Who would have thought one of the most natural things in the world could be so difficult? People often assume making a baby will be the fun - I mean all those early nights, great right? However, for many couples it can quickly become a stressful, never ending cycle of apps, thermometers, vitamins, counting days and peeing on sticks. To top it off: the stress of it all can render your hard work null and void.

The Ava 2.0 aims to remove the stress by combining all the multiple tracking methods into one little device you simply wear through the night. The optimised sensor pod tracks your cycle and lets you know when you have the best chance of conception in your cycle (tested for cycles 24 – 35 days and not tested for PCOS). At first look the Ava 2.0 looks like a regular activity tracker: it has a super slim design with a flexible silicone strap that remains comfortable all night. My only complaint here is that when you are dozy and ready for sleep, the springy wrist strap can be difficult to put on with one hand and the two loops that hold the excess strap in place are awkward to slide along the main strap (this makes me unreasonably mad when I’m hormonal).

Like everything in life these days, you will need an App to work alongside the Ava 2.0. You will be asked as series of questions to set up your profile and then you will be asked to pair the device with your smartphone; it is all straightforward stuff. Throughout the night the Ava 2.0 tracks your resting pulse rate, this is the main way it detects when your body is preparing to ovulate. By taking an average temperature during the night, it provides a more accurate reading than a one-off reading when you first wake up (sometimes I manage to wrap myself up in the duvet in the early hours, which could affect a one-off reading). Alongside this, the Ava also gives you an insight into your physiological stress level, sleep quality and resting heart rate, helping you make changes to your life style to ensure your body is healthy and ready for pregnancy.

The Ava detects an average of five fertile days per cycle and provides all your data feedback on the App. I found I needed to sync the device 1-3 times each morning before the data appeared, but this is no different to my other activity tracker, it just means if you are in a hurry you might have to come back to it and sync it later in the day (Ava recommends you sync it every day for the most accurate predictions). The app also lets you track symptoms and if you become pregnant you can change the settings and receive explanations of what to expect from your body and the baby as it grows. This includes a weekly weight gain recommendation, as well as continuing to track your sleep, physiological stress and resting pulse rate.

I tested the Ava alongside a digital fertility monitor (the peeing on sticks kind) and received similar results. I also get ovulation cramps which tied up with the Ava predictions, so I have faith that it is providing me with accurate results. The Ava can be used to track your cycle, aid conception and track your pregnancy. Some people might be put off by the rather large price tag, but when you consider it can take couples up to 2 years to conceive, you can easily spend that on ovulation sticks (not to mention the added hassle of using them). If you are looking for a discrete, low maintenance and accurate way of tracking your cycle, I would happily recommend the Ava 2.0 if you have the budget. £249.00

Current Cheapest Price

4.5 out of 5

Pros

Records temperature, resting pulse rate, breathing rate and physiological stress levels

Comfortable

Easy to use

Discrete and convenient

Accurate data

Track cycles, fertility and pregnancy

Use friendly app

Provides you with your five most fertile days

Cons

12hour battery life will only last 3-4 days

Strap can be fiddly

Takes a couple of times to sync

Expensive one-off cost