Level Zero Health Aims to Revolutionize Hormone Monitoring, Like CGMs Do for Diabetes

Level Zero Health, founded by Ula Rustamova and Irene Jia, it is developing continuous hormone monitoring deviceaims to revolutionize hormone health in the same way that continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) revolutionized diabetes management.

Hormones play an important role in regulating a variety of bodily functions, from reproductive health to mood and energy levels, and a device like this could have far-reaching health implications.

The startup presented its technology at TechCrunch’s Startup Battlefield and shared its approach: adapting FDA-approved CGM needles for continuous hormone tracking.

This complex endeavor requires new sensors and a scientific basis, as methods to continuously measure hormones in the interstitial fluid—the fluid that surrounds the body’s cells—are still being developed. Although CGMs have established the principles of glucose monitoring, applying the same methods to hormones involves new scientific challenges.

Level Zero’s approach focuses on sensors that detect hormone concentrations using aptamers, which are single-stranded DNA molecules that directly bind to transmembrane molecules. By measuring how hormones bind to these aptamer fibers, the device can detect hormone concentrations.

Their initial focus is on monitoring progesterone, estrogen, cortisol, and testosterone, with applications in high-demand fields such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) and low testosterone management. Combined, these areas represent a market of about $30 billion.

Rather than selling directly to consumers, Level Zero plans to distribute the device through healthcare providers. Rustamova criticizes home hormone testing kits, which are often sold for urine, sweat, or saliva testing, as ineffective. He argues that blood tests are still the only reliable way to measure hormones. If successful, the invention of Level Zero could set a new standard in hormone health monitoring and open the door to improving personalized health care.

Editor’s note: As far as we know, this technology has not yet been approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), the only official agency in the United States allowed to evaluate the health benefits and safety of any medical-grade device. We are only reporting on the claims of the company LevelZero and have not been able to verify them.

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