Evaluation of the Lady Free Biotester in determining the fertile period

Abstract

Small hand-held microscopes have been developed for self-observation of salivary ferning patterns to detect the fertile time of a woman's menstrual cycle. The purpose of this study was to evaluate one such microscope, the Lady Free Biotester, by comparing it with the self-observation of cervical-vaginal mucus and with the self-detection of luteinizing hormone (LH) in the urine. Twelve natural family planning teachers (average age 34.6 years) observed their cervical-vaginal mucus, tested their urine for LH, and observed salivary and cervical-vaginal mucus ferning patterns (with the Lady Free Biotester) for two menstrual cycles. Data indicated that there was a strong correlation between the LH in the urine and the peak in self-observed cervical-vaginal mucus ferning (r = 0.99, p < or = 0.001) and salivary ferning (r = 0.98, p < or = 0.001). However, it was difficult to assess the beginning and end of the fertile time based on the salivary ferning patterns. Further testing of salivary ferning patterns is recommended before widespread use of these devices for family planning.

PIP: Several small, hand-held microscopes have been developed and marketed for self-observation of ferning patterns in either saliva or cervical-vaginal mucus to detect the fertile period of a woman's menstrual cycle. This study evaluated the Lady Free Biotester microscope, which detects salivary ferning patterns, by comparing its performance with that of self-observation of cervical-vaginal mucus through the Creighton model vaginal discharge recording system and self-detection of luteinizing hormone (LH) in urine with an OvuQuick kit. 12 US natural family planning teachers (mean age, 36.7 years) practiced all three methods for two menstrual cycles. There was a strong correlation between urinary LH and the peak observed in cervical-vaginal mucus ferning (r = 0.99; p 0.001) and salivary ferning (r = 0.98; p 0.001). However, there was no discernible beginning or end to fertility as determined by salivary or cervical-vaginal ferning. In many cases, ferning days were found throughout the cycle. Until more definitive tests with salivary ferning patterns are conducted, it is recommended that the hand-held microscopes be used only in connection with other tested markers of fertility.