My Perimenopause Journey: Comparing Mira and Oova at Home

This is an independent story from Emily, a woman who shared her personal experience using two hormone monitors during perimenopause. At the end of this article, you'll also find an Editor's Note with expert context on why one tool may have worked better for her. But remember: personal experience and results may vary.

My name is Emily, and I'm a 35-year-old marketing manager living in Seattle, Washington. 

Like many women balancing a demanding career and personal life, I was used to managing stress. But recently, I started noticing some changes in my body that stress alone could not explain. 

What I initially thought was burnout turned out to be the early stages of perimenopause. This was not on my radar at all, and I was actually shocked that perimenopause symptoms could start as early as my mid-30s. 

The hardest part, though, was not knowing what was actually happening in my body. Every symptom seemed vague enough to explain away. But together, they made me feel really concerned and anxious about my health. 

I knew that menopause was hormone-related, so I started looking for ways to track my hormones at home. That search eventually led me to two different hormone monitors: the Oova fertility monitor and the Mira hormone monitor, and this is the story of what I learned after using them.  

How Perimenopause Started Affecting My Everyday Life

The first signs of perimenopause were subtle enough that I almost ignored them. At first, I assumed I was just stressed. Work had been ridiculously busy, and it was easy to blame how I was feeling on my schedule. 

Over the course of a few months, though, the signs became harder and harder to dismiss. For example, I used to be able to predict my period to the day. Then, I started noticing that it would arrive days earlier than expected or not show up at all. 

I also started noticing mood changes that felt different from my usual ups and downs. Small frustrations seemed bigger than they should have been, and there were days when I felt so emotional for no obvious reason. 

On top of that, I would occasionally wake up in the middle of the night feeling really hot, and most days I would drag myself through meetings, relying on coffee that never seemed to make much of a difference.

Thinking back on it, I wouldn't describe any single symptom as "severe." But together, they made me feel so disoriented and disconnected from my body. It was honestly so unsettling.  

Why I Looked for an At-Home Hormone Tracking Option

I knew something wasn't right, so I scheduled an appointment with my doctor to figure out what was going on. 

After my initial consultation, they wanted to run some blood tests and keep an eye on my symptoms over the next few months. But even though those visits were helpful, they were also really expensive and just not practical with my schedule. 

I was also getting a bit frustrated. The blood tests could only give me a snapshot of what my hormones looked like on a single day, when what I really wanted was a way to see how my hormones were changing throughout my entire cycle. 

So, like most people, I turned to Google. I spent hours reading articles, scrolling through menopause forums, and looking at endless Mira, kegg, and Oova fertility monitor reviews from women who were using hormone-tracking technology at home. 

I was surprised by how many people were turning to these devices, and the more I learned about all the benefits of hormone tracking, the more appealing the idea of tracking my own hormones became.

My First Months Using Oova and Why It Initially Impressed Me

When I started to seriously consider my options, the Oova fertility monitor jumped out at me straight away. The whole concept of tracking my hormones at home really appealed to me, and so after I figured out where to buy Oova test cartridges, I ordered a kit. 

Once my kit arrived, setup only took a few minutes, and the daily testing routine quickly became part of my morning schedule. I would collect a urine sample first thing, run the test, and then check the app to see my estrogen (E3G), luteinizing hormone (LH), and progesterone (PdG) levels. 

The interface was super clean and intuitive (I work in marketing, so that's something I genuinely appreciate!), and I liked how the hormone trends were displayed visually instead of just showing raw numbers. 

For the first time, I could actually see some patterns start to emerge alongside my symptoms. If my E3G levels were trending upward, I often felt more energetic and focused. And if my PdG patterns shifted, it gave me a better understanding of why my sleep, mood, or stress levels felt a little different that week.

During those first few weeks of using Oova, having any hormone data at all felt incredibly reassuring. There were days when I noticed a change in my mood or energy levels, and it was genuinely helpful to open the app and compare those experiences to what was happening with my hormone trends. 

I ended up using Oova for several months, and initially, I was convinced I had found exactly what I was looking for. 

The Hidden Costs and Retesting Problems I Didn't Expect

As time went on, though, I started running into some frustrations that I hadn't really anticipated when I first signed up.

One of the biggest challenges for me was the scanning process. Because Oova relies on your smartphone camera to read the test strip, I found that the quality of the results seemed to depend a lot on things like lighting and positioning. Most days it worked fine, but every now and then I would get an invalid result or a scan that didn't seem to register properly.

At first, I brushed it off as user error. Maybe I wasn't holding my phone at the right angle, or maybe the lighting in my bathroom wasn't bright enough. 

But after it happened several times, it started to get really frustrating.

There were mornings when I would complete a test, only to find out that I needed to scan it again or repeat the entire test process. It wasn't a huge inconvenience on any single day, but it was pretty annoying in general. The whole reason I wanted an at-home hormone monitor was to reduce stress and uncertainty, so having issues with the testing process was a little disappointing. 

The financial side of things also became more noticeable. Every time I had to repeat a test, I couldn't help thinking about the cost of the Oova test cartridges. As the months went by, I started paying closer attention to both the refill costs and the ongoing subscription fees. Eventually, I realized I was spending more than I originally wanted to spend. 

That was the point when I started asking myself a difficult question: Is Oova worth it for someone trying to track hormone changes throughout perimenopause over the long term?

To be fair, my concerns about Oova are not about usability or the testing routine. I still love the app and overall experience. What I struggle with, though, is consistency. When you're trying to understand something as complex and unpredictable as perimenopause, you need to be able to trust your results. And for me, those occasional scanning issues made it harder to fully trust the data I was seeing.

Switching to Mira and What Changed Afterward

Even though I wasn't necessarily looking to replace Oova, I couldn't shake the feeling that there might be something better out there.

This is what ultimately led me back to Mira, a monitor I had come across repeatedly while reading message boards and perimenopause forums during my initial research. 

Once my Mira kit arrived, the biggest difference I noticed straight away was the Mira Analyzer itself.

Unlike Oova, which relied on my camera to scan the results, the Mira Analyzer reads each wand internally. That might sound like a small detail, but for me, it made a huge difference. I no longer had to worry about whether the room was bright enough or if I was holding my phone at the right angle. I could simply run the test, check my results, and move on with my day. 

As the weeks went by, I started to really see my hormone patterns. I wasn’t unsure about individual readings, and I felt much more confident looking at the overall trends and how they related to the symptoms I was experiencing. 

For example, if I noticed a week where my mood, sleep, or energy levels felt different, I could look back at my hormone data and better understand what might have been happening at that point in my cycle. I also really appreciate that, in addition to E3G, LH, and PdG, Mira also tracks follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which gave me another layer of insight into the hormonal changes happening during perimenopause. 

The Difference Between Camera-Based Testing and a Dedicated Analyzer

I hadn't realized how different the technology was until I used both systems. 

Camera-based testing, like Oova uses, interprets the color changes on a test strip through a smartphone lens. While that sounds convenient, I found that things like lighting and positioning could sometimes affect the experience.

A dedicated analyzer, like the one Mira uses, reads the test wands inside a closed, controlled environment. For me, this made it easier to trust the results and focus on understanding my hormone patterns.

How Tracking My Hormones Helped Me Adapt to Perimenopause

Having access to my hormone data fundamentally changed how I approach my health. 

Before, every symptom felt like something was "wrong". But once I started tracking my hormones consistently, I began noticing patterns in my mood, sleep, and energy levels, and the changes and symptoms didn't feel nearly as mysterious.

More than anything, being able to confidently track my hormones reduced my anxiety and helped me feel more in control. If I know my hormones are shifting, I know I might need to prioritize rest, adjust my workouts, or be more mindful of stress.

Hormone tracking definitely hasn't replaced my doctor. But it has helped me understand that I don't need to "fix" perimenopause; I just need to learn how to live with it.

Editor's Note: What Made Mira Stand Out for Emily

Both Oova and Mira are designed to help people track hormone patterns from home, but they take two different approaches. 

Oova relies on a smartphone camera to interpret hormone test strips, which many users appreciate for its convenience and accessibility. However, because the process relies on your smartphone and your surroundings, factors like lighting and positioning can sometimes influence the testing experience.

Mira, on the other hand, uses a dedicated Analyzer with FluoMapping Technology™ to read each test wand internally. This not only reduces the impact of external factors like lighting and camera quality, but it also helps create a more consistent testing experience from day to day. That consistency is especially valuable during perimenopause, when hormone fluctuations often become less predictable. 

Of course, there is no single "best" option for everyone. The right choice depends on your goals, preferences, budget, and the level of insight you're looking for.

Comparison Table: Oova vs Mira

If you're navigating perimenopause and looking for a hormone tracker to support you, here's a simple breakdown of how Mira and Oova compare and what you can expect from each. 

Stories like Emily's remind us that behind every hormone chart is someone looking for answers, reassurance, and a better understanding of their health.

As Mira CEO and Founder Sylvia Kang says, "We believe women deserve access to accurate hormone information at every stage of life, including the early stages of perimenopause. When you understand your hormones, you're not only empowered to manage your symptoms, but you're also better-equipped to advocate for yourself in appointments."

To learn more about how Mira can help you learn more about your hormone health, visit How Mira Works.

For more real-life stories from Mira users, check out our Success Stories page. 

To learn more about hormone tracking and the science of fertility, check out our library of blogs, webinars, and e-books.

Please note the Mira Hormone Tracker and Wands are intended for hormone monitoring and cycle tracking. Results are not intended to diagnose, screen for, or indicate ovarian function, egg supply, or any medical conditions. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Oova work? 

Oova is an at-home hormone monitoring system that uses urine test cartridges to track estrogen (E3G), luteinizing hormone (LH), and progesterone (PdG). After completing a test, you use your smartphone camera to scan the cartridge through the Oova app, which then displays your hormone trends over time.

What hormones does Mira track compared to Oova?

Mira can measure LH, E3G, PdG, and FSH, while Oova's menopause kits only measure LH, E3G, and PdG. 

What's the difference between Mira vs Oova vs kegg?

All three products are designed to help individuals better understand hormone patterns from home, but they use different technologies and focus on different aspects of hormone tracking.

• Mira uses a dedicated Analyzer and FluoMapping Technology™, so urine-based hormone tests are processed internally rather than through a smartphone camera.  

• Oova uses smartphone-based scanning to analyze urine test strips and display hormone trends through its app.

• kegg takes a different approach altogether by measuring changes in cervical mucus electrolytes to estimate fertility patterns. 

The best choice for your situation depends on which hormones you want to track, your preferred testing method, your budget, and the level of detail you're seeking from your hormone data.