Saliva Ovulation Microscopes - Fertility Testing Made Easy!

If you're trying to conceive a baby, then you've probably seen, read, or heard about ovulation microscopes. Visit any TTC (trying-to-conceive) chat room, and you'll find the place abuzz with ovulation microscope success stories.

And while saliva fertility tests may seem like a "new fangled" innovation, the science behind the saliva ovulation test has been around for years. In fact, clinical studies indicate that saliva ovulation predictors are a very accurate way to predict your most fertile time of the month. With a 98% accuracy rate - and wave of ovulation microscopes hitting the market over the past two years - these easy-to-use handheld microscopes have become a popular way to "focus on fertility", garnering accolades from doctors, fertility experts, and the ttc community.

How Do Saliva Ovulation Microscopes Work?

The ovulation microscope (saliva ovulation test, saliva fertility tester, etc) monitors and predicts fertility by detecting hormone changes that occur prior to and during ovulation. Unlike urine lh test sticks (which detect luteinizing hormone), saliva ovulation predictors focus on estrogen, no pun intended. More specifically, when you look through the microscope at a dry saliva sample, you are looking for "ferning" or crystal patterns produced by the increase in estrogen that takes place prior to ovulation.

These crystal patterns (manufacturers liken them to "frost on a windowpane" or "ferns") indicate that an estrogen increase has occurred - a precursor to ovulation. With a positive result/ferning pattern, ovulation is likely to occur within 24 to 72 hours. The duration of your most fertile time lasts from several days before ovulation to 24 or so hours after ovulation, so saliva ovulation predictors do provide a wider window of opportunity for taking advantage of a positive result.

Saliva Ovulation Test Results - Of Ferns and Ferning

Taking the saliva ovulation test is easy. All you do is collect a saliva sample from below your tongue, place it on the lens of the microscope, let the sample dry, and then view the result through the lens. During your infertile times of the month, the saliva sample will display just dots and lines and some bubbles.
 
During the "transitional phase" (at the onset of the estrogen surge), you will begin to see mild crystal, ferning patterns. This transitional phase can last 0-2 days, typically. During your most fertile time of the month, a rich ferning pattern will appear (for 2-4 days). With a positive result, ovulation will most likely take place within 72 hours. Once ovulation has taken place, you will experience transitional and then infertile results once again.

Why Choose An Ovulation Microscope?

• They're fast: ovulation microscopes require a five minute interval for the saliva sample to dry. Once dry, view the sample through the lens to determine the result.
• They're clean and easy-to-use: "No messy urine tests" is the main advantage. There is a slight learning curve with these ovulation predictors, and it may take a cycle to master the art of interpretation. Overall, this is not rocket science.
• They're educational: By monitoring results every day, you learn about your own fertility patterns and the nuances of your cycle. Over time, you will be able to get a bird's eye view of your cycle history. Monitor results daily, even when you are not ovulating.
• They're good for women with irregular cycles: Unlike hit and miss Lh surges (and the sheer volume of tests needed to pinpoint an LH surge), saliva ovulation predictors allow women with irregular cycles to focus in on their estrogen surge).
• They're accurate: Yup, 98% accuracy, according to studies. But that means following the directions (no eating, drinking, smoking, or brushing teeth before taking a sample).
• They're early ovulation detectors: Track ovulation with up to 72 or more hours notice. This provides plenty of time to plan ahead...
• They're convenient and discreet: You can use your saliva ovulation test anywhere, anytime, and everyone will think you are just looking into a tube of lipstick!
• They're Affordable! Compared with the amount of money spent on urine lh tests, ovulation microscopes are a very cost effective way to predict fertility.

So which Ovulation Microscope is the Best?

Tips for selecting your saliva ovulation test: First, quality ovulation microscopes consist of a cylindrical container (avoid plastic housing) that look like a lipstick container, a focalizable eyepiece (simply turn the lens to focus) and a slide or glass face where the saliva sample can be applied (look for a glass lens of 50X magnification or more). The sample is illuminated with an LED light (avoid plastic units that use ambient lighting). Reports indicate that another major player in the market has chronic LED lighting issues based on poor light design.

Our selections: Fertile-Focus meets all of these quality and reliability benchmarks (in one low-cost ovulation microscope). OvuLook, which provides a slide wheel for keeping track of your result history, is a higher priced model, but the craftsmanship is good. Both of these units provide a guarantee, FAQ, and customer support.