---

Fertility monitor

The importance of accurately predicting and detecting the onset of ovulation in fertile females has been recognized for many years. Such information is extremely useful as an aid to fertilization, or to prevent fertilization without the need of contraceptive devices or drugs. Fertility status monitoring is essential for family planning in the birth control sense that is for the spacing of births or their complete prevention by the so-called natural family planning method (NFP). Over the years, a number of different approaches to fertility monitoring have been undertaken. The oldest is the basal body temperature method. This is no longer favored by the gynecological profession. Fertility specialists are now more in favor of endocrinology-based methods of ovulation detection. To provide reliable information concerning fertility status, the user must be given adequate warning of the onset of the fertile phase in the cycle. A wide variety of techniques have been used, some relying on the monitoring of one or more parameters which alter as the event of ovulation approaches. Typical parameters which have been invoked are the concentration of a body fluid analyte, such as estradiol and metabolites thereof, for example, estrone-3-glucuronide (E3G). Other parameters that have been used are basal body temperature and various physiological changes such as the characteristics of vaginal mucus.

---