A note from the founder, Dr. Ariella Heffernan-Marks
In my third year of medical school, while battling chronic migraines, I saw firsthand how broken the healthcare system is for women. I was dismissed, marginalised, and told my pain was just anxiety. At the same time, I began to notice how siloed and fragmented women’s healthcare truly is, with professionals and medical research often failing to account for our cyclical, interconnected physiology.
One day, while driving to a medical placement, I asked myself: Why don’t we have a comprehensive health tracking system for women? What if there was one place where we could log everything — from periods to symptoms to big life changes — and actually understand what it all meant? And what if these real-world, day-to-day, lived-experience data could actually contribute to the data gap?
That’s how Ovum was born: a way to help women make sense of their health, feel more in control, and contribute to closing the women’s health data gap at the same time.
As one of the few global experts in both AI and women’s health — and as someone who actually uses the product — I knew this had to be more than innovative. It had to be game changing. Now, Ovum is on track to become the world’s leading FemTech company, built to close the gender health gap and redefine what intelligent, personalised care really means.
I’ve sat on both sides of the desk, as a patient and as a doctor, and that’s why this mission matters so much to me. And it's already striking a chord: hundreds of women have signed up for our early release, and our founding team includes industry leaders who deeply believe in the greater purpose.
Every time you open Ovum, you’re not just helping yourself feel better. You’re helping build the kind of healthcare we all deserve.
Ovum is more than an app, it’s a movement. I can’t wait for you to join us.
Ovum is updating modern medicine.
But why do we need to do it in the first place?
All the way back in ancient Greece, women were seen as lesser, ‘unfinished’ versions of men. Hippocrates, also known as the father of modern Western medicine, saw women’s bodies as deviations from norm.
So for thousands of years, anatomy texts were all based on the male body. Even in medical textbooks today, only 21% of whole-body images represented females, and mainly in sections specifically addressing reproductive anatomy.
In recent biomedical studies, 80% of animals and 60% of human trial participants were male — and that’s after women were excluded or even banned from trials for decades.
This exclusion has real consequences: wrong doses, faulty devices, and higher rates of adverse reactions — even for common medications.
Doctors were trained to recognise symptoms in male bodies, so women’s symptoms were often missed, dismissed, or misunderstood.
Medical professionals aren’t purposely giving women worse treatment. They were taught under a system that didn’t prioritise us, and studied male bodies that performed differently to ours.
We believe that one day, the gender health gap will fully close — but it’ll take all of us to get there. Ovum is just a small part of the movement, but a very important one.
When you use Ovum, you’re fuelling a longitudinal health study for women, helping researchers understand how medications interact with the female body, while giving your doctors the insight to care for you properly.
How does the Ovum Brain actually work?
The Ovum Brain is our AI that’s built specifically for women’s health. Unlike generic AI tools, Ovum is designed to reflect the way women experience health — using female-centric medical literature to guide its understanding. It learns from six key Health Factors: symptoms, reproductive health, medication, appointments, lifestyle, and diet & fitness. Ovum remembers what matters most to you, tracks patterns over time, and nudges you when something needs your attention. It doesn’t just collect data — it understands it in context, so your insights are relevant, timely, and medically informed.
Is my data private and secure?
Yes! Ovum is fully SOC 2 compliant, meaning we follow strict global standards for healthcare data security and privacy. Your personal health information is encrypted and securely stored. You control what’s shared — and if you choose to contribute to research, your data is fully anonymised, ensuring no shared information can be linked to you.
Does Ovum give medical advice or replace my doctor?
No. Ovum is not a diagnostic or clinical tool. It’s designed to support you in understanding your body and preparing for medical appointments — not to replace a healthcare professional.
What does Ovum learn about me over time?
Ovum learns how your symptoms, cycle, medication, and lifestyle interact with each other over time. This helps build a full picture of your health, so insights get smarter, more relevant, and more accurate the longer you use it.
Can I use Ovum even if I don’t have a diagnosis?
Absolutely! Ovum is built for anyone who wants to better understand their body — whether you’re navigating symptoms, managing a known condition, or just curious about your health. Your body is constantly sending you signals, no matter how quiet. Ovum helps you listen better.
How often should I log symptoms?
As often as you’d like — but the more consistent you are, the more useful Ovum becomes. Even quick daily updates help track changes, spot patterns, and improve the quality of your insights.
How is my data used for research?
If you opt in, your anonymised data helps close the gender health data gap. We work with trusted partners and researchers to improve medical understanding of women’s health — without ever identifying you personally.
Now available for download in Australia.
