.
• OPKs are unable to detect the LH surge above the constant high LH level some women with PCOS suffer from. As a result, they may give false readings.
• They can’t tell you when to test. So you may end up missing your fertile window because you are guessing. There also is no learning algorithm to adjust testing days based on your hormones and cycle patterns.

Not to mention the emotional impact using OPKs can have on women from feeling stressed, frustrated and helpless because they are missing their fertile days. Every woman’s menstrual cycle is unique, so her fertility advice must be personalized.

Price: OPKs vs Mira fertility wands

The Mira fertility wands are more expensive than OPKs. But as Mira’s algorithm learns your hormones and cycles it can tell you when and how times you need to test. So in the long term, women who suffer from irregular cycles could actually be saving money by going with Mira.

The Mira Fertility Analyzer a Cheaper Alternative before investing in Fertility Treatments

Now, there are lots of women who are using OPKs to help them predict their fertile window but, as I have discussed, they are not very effective. As a result, they endure months and even years of frustration and heartbreak trying to conceive. After years of struggling to get pregnant, women turn to fertility treatments like IUI and In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) as a final resort.

Costs and Risks of IVF

Fertility treatments such as IVF are not cheap. This is often why they are the last resort for many couples. The average cost for one IVF cycle is $12,000, but this is not including the cost of medications, which can range from $1,500-$3,000 per cycle.

Also, a successful IVF cycle is not guaranteed. The American Pregnancy Association reveal that the live birth IVF success rates for women under 35 is 41-43%. While the success rate for women over 42 is 4%. As well as this, there are potential risks and disadvantages to IVF including

• Slightly higher chance of ectopic pregnancy. About 2% to 5% of women who use IVF will have an ectopic pregnancy. This is where the fertilized egg implants and grows outside of the uterus.
• Premature delivery and low birth weight
• Egg-retrieval procedure complications including bleeding, infection or damage to the bowel, bladder or a blood vessels
• Higher chance of birth defects

As a result, women such as Diana are buying Mira before investing a much greater amount of money into fertility treatments. In Diana’s review (photo 5) of the Mira Fertility Analyzer, she shares her fertility story and her joy for how helpful the device has been thus far.

Diana explains that she decided to buy The Mira Fertility Analyzer while also, in the meantime, saving for IVF. After 5 years of trying to conceive, Diana became pregnant on her first cycle while using Mira. Diana sadly mentions in her review that she suffered a miscarriage. But she says she is optimistic and hopeful that Mira will once again help her to identify her fertile days to ensure a pregnancy.

So for these reasons, I believe the Mira Fertility Analyzer is worth the money. Mira has been created with irregular cycles and PCOS in mind and provides you with information that is personalized to you.

My Personal Experience

As a woman with PCOS and who has previously suffered from very irregular cycles, I can honestly say Mira is incredibly useful. Up until a few years ago I never used to track my cycles. I used to think tracking was only for women who were trying to conceive. It is only until recently have I understood the importance of tracking my cycle, no matter if you're trying to get pregnant or not.

So when the team at Mira reached out to me to review the fertility analyzer I was really excited. Before Mira sent out the product to review I did my own research. I discovered how this small device was a game-changer and was like nothing else I had come across.

Now I am currently not trying to conceive, so I was purely using the Mira Fertility Analyzer as a way to learn and better understand my body. After using the fertility analyzer to track my cycle I wanted to mention some of the features I really liked and what I learned from using the product.

What I Loved About The Mira Fertility Analyzer

The Machine Learning Algorithm

Firstly, I really loved the machine learning algorithm. The AI technology in the app learns my hormone patterns and gives me accurate and personalized ovulation predictions. This powerful feature means I no longer have to stress and guess when to test. Mira does it all for me so I save time and have peace of mind.

Visually Seeing The LH Number

I like to see numbers and visually track changes, so I found the actual hormone concentration feature very valuable. When I was first diagnosed with PCOS, my blood test results showed that I had high LH levels. But after hours of research and finding out my PCOS root cause, I was able to make diet and lifestyle changes to lower my LH level.

Recommended Reading- Types of PCOS: The Ultimate Guide (2020)

As well as visually seeing the number, I like the fact that Mira shows you all LH results on the LH curve in the app. This allows me to clearly see when there has been a peak in my LH.

The Personalized Fertility Score

Now, as I previously mentioned, I am not trying to conceive. But I like the fertility score feature because it provides that extra bit of information letting me know my chances of conceiving.

Easy to Use

Finally, I loved how easy the Mira Fertility Analyzer was to use and how user-friendly the Mira app was.

Mira’s app was very easy to navigate and the results provided were clear and easy to understand.

What I Learnt Using The Mira Fertility Analyzer

Fertility and hormones are a very personalized thing. Mira was able to help me to understand my hormones and cycle like no OPK or fertility app could.

The fertility analyzer showed me that I ovulate a little later than the ‘normal’ 14^th day. It has also given me further insights into my cycle that I can discuss with my doctor and order further hormone testing if required.

Step by Step Guide On How To Use The Mira Fertility Analyzer

The whole process is pretty quick and simple, as you can see from the image above. Mira has made using their Fertility Analyzer are 3 step process.

Step 1 involves dipping a Mira fertility wand into your urine for 10 seconds (use the urine specimen cups provided for a mess-free experience). You then take the blue cap and place it on the urine side. Push until you hear a click.

Step 2 you insert the wand, arrow upwards as seen in the instructions, into the Mira analyzer. It takes the analyzer 16 minutes (a countdown timer appears) to read the hormone concentration on the test wand and show your actual LH amount. Your results will also be automatically synced with the Mira app.

Step 3 The Mira app provides you with personalized fertility insights including your fertile and infertile days, your fertility score and LH curve.

 

Setting Up and Using the Mira App

Setting up the Mira app is easy to do, simply complete the 3 set up steps. Choose your fertility goal, tell Mira about your cycle and then turn on Bluetooth.

Within the app there are four tabs, home, calendar, fertility hormone curve, Mira website/blog.

Home

The home tab shows you your fertility score (a number 1-10) for the day and further prediction scores for the rest of the cycle. Here you can also see your LH number and note down your temperature, cervical mucus and cervical position.

Calendar

Here you can see your testing days, your predicted fertile days and infertile day. If your fertility goal is to get pregnant, Mira places a heart in the calendar to beside your most fertile day to symbolize the date you should have sex. Lastly, the app allows you to edit your period date which increases Mira’s ability to learn you and your body in order to increase its accuracy.

Fertility Hormone Curve

This is where you will find your LH numbers plotted on a line graph, allowing you to visually see the surge in LH.

Mira Website/Blog

The final tab is where you will find access to Mira’s blog posts that are full of helpful information on how to use Mira. As well as tips and information on fertility, hormones and pregnancy.