A systems approach to continuous hormone monitoring in early pregnancy

Abstract

Early pregnancy is a period of rapid physiological change, sustained by dynamic hormonal signals such as progesterone, estradiol, and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Despite their critical role in implantation, placental development, and pregnancy viability, current monitoring practices rely on episodic laboratory tests and ultrasounds that capture only snapshots of this volatility. These temporal gaps limit diagnostic accuracy and contribute to significant uncertainty and anxiety for both patients and clinicians. This thesis applies a systems approach to explore the feasibility of continuous hormone monitoring in early pregnancy. Drawing on precedents from diabetes (continuous glucose monitoring, CGM) and cardiology (wearable electrocardiogram, ECG devices), it investigates how real-time sensing could transform pregnancy care by shifting from episodic to continuous feedback. Using a design research framework, the study integrates three phases: a literature and workflow review to identify monitoring blind spots, a comparative case analysis of adjacent domains, and the development of a conceptual system architecture and prototype. The proposed architecture consists of five layers—sensing, processing, storage, communication, and interfaces—illustrated through a speculative prototype comprising a wearable biosensor patch, a patient-facing mobile application, and a clinician dashboard. The design emphasizes accuracy, usability, integration into prenatal workflows, and patient reassurance while addressing challenges of adoption, data privacy, and equity. While biosensing technologies for reproductive hormones remain experimental, this work demonstrates how a systems-oriented design can frame pathways toward innovation in reproductive health. By bridging biological, clinical, and experiential perspectives, it highlights how continuous hormone monitoring could complement existing prenatal care with richer, more responsive feedback.