How to Use Tech for Fertility Tracking and Monitoring
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For many people hoping to have a baby, the path to parenthood is not always easy. Ovulation and fertility conditions need to be just right when you’re trying to conceive. Likewise, if you’re hoping to prevent pregnancy naturally, you don’t want to leave anything up to chance. But how do you know when you’re ovulating or if you’re fertile? Fortunately, there are several fertility-awareness methods that help with family planning.
One is the basal body temperature (BBT) method. This method involves tracking BBT (the temperature of the body when fully at rest) during the course of a woman’s menstrual cycle to predict ovulation days. Since ovulation may cause a slight increase in basal body temperature, you could discover which days you are most fertile by identifying patterns in your cycle.See Disclosure 1
Another way to track ovulation is with the Standard Days method. This ovulation prediction method works best for those whose cycles are usually between 26 and 32 days long. This is because it’s based on a standard rule of when most women tend to ovulate, which is between days 8-19.See Disclosure 2 However, if your period is irregular, you might prefer to track fertility with the calendar rhythm method. This method requires keeping a detailed log of your menstrual cycle for six to twelve months to calculate your average chance of fertility each month. The drawback of this method is that it takes much longer to determine and can be skewed by an individual’s unique menstrual history.See Disclosure 2
The good news is that thanks to modern technology, these methods are easier to put into practice than ever before. Plus, there are also innovative products designed specifically to track fertility by testing hormone levels. Keep reading to learn how to use tech for fertility tracking and monitoring.
Tech that helps track ovulation by temperature.
Thermometers.
Since the BBT method requires taking your temperature each day, a thermometer seems like an obvious device to have on hand. But that means you have to remember to do this at the same time each day, which can be easy to forget. You also have to keep a record of it, so unless you have a dedicated notebook nearby, your results could get lost in the shuffle. A good way to prevent that from happening is to use a connectable thermometer that saves the collected data in an app on your smartphone or tablet.
Wearable technology.
The latest wearable technology devices can also help track ovulation and monitor fertility. In addition to capturing data like how many steps you took and your heart rate during exercise, activity trackers and smartwatches can also record your basal body temperature. This is especially helpful when worn while sleeping at night because your body is naturally at rest, and you can get more accurate results. Then you can use a connected app to watch for changes and trends over time. There are also fertility tracking apps available for smartwatches that let you input your specific information to monitor cycles and determine your best chances at conception or prevention.
Tech that helps track ovulation by days.
Smartphones.
You might not be aware of all the opportunities for health monitoring that exist on a device you already own. There is a plethora of apps that can help track your ovulation cycle and allow you to gain knowledge about your fertility. For example, there are menstrual diary apps where you can chart the first day your period arrives and any symptoms you experience each day. With more data entered over time, the app can predict when your next period will start based on trends it identifies.
There are also apps designed to alert you on your most fertile days. Much like the menstrual calendar apps, they work by noticing trends in the data you provide. Plus, if you are working with a physician that specializes in this field, many smart health technology apps can connect directly with your doctor for more effective care.
Tech that helps predict ovulation.
Ovulation predictor kits.
A more modern form of fertility testing is an ovulation predictor kit. These devices test for ovulation by measuring the body’s levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), both of which are key components in the reproductive cycle.See Disclosure 3 Testing is done with strips and a strip holder that resembles a pregnancy test, and the sample is collected in the same manner; through urine.
The primary benefit of these kits is that they take a lot of the guesswork out of monitoring fertility. Another convenient feature is that the results are delivered to an app on your phone, so there is less room for error in interpretation. Like other smartphone apps, those that pair with ovulation prediction kits also keep a record of each month to give you a clear summary of your reproductive health and wellness.
Choosing the best fertility monitoring device for you.
References.
1. Steward, Kaitlyn and Raja, Avais. “Physiology, Ovulation And Basal Body Temperature.” StatPearls, StatPearls Publishing. July 17, 2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK546686/.
2. Villines, Zawn and Carter, Alan. “Rhythm Method of Birth Control: What to Know.” Medical News Today, Healthline Media. February 17, 2023. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/rhythm-method-birth-control.
3. Oduwole, Olayiwola O., Ilpo T. Huhtaniemi and Micheline Misrahi. “The Roles of Luteinizing Hormone, Follicle-Stimulating Hormone and Testosterone in Spermatogenesis and Folliculogenesis Revisited.” International Journal of Molecular Sciences. November 25, 2021. https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/23/12735.
Additional information:
These statements and any information contained herein are intended for educational purposes only and are not meant to substitute for medical care or to prescribe treatment for any specific health condition. Carefully review product labels for instructions and important safety information and consider consulting with a health care professional regarding your use of health and wellness products.