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Biohacking Women’s Health

Biohacking Women’s Health

Happy Women’s History Month! Today’s post covers all the apps, devices, and tests for biohacking women’s health. From hormone-free birth control, to tracking your fertility– not just your period– there’s an app for that, and I’ve tested them for you. Let’s dive in.

  

 Biohacking your cycle

Natural Cycles app

I’ve been using Natural Cycles since 2019,  when I wanted a more natural alternative to hormonal birth control. What I love most about it is that it puts me in control of my body and my health. I’m not vilifying hormonal birth control or medicine–sometimes they’re genuinely needed!– but I love that this app allows me to own my reproductive health naturally. And because I’m not taking medicine, I can see what’s actually going on with my cycle each month.  

What is Natural Cycles? 

Natural Cycles is a digital birth control app that is FDA cleared for use as birth control. This puts it in a league of its own: no period tracker app can say the same. That’s just one thing that makes Natural Cycles different from any period tracker you’ve been using. It also predicts and confirms your ovulation, helps you track PMS symptoms and onset, and even has a “partner mode” where you can allow your partner access to your daily fertility status. It can be used either to prevent or to plan and monitor a pregnancy. 

How Natural Cycles Works

Our body temperatures rise or fall with different hormone levels, and a temperature spike shortly follows ovulation. Natural Cycles tracks your temperature throughout your cycle, and predicts your “fertile window,” during which ovulation may occur, to help you plan for pregnancy, or avoid conception. Natural Cycles is 98% effective at preventing pregnancy with perfect use, and 93% effective with typical use. That’s the same as “typical use” with the pill. For extra convenience, pair Natural Cycles with the Oura Ring and let it measure and sync the data for you. Without the Oura Ring, you’ll use a thermometer provided by Natural Cycles to take your temperature orally, first thing in the morning. The app has a subscription fee, but this ensures your data is never sold to third parties. Use the link below for 25% off! 

*Everyone’s medical situation is unique; check with your doctor before stopping/starting/changing any medications.*

 

Modern Fertility Hormone Test and APP

Speaking of hormones, Modern Fertility,  part of Ro, offers a range of tests to measure and track your key fertility hormones to better understand your fertility. Depending on whether or not you’re taking hormonal birth control, you can test 6 hormones, from the comfort of your home. With the Modern Fertility Hormone Test, you’ll test and learn about AMH, TSH, FSH, E2, fT4, and LH, to get a clearer picture of the amount of eggs you may have remaining, whether your hormones are acting as expected each month for successful ovulation, and more insights tailored to you. The Hormone Test requires a blood sample, and you’ll need to take it on a specific day of your cycle, but it’s very easy to do at home with a simple finger stick. Be sure to watch their how-to video first! 

proov HORMONE TEST AND APP

Looking for a cycle-by-cycle picture of your hormone levels? Proov Test offers at-home test options to test FSH, LH, and PdG, as well as hCG to confirm pregnancy, and sperm tests for a partner. All of these are tested without a blood draw, and the Proov app makes it easy to interpret the results by reading the colored test lines for you. In addition, the app gives you a “score,” for your hormones, along with suggestions for how to support your hormones throughout your cycle. The Proov app will prompt you when to test, and tracks your hormone levels across multiple cycles so you can identify trends. Interested? Use this link and code “mermade20” for 20% off.

Quick tip: use a reusable shot glass to collect your sample, or compostable cups from Amazon. 

To avoid plastic waste, skip plastic cups and use a reusable shot glass to collect your sample. (How cute is this little cup Proov sent me?!). 

If you want to avoid glass in the bathroom like me (I’m very prone to breaking things), try these compostable cups instead. 

 Biohacking overall health

Oura Ring

Providing a wealth of biomarkers at your fingertip, the Oura Ring is my favorite biohacking wearable, hands down….The Oura Ring has been a total game changer for me in how I understand my sleep and how I plan my workouts to optimize my athletic performance. In fact, I wrote an entire blog post on my Oura Ring. While it may seem pricy at first blush, it more than pays for itself when you consider the amount of high-quality data you get, and the ability to analyze this overtime. If you’ve ever wanted to improve your sleep, buy an Oura Ring now and thank me later. 
 

DIVE in

Looking for more? For tips on how to make your period eco-friendly, check out this post on menstrual cups, and see why they might be the best sustainable swap you could ever make! I recommend starting with the brand Saalt. My favorites are below.

 Disclosure: Please note that some of the links below are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I would never recommend anything I don’t personally use, and the income helps me run my site! 
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Choose a Safety Razor for a Sustainable Shave

Switching from a traditional razor to a double-edged safety razor is not only sustainable, it’s surprisingly easy. As part of my Sustainable Swaps Series, this post will help you make the Sustainable Swap to a safety razor, changing just one thing to make a big impact on your personal waste footprint. Still not ready to switch to try a safety razor? Read on for a new middle ground razor I’m testing, and for free ways to recycle your single-use razors! 

Check out my Sustainable Swaps Series for more easy, Sustainable Swaps!

*UPDATED MARCH 2024 for how to recycle disposable razors and blades.*

 

but first, recycle your disposable razors and blades–for free!

Whether you switch to a more reusable razor or not, you can make a big impact simply by recycling your disposable razors and blades–for free. If you follow me on Instagram, you probably already know that I love Terracycle. Terracycle takes hard-to-recycle items and breaks them down so that they can be recycled or repurposed. And they have many free programs that make it really easy to participate! The Gillette Recycling Program is a free recycling program through Terracycle that accepts all brands of blades, razors, and plastic packaging. To use this free program, simply create an account with Terracycle, join the program, and start collecting your blades, razors and plastic packaging in an old shipping box. Once full, print your free label and mail it in. That’s it! 
 

WHY YOU SHOULD TRY A SAFETY RAZOR

Summer is here, meaning warmer temps, shorter shorts, and more shaving. Chances are, your current razor is partly or completely disposable. While disposable razors are convenient, the waste they generate really adds up. 

An EPA estimate from 1990 stated that the US produced 2 billion throwaway razors and blades annually. This figure has likely grown, since the US razor market hit $2.7 billion in 2021. 

If you shave regularly, safety razors present a great opportunity to make a small tweak in your routine for a big impact on your waste.

how to use a safety razor

I started using a double edge safety razor about 5 years ago, and have never looked back. The handle is reusable–you just replace the blade as needed– and the blades themselves are recyclable! They’re also cost-effective: a double-edge safety razor will cost you about $20 on Amazon, and last for years. Mine lasted about 5 years until it fell from the bathroom shelf and snapped. A pack of refill blades will cost about $10 for 50 blades, or 20 cents each. 

The safety razor might seem intimidating at first, but just go slowly until you get comfortable, and you will quickly love this razor!

 

 

 

 

Vikings Blade Safety Razor

 

 

safety razor shaving Tips

Starting with a new razor will feel a bit like it’s your first time shaving again, but with practice, you will get the hang of it in no time. 

To make the process as smooth as possible, follow the acronym, LEGS:

  1. Lather and Exfoliate: exfoliate to remove dead skin cells, then lather up with your favorite cream or soap.
  2. Go gently and slowly. The weight of the razor alone is often enough pressure.
  3. Start simply: avoid challenging areas like your ankles or knees until you’ve gotten the hang of using the razor. 

With practice, you’ll soon become a pro– just like you did with a disposable razor.  

 

safety razors and blades

There are many options for safety razors on the market. Here are some suggestions.

Recently I stumbled onto the Leaf razor, and I’m excited to try it! If you want to try a reusable razor but want a more traditional, multi-blade style, this might be for you! It comes in lots of appealing colors, and the many rave reviews make it well worth a try.

My current razor is this Vikings Blade razor.  Also on Amazon, I like how this Bambaw razor comes with its own stand, and it comes in lots of colors, too.

 I use Shark razor blades, but you may like to tray this sampler pack of blades to find your favorite!

To lather and moisturize before shaving, you can use your favorite soap, or a cream like this one from Eos. They have a partnership with Terracycle; you can send in the product for free recycling! 

Traveling with a safety razor

When traveling with a safety razor, be advised that TSA will not allow the blades in a carryon bag, but they are allowed in checked luggage.

 

recycling your blades 

When you’ve used a blade, it can be recyled (yay!) but not in your curbside bin. If your city doesn’t offer stainless steel recycling services, search for a manufacturer in your area that works with scrap metal; chances are they can take the blades and process them, along with any other scrap metal you may have around the house. 

As you’re collecting used blades to be recycled, store them in a safe, secure location so that children, pets, and other family members can’t be accidentally hurt by them. I keep mine in either old medicine bottles with locking lids, or in an old salt and pepper container, stored out of reach.

 

 

 

smooth sailing

If you’re trying a safety razor for the first time, congrats! You can feel good about making a Sustainable Swap that reduces waste. 

Go slowly, and experiment: if you don’t like a certain blade, try another brand. Find what works for your hair type, thickness, and preferences. 

Have you ever used a safety razor before? Do you have tips you’d like to add? A favorite brand? Drop me a line in the comments below. 

 

 Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.. I would never recommend anything I wouldn’t personally use, and the income helps me run my site! 

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