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Know Your Eggs: A Guide to Egg Health, Egg Freezing and What's Next
If you're 30-something, your Instagram feed probably looks a bit like ours here at femme HQ: full of life milestones - engagements, weddings, baby announcements. But lately, we've noticed something else creeping in alongside them: egg health and egg freezing content, popping up more and more. It's got us talking about why this is suddenly the topic everyone's discussing. Welcome to Know Your Eggs. Egg health and egg freezing are having a moment. From TikTok explainers to friends comparing AMH results over brunch, it's suddenly everywhere but a lot of the noise raises more questions than it answers. So we made Know Your Eggs: a guide that cuts through it, bringing together fertility science, nutrition and specialist expertise in one place. This blog covers the essentials: what egg health actually means how to support it what egg freezing really involves DOWNLOAD NOW Egg Health 101: What You Actually Need to Know When people talk about egg health, they're usually talking about two different things: egg count and egg quality - so what's the difference between the two? Egg count (also called ovarian reserve) refers to how many eggs you have remaining. Women are born with all the eggs they'll ever have — typically 1–2 million at birth, dropping to around 300,000 by puberty. That number naturally declines over time, with a sharper drop after the age of 35. Of that original supply, only around 300–500 eggs will ever actually be ovulated across a reproductive lifetime. Egg quality refers to how genetically "normal" an egg is, which affects its ability to fertilise and develop into a healthy pregnancy. Quality tends to decline with age too, but unlike count, it can be influenced by lifestyle and environmental factors. You can have a high egg count but lower egg quality, or vice versa - which is exactly why looking at just one number rarely tells the full story. Our bodies do such a great job of selecting high-quality eggs. — Maisie Hill, Period Power. Rather than framing this decline as a loss, Hill reframes it as proof of an incredibly selective process - your body working hard behind the scenes to put forward only the best-quality eggs for ovulation. What is ovarian reserve? Ovarian reserve is essentially your body's remaining "supply" of eggs. It's not something you can top up, but understanding where you stand can help you make more informed decisions about fertility planning, timing, and whether options like egg freezing might be worth exploring. AMH Testing, Explained Simply AMH (Anti-Müllerian Hormone) is a hormone produced by small follicles in the ovaries. A simple blood test can measure your AMH level, giving a general indication of your ovarian reserve - roughly how many eggs you likely have left. The key thing to remember: AMH reflects quantity, not quality. It's a useful clue, not a fertility score. A high AMH doesn't guarantee healthy eggs, and a lower AMH doesn't mean pregnancy isn't possible. It's one piece of the puzzle, best interpreted alongside other factors and, ideally, with guidance from a clinician. A few numbers worth knowing: You're born with roughly 1–2 million eggs, down to around 300,000 by puberty Only around 300–500 eggs will ever be ovulated in a lifetime Male factors contribute to roughly 40–50% of fertility challenges in couples — this isn't a one-sided story How to Improve Egg Quality: Start With What's on Your Plate Egg quality can be influenced by diet, supplementation and lifestyle. None of it needs to be perfect to make a difference. A Mediterranean-style diet, rich in antioxidants and healthy fats, is consistently linked with better assisted-reproduction outcomes and it's a common thread across the fertility research, from clinical studies to books like It Starts with the Egg. Even with a varied diet, stress, digestion and food quality can affect nutrient intake which is where targeted supplementation can help fill specific gaps. We love Ovum because their approach is backed by real science, 550+ clinical studies in fact, with formulas designed to support egg and reproductive health across that key 90-day window. 👉 Shop the Ovum Time to Conceive supplement here Use code KNOWYOUREGGS for 10% off. Download the Know Your Eggs guide to get more guidance on what to eat, what to cut back on, and a full fertility-friendly meal plan, plus the lifestyle tweaks (from plastics to alcohol to movement) that support egg quality day to day. It's a useful clue, not a fertility score. A high AMH doesn't guarantee healthy eggs, and a lower AMH doesn't mean pregnancy isn't possible. It's one piece of the puzzle, best interpreted alongside other factors and, ideally, with guidance from a clinician. A few numbers worth knowing: You're born with roughly 1–2 million eggs, down to around 300,000 by puberty Only around 300–500 eggs will ever be ovulated in a lifetime Male factors contribute to roughly 40–50% of fertility challenges in couples - this isn't a one-sided story Your Temperature Tells a Story Egg health isn't only about nutrition - understanding your cycle is part of the picture too. After ovulation, progesterone causes a small rise in basal body temperature (BBT) that stays raised until your next period, which is why overnight tracking (rather than a bedside thermometer) can help pinpoint ovulation and luteal phase length. SHOP TEMPDROP Egg Freezing, On Your Terms Life doesn't follow one script and family-building doesn't have to either. In England and Wales, the average age of someone having their first baby rose from 23 in 1970 to 29 in 2020 (ONS). And the numbers show it: according to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), the UK's fertility regulator, egg freezing cycles nearly tripled between 2019 and 2023 — from 2,567 to 6,932 a year. The average age at freezing in 2023 was 35, with women returning to thaw and use their eggs at an average age of 40. As life timelines have become more varied, more women are exploring egg freezing, not as a last resort, but as an informed option. Less "last resort." More informed option — if you want it. Sources: HFEA, Egg Freezing: A Factsheet (hfea.gov.uk); Office for National Statistics. Elective vs Medical Egg Freezing Egg freezing involves collecting and storing unfertilised eggs for possible future use, giving people more flexibility around family-building or medical treatment. Elective egg freezing (more time + flexibility) Not ready to start a family Waiting for the right partner Career or personal timing Solo parenthood planning Gender-identity considerations Medical egg freezing (preserving options before care) Chemotherapy or radiotherapy Surgery that may affect fertility Conditions such as endometriosis Some hormone therapies Gender-affirming care pathways A future pregnancy is never guaranteed and outcomes can by influenced by your age at freezing, the number of mature eggs stored, sperm factors and future treatment. But the HFEA is clear that age at freezing (not age at use) is the single biggest factor in future success, which is why more people are choosing to explore it earlier. The Process, in Brief Egg freezing moves through three broad phases: an initial fertility assessment and specialist consultation (including AMH testing and a scan), a treatment cycle involving around 10–14 days of hormonal stimulation followed by a short egg-collection procedure, and finally rapid freezing (vitrification). In the UK eggs can be frozen for up to 55 years with consent renewed every 10. The full Know Your Eggs guide breaks this down step by step, including what to expect at each stage and how to prepare your body and mind for treatment. Egg Freezing: Quick Answers How many eggs should I freeze? There's no single magic number some clinics discuss ranges such as 15–20 mature eggs for a good chance of success, but it depends on age, ovarian reserve and individual goals. Curious about stimulation timelines, storage, and vitrification? The full Know Your Eggs guide answers the questions people ask most. Progress Over Perfection, Always Fertility is having a moment on social media right now - "fertility maxxing," endless supplement stacks, and no shortage of things you're apparently supposed to be doing. It's a lot. This guide is full of genuinely useful lifestyle tips - nutrition, sleep, supplements, tracking, and more - but none of it is meant to become another source of pressure. Stress itself can work against the very hormones and processes we've talked about here, so piling on guilt over an imperfect diet or a skipped supplement isn't doing you any favours. Think of this less as a checklist to nail perfectly, and more as a menu: pick what feels doable, make small changes where you can, and let go of the rest. Ready to take the next step? 📥 Download the full Know Your Eggs guide 🛒 Shop Ovum Time to Conceive — 10% off with code KNOWYOUREGGS
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Tempdrop vs Oura Ring: Which Is Better for Cycle Tracking and Ovulation Confirmation?
If you’re comparing Tempdrop vs Oura Ring for cycle tracking, fertility awareness, or ovulation confirmation, you’re not alone. Wearable technology has made temperature tracking more accessible than ever. But not all wearables are designed for the same purpose. While both Tempdrop and Oura Ring collect temperature-related data, the way they measure it, interpret it, and apply it to fertility tracking is fundamentally different. This article focuses only on what matters for menstrual cycle tracking: Basal body temperature (BBT) Ovulation confirmation Fertile window identification Temperature accuracy and consistency If your goal is understanding your cycle and fertile window - rather than general wellness metrics - those differences matter. Why Basal Body Temperature Matters for Cycle Tracking Basal body temperature is your body’s resting temperature, measured during sleep or immediately upon waking. Across a menstrual cycle, BBT follows a predictable pattern: Lower temperatures before ovulation A sustained temperature rise after ovulation Higher temperatures during the luteal phase This post-ovulation temperature rise is one of the most reliable physiological markers that ovulation has already occurred. That distinction is important. Basal body temperature does not predict ovulation in advance - it confirms that ovulation has happened. For many people using fertility awareness methods, this confirmation is essential for: Identifying fertile and non-fertile days Understanding cycle length and regularity Supporting pregnancy planning or avoidance Accurate ovulation confirmation depends on clean, consistent temperature data. How Tempdrop Measures Basal Body Temperature Tempdrop is designed specifically for fertility awareness and cycle tracking. It is worn on the upper arm overnight and measures axillary temperature, which is closely linked to core body temperature. Importantly, Tempdrop does not rely on a single temperature reading. Instead, it: Collects temperature continuously throughout sleep Uses an algorithm to filter out disturbances such as movement, changes in sleep position, or environmental variation Produces a stable basal body temperature value for each night This approach removes many of the challenges associated with traditional oral BBT tracking, such as waking at the same time every day or disrupted sleep. Crucially, this technology is aligned with how basal body temperature is used in fertility awareness - as a retrospective marker of ovulation, identified through sustained temperature shifts. Scientific Validation of Axillary Temperature for Ovulation Tracking A peer-reviewed study published in Sensors (MDPI, 2025) evaluated the use of an axillary temperature wearable for cycle tracking and ovulation timing across 194 menstrual cycles. The study found that: Axillary temperature data could accurately identify the post-ovulation temperature rise The fertile window and ovulation timing could be determined using overnight temperature measurements The resulting temperature curves clearly reflected menstrual cycle phases This research supports the use of axillary temperature wearables for reliable ovulation confirmation based on basal body temperature patterns. While the study did not compare specific consumer brands, it validates the underlying measurement approach that Tempdrop uses. How Oura Ring Tracks Temperature The Oura Ring is a multi-purpose wellness wearable designed primarily for: Sleep tracking Readiness and recovery metrics General health insights As part of this broader functionality, Oura tracks skin temperature variation at the finger. According to Oura and independent reviews, this data is presented as: Night-to-night temperature deviations Trends relative to an individual baseline Importantly, Oura does not present its temperature data as basal body temperature. Instead, it focuses on changes in skin temperature over time, which may be influenced by: Environment Circulation Illness Stress Sleep conditions In reviews such as Who What Wear’s Oura Ring review, temperature tracking is framed as a general wellness indicator rather than a fertility-specific tool. Skin Temperature vs Basal Body Temperature: Why the Difference Matters This distinction is key when comparing Tempdrop vs Oura Ring for fertility use. Basal body temperature tracking requires: Consistency Reduced noise Alignment with physiological ovulation markers Skin temperature trends, while useful for overall health awareness, are not the same as basal body temperature and are not designed specifically for ovulation confirmation. Tempdrop’s approach is purpose-built for identifying: Sustained post-ovulation temperature shifts Clear cycle patterns Fertility-relevant insights based on BBT methodology Oura’s approach is broader, offering temperature data as one input among many for wellness trends, rather than a dedicated fertility signal. When Oura Ring Is the Right Choice: General Health & Wellness It’s important to say this clearly: Oura Ring is not the wrong technology - it’s the right technology for a different goal. If your primary focus is general health and wellness, rather than fertility awareness or ovulation confirmation, Oura Ring may be the better fit. Oura Ring is designed to support: Sleep quality and recovery insights Daily readiness and wellness trends Long-term changes in health metrics Broad lifestyle awareness rather than cycle-specific interpretation As part of this wider wellness picture, Oura tracks skin temperature variation, presenting it as a trend relative to your personal baseline. This can be useful for noticing: Changes related to illness or recovery Stress or lifestyle impacts Overall physiological patterns over time For users who want a single wearable to support general wellbeing, rather than focused fertility tracking, Oura Ring’s multi-metric approach makes sense. However, this broader focus is also its limitation when it comes to menstrual cycle tracking. Choosing the Right Tool for the Right Goal When comparing Tempdrop vs Oura Ring, the most important question isn’t which device is better overall - it’s what are you using it for? If your goal is general wellness, sleep trends, and lifestyle insights, Oura Ring is designed for that purpose. If your goal is basal body temperature tracking, ovulation confirmation, and cycle understanding, Tempdrop is built specifically for that role. Tempdrop’s technology aligns directly with fertility awareness methods and is supported by peer-reviewed research validating axillary temperature tracking for identifying ovulation timing and fertile windows. Oura Ring’s technology aligns with a broader wellness framework, where temperature is one signal among many rather than a fertility-specific metric. Tempdrop vs Oura Ring for Ovulation Confirmation When comparing the two specifically for ovulation confirmation: Tempdrop Designed exclusively for fertility awareness Measures axillary temperature overnight Filters disturbances to produce a true basal temperature curve Aligns with fertility awareness methods and BBT interpretation Supported by peer-reviewed research validating this measurement approach Oura Ring Designed for general wellness and sleep tracking Measures skin temperature at the finger Presents temperature as a trend or deviation Not designed specifically to confirm ovulation via BBT patterns For users whose primary goal is understanding their menstrual cycle, this difference in design philosophy is critical. Explore Tempdrop for Cycle Tracking If your focus is accurate basal body temperature tracking and ovulation confirmation, Tempdrop is designed specifically for that purpose. Explore Tempdrop and see how it supports fertility-focused temperature tracking Final Thoughts: Choosing the Right Technology for Your Cycle When choosing between Tempdrop and Oura Ring, clarity comes from matching the technology to your intention. Oura Ring is well suited to people seeking a comprehensive wellness wearable that tracks sleep, recovery, and long-term health trends - with temperature variation as part of that picture. Tempdrop, by contrast, is designed specifically for people who want to understand their menstrual cycle through basal body temperature, confirm when ovulation has occurred, and gain fertility-focused insights based on established physiological patterns. If your priority is general health, Oura Ring may be the right choice. If your priority is cycle tracking and ovulation confirmation, Tempdrop offers technology built for that exact purpose.
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Tracking Your Cycle During Perimenopause with Tempdrop
Perimenopause is often described as the “in-between” stage: not quite menopause, but not your usual monthly rhythm either. Hormones fluctuate, cycles become less predictable, and symptoms can feel confusing. For many women, this stage starts in their 40s, but it can arrive earlier. The challenge is that while your body is changing, it’s not always easy to make sense of what’s happening. This is where tracking your cycle during perimenopause becomes incredibly useful. Instead of relying on guesswork, you can gather real insights into how your body is shifting. And with the help of Tempdrop, you can make sense of irregular cycles, spot ovulation when it still happens, and feel more in control of this life transition. Why Tracking your Cycle During Perimenopause Matters Perimenopause isn’t a straight line. One month you might ovulate as usual, and the next your period may be late, early, or missing altogether. For some, hot flushes, mood changes, and sleep problems appear long before cycles stop completely. By tracking your cycle during perimenopause , you get answers to important questions like: Am I still ovulating? How long are my cycles now? Are my symptoms connected to hormone changes? Is there a pattern to the unpredictability? This isn’t just about fertility—it’s about knowledge. The better you understand your changing cycle, the easier it is to make informed choices about your health, wellbeing, and daily life. How Tempdrop Supports Tracking your Cycle During Perimenopause Traditional basal body temperature (BBT) tracking can be difficult at this stage of life. Waking up at the same time every day to take your temperature is tough enough without night sweats, disturbed sleep, or busy mornings. Tempdrop offers a more practical solution. You wear it on your arm overnight, and it automatically records your temperature while you sleep. The app smooths out any irregularities caused by restlessness or inconsistent sleep schedules, giving you reliable data without extra effort. For women who are tracking your cycle during perimenopause , Tempdrop can highlight: Whether ovulation is still occurring in some cycles How long the luteal phase lasts Shifts in cycle length over time Connections between symptoms and hormonal changes Spotting Ovulation When Cycles are Irregular One of the most confusing parts of perimenopause is not knowing if or when ovulation is happening. Some cycles are anovulatory (meaning no egg is released), while others are normal. By tracking your cycle during perimenopause with Tempdrop, you can see the subtle rise in temperature that signals ovulation. This gives you clarity—whether you’re curious about fertility, wondering if contraception is still necessary, or just wanting to understand what your hormones are doing. Even when ovulation becomes less frequent, knowing when it does occur helps you make sense of your symptoms and plan around your cycle more effectively. Connecting Symptoms to Hormone Changes Many perimenopausal symptoms—such as mood swings, anxiety, hot flushes, or fatigue—are linked to fluctuating hormones. But when those symptoms appear randomly, it can feel unsettling. By tracking your cycle during perimenopause , you can start to connect the dots. Maybe night sweats are worse in the luteal phase, or mood changes peak just before your period. Tempdrop provides objective data, so you’re not left wondering whether these experiences are random or hormone-driven. This knowledge can also be incredibly helpful if you decide to speak with a healthcare professional. Bringing cycle data and symptom patterns to an appointment makes it easier to have a productive conversation about treatment options, whether that’s HRT, lifestyle changes, or other support. Emotional Reassurance in a Time of Change Perimenopause can feel like losing control over your own body. Cycles that were once predictable may now come with uncertainty, and the physical changes can affect confidence and self-esteem. Tracking your cycle during perimenopause doesn’t fix everything, but it can help you feel grounded. Instead of being blindsided by irregular periods or unpredictable moods, you’ll have a clearer sense of what’s happening and why. For many women, that reassurance is powerful. It shifts the perspective from “my body is failing me” to “my body is changing, and I understand how.” Practical Tips for Tracking your Cycle During Perimenopause If you’re ready to start tracking your cycle during perimenopause with Tempdrop, here are a few simple tips: Be consistent – Wear your Tempdrop nightly for the most accurate picture. Log symptoms – Use the notes feature to connect temperature data with real-life experiences like sleep changes or mood shifts. Combine signs – Cervical mucus and cycle length still matter, even in perimenopause. Together with Tempdrop, they give a fuller picture. Be patient – Patterns may take time to emerge, especially if cycles are irregular. Share your data – If you talk to your GP or a menopause specialist, Tempdrop charts can make the conversation easier. The Bigger Picture While fertility may no longer be your focus, tracking your cycle during perimenopause is still an empowering practice. It helps you recognise the changes your body is going through, anticipate symptoms, and approach this transition with knowledge rather than uncertainty. Tempdrop makes this process simple, even when sleep and schedules aren’t. It’s less about perfect data and more about giving yourself insight, compassion, and confidence during a stage of life that can otherwise feel overwhelming. The Bottom Line Perimenopause is unpredictable, but it doesn’t have to leave you in the dark. By tracking your cycle during perimenopause with Tempdrop, you can understand what’s happening in your body, connect symptoms to hormonal shifts, and navigate this stage with more clarity. This isn’t about controlling perimenopause—it’s about making peace with it. And having tools that support you, rather than add stress, can make all the difference. Laura Cartwright Laura Cartwright is one of the founders of femme health. Having worked in the diagnostics industry for over 15 years, Laura is passionate about improving women's health, to create an equitable and forward-thinking landscape which proactively supports health outcomes. Learn more
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Using Tempdrop When You’re Trying to Conceive
When you’re trying to conceive , you expect it to take a few months. But when those months stretch into a year—or even longer—it can feel like a mix of frustration, self-doubt, and endless questions. In the UK, you usually need to wait two years before being referred for fertility investigations if you’re under 35. That’s a long time to feel in the dark about what’s happening in your body. This is where cycle tracking tools like Tempdrop come in. They don’t promise instant results or magic fixes, but they give you something equally important: clarity. By helping you confirm ovulation, understand your cycle, and recognise your fertile window, Tempdrop can make the difficult process of trying to conceive a little less overwhelming. Why cycle tracking matters when you're trying to conceive Most people are told the basics: have unprotected sex regularly when you're trying to conceive and you’ll get pregnant within a year. For many, that’s true. But when it doesn’t happen, it’s natural to start wondering: Am I ovulating? Are my cycles regular? Is there something I’m missing? That’s why cycle tracking is so valuable when you’re trying to conceive. It doesn’t just help you know when to have sex; it also gives you reassurance that your body is doing what it’s supposed to do, or early clues if it’s not. With a tool like Tempdrop, you can: Confirm that ovulation is happening each month Identify your actual fertile window (not just the textbook version) Notice irregularities that might be worth mentioning to your doctor later Feel more in control during the waiting period The Challenge of the Two-Year Wait In the UK, if you’re under 35, you’re usually advised to keep trying to conceive naturally for two years before getting a referral for fertility testing. For those over 35, the timeframe is shorter (usually 12 months). But either way, it can feel like a long time to wait when month after month goes by without a positive test. During this time, cycle tracking with Tempdrop can give you peace of mind. You’ll know whether ovulation is happening regularly, and if it’s not, you’ll have reliable data to bring to your GP sooner rather than later. Even if everything looks normal, Tempdrop offers reassurance when you're trying to conceive: you’re not “missing” your fertile days, and you’re giving yourself the best chance possible. How Tempdrop Works for People Trying to Conceive Traditional basal body temperature (BBT) tracking can be tricky when you're trying to conceive. You’re supposed to take your temperature every morning at the same time, before getting out of bed, and log it manually. That’s tough if you’re working shifts, travelling, or just want a lie-in. Tempdrop makes it easier. You wear it on your arm overnight, and it automatically records your temperature while you sleep. The app smooths out any variations caused by restless nights or inconsistent wake-up times, giving you a clear chart of your cycle. For people trying to conceive , that means: No stressful morning routines Reliable confirmation of ovulation A bigger, clearer picture of how your cycles are working Tracking Ovulation with Tempdrop When Trying to Conceive When ovulation occurs, progesterone rises and your body temperature shifts slightly. Tempdrop picks up this change, showing you whether ovulation happened and when. This is crucial when you’re trying to conceive , because it confirms whether you’ve actually had a fertile cycle. Over time, you’ll start to see patterns: How long your luteal phase (time between ovulation and your next period) lasts Whether your cycles are consistent or irregular Which days of the month you’re most fertile This kind of knowledge can make all the difference in how you approach trying to conceive . What if You're Not Ovulating Regularly One of the most stressful parts of trying to conceive is not knowing whether there’s a problem. With Tempdrop , you can spot if ovulation isn’t happening regularly—or at all. That doesn’t mean you won’t get pregnant naturally, but it’s useful information for your own peace of mind. And if you do eventually reach the point where you’re referred for fertility support, having months (or years) of tracked cycles can help your doctor understand your situation faster. Instead of starting from scratch, you’ll already have valuable data to share. Emotional Support while Trying to Conceive Let’s be honest: the emotional side of trying to conceive is often harder than the physical side. Each month can feel like a cycle of hope, disappointment, and pressure. Having tools like Tempdrop doesn’t erase those feelings, but it can give you back a sense of agency. By knowing what your body is doing, you avoid the endless “what ifs.” You can feel confident that you’re identifying your fertile window accurately, even if it takes time to see that positive test. Practical Tips for using Tempdrop While Trying to Conceive Be consistent – Wear your Tempdrop every night for the most reliable data. Track other signs too – Cervical mucus and cycle length are useful alongside your temperature data. Be patient – It may take a few months of data before patterns emerge. Share your charts if needed – If you eventually see a doctor, your Tempdrop records can provide a helpful starting point. The Bottom Line If you’re in the early months of trying to conceive —or even if you’re approaching the two-year wait for fertility support—using a tool like Tempdrop can help you feel less powerless. It won’t guarantee pregnancy, but it will give you the knowledge, reassurance, and confidence that you’re doing everything you can during this chapter. And sometimes, that clarity is exactly what you need to keep going. Because when it comes to fertility, knowledge really is power—and Tempdrop gives you exactly that. Laura Cartwright Laura Cartwright is one of the founders of femme health. Having worked in the diagnostics industry for over 15 years, Laura is passionate about improving women's health, to create an equitable and forward-thinking landscape which proactively supports health outcomes. Learn more
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In The Press
Simplify Your Fertility Tracking with Tempdrop
Take the guesswork out of cycle tracking with Tempdrop, the smart wearable thermometer that fits seamlessly into your routine. Designed to learn your unique patterns, it provides accurate, reliable insights without the hassle of early wake-ups or daily charts.