Fertility monitor
Encyclopedia
A fertility monitor is an electronic device which may utilize various methods to assist the user with fertility awareness
. A fertility monitor may analyze changes in hormone
levels in urine
, basal body temperature
, electrical resistance of saliva and vaginal fluids, or a combination of these methods. Some monitor brands are specifically marketed only to assist in pregnancy
achievement, while other brands are marketed for both pregnancy achievement and as a method of birth control
.
is indicated by means of a red ("fertile") or green ("less fertile") light on the monitor. Persona was originally produced by Unipath
, and is now produced by Swiss Precision Diagnostics. It is available only in Europe.
. The sensor is worn under the arm like a patch, where it automatically collects up to 20,000 temperature readings per day. The collected data is then transferred to the handheld reader, which stores the data and analyzes it to calculate fertility. The reader is then connected to a computer with the DuoFertility software installed, and the software displays more detailed fertility information. The manufacturer, Cambridge Temperature Concepts
, claims that the product is as effective as IVF for patients with unexplained infertility or mild-to-moderate male or female factors. It is marketed as a pregnancy achievement aid only.
Fertility awareness
Fertility awareness refers to a set of practices used to determine the fertile and infertile phases of a woman's menstrual cycle. Fertility awareness methods may be used to avoid pregnancy, to achieve pregnancy, or as a way to monitor gynecological health....
. A fertility monitor may analyze changes in hormone
Hormone
A hormone is a chemical released by a cell or a gland in one part of the body that sends out messages that affect cells in other parts of the organism. Only a small amount of hormone is required to alter cell metabolism. In essence, it is a chemical messenger that transports a signal from one...
levels in urine
Urine
Urine is a typically sterile liquid by-product of the body that is secreted by the kidneys through a process called urination and excreted through the urethra. Cellular metabolism generates numerous by-products, many rich in nitrogen, that require elimination from the bloodstream...
, basal body temperature
Basal body temperature
Basal body temperature is the lowest temperature attained by the body during rest . It is generally measured immediately after awakening and before any physical activity has been undertaken, although the temperature measured at that time is somewhat higher than the true basal body temperature...
, electrical resistance of saliva and vaginal fluids, or a combination of these methods. Some monitor brands are specifically marketed only to assist in pregnancy
Pregnancy
Pregnancy refers to the fertilization and development of one or more offspring, known as a fetus or embryo, in a woman's uterus. In a pregnancy, there can be multiple gestations, as in the case of twins or triplets...
achievement, while other brands are marketed for both pregnancy achievement and as a method of birth control
Birth control
Birth control is an umbrella term for several techniques and methods used to prevent fertilization or to interrupt pregnancy at various stages. Birth control techniques and methods include contraception , contragestion and abortion...
.
Clearblue Easy
The Clearblue Easy monitor works by detecting increased levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) in urine collected from disposable urine test sticks. It identifies up to six fertile days per cycle. The manufacturer, Swiss Precision Diagnostics, recommends that it is to be used as a pregnancy achievement aid only.Persona
The Persona monitor is a small hand-held device that reads results from disposable urine test sticks to determine when ovulation is approaching and to detect when ovulation has passed. When the urine sample is inserted into the device, the woman's fertilityFertility
Fertility is the natural capability of producing offsprings. As a measure, "fertility rate" is the number of children born per couple, person or population. Fertility differs from fecundity, which is defined as the potential for reproduction...
is indicated by means of a red ("fertile") or green ("less fertile") light on the monitor. Persona was originally produced by Unipath
Unipath
Unipath Ltd is a large pharmaceutical company specialising mainly in medical diagnostic kits related to women's reproductive health. Recently, it has been diversifying its product range to include more specialised test kits, primarily for the clinical market, in areas outside of women's...
, and is now produced by Swiss Precision Diagnostics. It is available only in Europe.
DuoFertility
The DuoFertility system consists of a body-worn sensor, a handheld reader, and computer softwareComputer software
Computer software, or just software, is a collection of computer programs and related data that provide the instructions for telling a computer what to do and how to do it....
. The sensor is worn under the arm like a patch, where it automatically collects up to 20,000 temperature readings per day. The collected data is then transferred to the handheld reader, which stores the data and analyzes it to calculate fertility. The reader is then connected to a computer with the DuoFertility software installed, and the software displays more detailed fertility information. The manufacturer, Cambridge Temperature Concepts
Cambridge Temperature Concepts
Cambridge Temperature Concepts is a UK based company which is currently developing a patent-pending fertility monitor called DuoFertility.-History:...
, claims that the product is as effective as IVF for patients with unexplained infertility or mild-to-moderate male or female factors. It is marketed as a pregnancy achievement aid only.
Lady-Comp, Baby-Comp, and Pearly
This series of fertility monitors is marketed for both pregnancy achievement and birth control. They measure basal body temperature and use cycle history rules to determine the more fertile and less fertile portions of the menstrual cycle. They are manufactured in Germany by VE Valley Electronics GmbH.VE Valley Electronics are tested and CE certified medical diagnostic devices. The fertility computer takes your basal body temperature (BBT) every morning when you wake up with the most advanced temperature sensor (1/100 degrees accurate). It then automatically compares it with its bio-mathematical forecasting software and stored information of all available family planning research. It also automatically compares it to over a million cycles of other women to accurately determine, analyze and display your individual cycle. It has a Pearl Index of 0.7 which means it is 99.3 percent safe and effective. Several clinical studies were independently conducted by Prof. Dr. G. Freundl and Prof. S. Dessole. Dr. Med. Andreas Marx. Cycle computers offer an effective and drug-free method of contraception.OvaCue
The OvaCue Fertility Monitor is marketed for trying-to-conceive purposes only. It works by measuring the electrolyte composition of saliva to determine approaching ovulation. It is sold with an optional vaginal sensor to retroactively confirm the date ovulation occurred. The manufacturer, Fairhaven Health, claims that this technique has been demonstrated to be 98.3% accurate in predicting ovulation in clinical studies overseen by the National Institute of Health.Cyclotest
Cyclotest Baby and Cyclotest 2 Plus are both sympto-thermal fertility monitors. They measure basal body temperature to identify and predict ovulation in addition to accepting user input regarding menstruation, cervical mucus observations, and positive surge test results from LH monitors (such as Persona and Clearblue). Results are displayed on an LCD screen which allows the user to see their entire predicted cycle and this cycle's fertility window. Other functionality includes USB connectivity for the user to download their cycle data. The manufacturer, , claims the Cyclotest 2 Plus has a Pearl Index of 1.0 - 3.0, A study of 207 cycles conducted in 1998 observed that the device requested more abstinence than was necessary at the end of the fertile time in about 12% of the cycles, and thus concluded that more research should be performed on detecting the end of the fertile time.Ferning Microscopes
Women undergo an electrolyte change about three to four days prior to ovulation that persists for two to three days following ovulation. This change can be observed as ferning patterns in her dried saliva upon microscopic examination. Baby Start, Fertile-Focus, Maybe Baby, and Ovulens are products which use this technology.See Also
- Pearl indexPearl IndexThe Pearl Index, also called the Pearl rate, is the most common technique used in clinical trials for reporting the effectiveness of a birth control method.-Calculation and usage:...
- Comparison of birth control methodsComparison of birth control methodsDifferent types of birth control methods have large differences in effectiveness, actions required of users, and side effects.-Ease of use:Different methods require different actions of users. Barrier methods, spermicides, and coitus interruptus must be used at every act of intercourse. The male...
- Fertility medicationFertility medicationFertility medication are drugs which enhance reproductive fertility. For women, fertility medication is used to stimulate follicle development of the ovary...
- Ovulation inductionOvulation inductionOvulation induction is the stimulation of ovulation by medication. It is usually used in the sense of stimulation of the development of ovarian follicles to reverse anovulation or oligoovulation, but can also be used in the sense of triggering oocyte release from relatively mature ovarian follicles...