Predicting ovulation is important for couples trying to conceive. There are several at-home methods to detect a woman’s fertile window, including saliva ferning tests. This reusable test allows a woman to check when she will ovulate by examining ferning patterns in dried saliva samples.
What Is Ovulation And Why Detect It?
Ovulation occurs when an egg is released from the ovaries, approximately 14 days before a woman’s next period. The days surrounding ovulation constitute the fertile window – the time with the highest chances of conception occurring after intercourse. Identifying the fertile days allows couples to properly time intercourse to achieve pregnancy.
How Do Saliva Ovulation Tests Work?
Saliva ovulation tests contain a small microscope with an inbuilt lens. A woman deposits a saliva sample and allows it to dry, which produces ferning patterns visible under the microscope.
In the days before ovulation, rising oestrogen causes ferning – fern-like crystals in dried saliva. Seeing this pattern means ovulation will occur soon. When the ferns are prominent across the whole sample, ovulation is imminent or is happening.
Using Saliva Ovulation Tests
It’s easy to use saliva ovulation tests at home. Simply place saliva on the lens, wait for it to dry (5-20 minutes), then check the crystallisation pattern. Cautions: Avoid eating, drinking, smoking, or brushing teeth beforehand.
Check daily when starting out to learn your personal cycle patterns across the month. With practice, you can accurately identify when your peak fertile time occurs using the saliva ferning visual cues.
The biggest selling ovulation microscope at Zoom Baby is the Maybe Baby Saliva Fertility Tester. Instructions on how to use it can be found in this blog article.
Advantages And Disadvantages
Advantages: Inexpensive (reusable for years), easy to find, convenient, private. Results don’t rely on accurate urine sample collection.
Disadvantages: Can have a learning curve, results more subjective than other ovulation tests, moderate accuracy predicting ovulation day. Works best paired with tracking basal body temperature.
While saliva ovulation tests offer convenience and affordability, it’s important to recognise their limitations. Factors like hydration levels or improper sample collection can sometimes affect the clarity of ferning patterns. To improve accuracy, consider tracking additional fertility signs, such as cervical mucus consistency or basal body temperature, for a more comprehensive understanding of your cycle.
Other Fertility Awareness Options
Saliva ovulation tests may suit women seeking affordable at-home fertility tracking options. Those wanting high accuracy in pinpointing ovulation day might prefer urine tests measuring luteinising hormone levels. However, combining multiple indicators like cervical mucus and temperature tracking can optimise chances of timing conception right.
Photo by Nick Grappone on Unsplash
Zoom Baby is a leading supplier of Pregnancy Tests and Ovulation Test Kits
This post was originally published in 2015. It was last updated in December 2024.
