Different methods are available at present to help women monitor their cycle and determine the time of ovulation.

From urine ovulation tests, to fertility awareness-based methods (FABM) and to the use of ultrasound exams, all methods aim to track ovulation and provide this piece of information to a woman trying for a pregnancy so that she could time intercourse better.

According to a study published from Oxford University and other collaborators, it looks like timing intercourse around the fertile period using a urine ovulation test increased the chance of pregnancy to between 20-28% compared to 18% without using urine ovulation tests. These results were even more prominent in women younger than 40 years old and, in particular, when they were trying to conceive for a period of time of less than 12 months.

Such findings may have a significant impact on a couple’s chance of pregnancy as they seem to provide more control and possibly a shorter time to pregnancy.

As long as the use of ovulation detection kits does not cause additional psychological stress, it could be considered as a valuable tool in those cases where the menstrual cycle may not be so regular, or when partners may not be living together and timing the fertile period becomes even more important.

References

Tatjana Gibbons, Jane Reavey, Ektoras X Georgiou, Christian M Becker. Timed intercourse for couples trying to conceive. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2023; 2023 (9) DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD011345.pub3

©2021, Nicholas Christoforidis, Fertility Matters
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