Woman wishing to become pregnant ought to be advice of the adverse affects of being overweight while carrying a fetus to full term. Many women when in the early stages of family planning are overweight. Some are underweight. Each physical condition presents challenges which must be addressed in order to provide the best possible environment to carry a baby in the womb.

As commonly known, both physical characteristics as well as behavior have an impact on an unborn child as he or she develops during the pregnancy. This not only includes weight, but height, general health, as well as lifestyle habits such as drinking and smoking.

Obesity’s Affect on Pregnancy

While it may not seem to have a substantial impact on a fetus’ development during the nine to ten month term over three trimesters, obesity can cause as much harm as smoking, drinking and drugs. Though some might be more severe than others, each has a direct impact on the life and development of the child in the womb.

Obese women should be informed of the risks associated with maternal obesity, be screened for gestational diabetes, and be assessed for the need for supplements of vitamins and minerals, including folate. Obese women should be advised to gain less weight than other women — 15 pounds compared to 25 to 35 for women who were normal weight before pregnancy.” –American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, “Obesity in Pregnancy”, September 2005

The Journal of the American Medical Association found the below correlations with obesity and birth defects:

• Risk of spina bifida is over two times higher for obese pregnant women, and the overall risk of neural tube defects is almost twice as high.
• Risk of cardiovascular defects is 30% higher.
• Risk of cleft palate and cleft lip, either singly or coupled, is approximately 20% higher.
• Risk of hydrocephaly (an abnormal buildup of fluid in the brain) is 60% higher.
• Limb reduction abnormalities are 30% higher.

Though the Journal used data compiled from different studies, it used the World Health Organization’s standard to define individuals with a BMI or body mass index of 25 to be overweight, while individuals with a BMI of 30 or over to be obese.

“Comparing the self-reports of actual and ideal weights, the average man weighs 15 pounds more than his ideal today, compared with 9 pounds in 1990. The average woman weighs 22 pounds more than her ideal today, compared with 13 pounds in 1990. ” –Gallup’s Annual Health and Healthcare Survey, 2011

Fertility Prediction

Women who are obese might find that using common fertility prediction kits results in inaccurate readings. Most will be realized after several failed attempts to conceive. This is, in part, because of physical attraction and because of physical condition, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found in a 2008 study. In other words, women who are obese are less attractive in the eyes of their partner and obesity also is thought to have an adverse affect on fertility prediction.

OV-Watch actually can be used by obese women to determine when the are not in their fertile window or the absence of ovulation due to PCOS or Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome–a condition common to obese women. However, obese women should always consult their doctor before trying to conceive to learn of possible health risks that might occur to herself and her baby.

An egg is generally viable (meaning healthy enough to be fertilized) for about 5 to 7 hours. On the other hand, a man’s sperm can last 5 to 7 days in a woman’s reproductive system depending on the conditions of her system. Therefore, it is important for the sperm to be waiting for the egg, rather than the egg waiting for the sperm.

LH or Urine Testing

Perhaps the most widely known and used method of ovulation prediction are LH strips or those that use urine samples. Most LH based urine testing devices provide a very short predictive window of pending ovulation. However more advanced fertility prediction devices like the OV-Watch provide up to four days notice of pending ovulation. And that makes all the difference in the world because it provides couples more time for planning. Less stress, less rush and more romance are important to maintain a health relationship as well as a happy mind. Using urine strips and charting temperature to identify when you are ovulating can be messy and also lead to inaccurate results.

Predictability

Unfortunately, no amount of LH testing through urine samples will tell a woman if she is actually ovulating. These indicators are simply to measure LH levels, which are one sign of ovulation occurring or nearing occurrence:

“Ovulation predictor kits determine whether the luteinizing hormone (LH) is detected. The luteinizing hormone (LH) rises right before ovulation occurs. Therefore the kits are supposed to detect whether you’re going to ovulate but cannot ensure that you do ovulate.” American Pregnancy Association

This distinction is of the utmost importance for a couple wanting to conceive and start a family together. Because LH testing does not effectively alert a woman as to her true time of ovulation, it can lead to much frustration. Moreover, high LH levels not only signal possible or current ovulation, they might also be a sign of the following:

“Women may have a high level of the LH if they have certain conditions such as polycystic ovaries, premature ovarian failure (POF), or for women over age 40 who are experiencing perimenopause. Any of these conditions could result in a false positive result on an ovulation predictor test.” American Pregnancy Association

Women testing consistently or regularly for high LH levels should see their doctors immediately to be informed of any possible health conditions or risks. This will ensure proper caution is taken and make for a happy and healthy pregnancy.

Certainty in Advanced Technology

Unlike LH/urine prediction tests, OV-Watch uses the latest in technology to determine when a woman will go through her fertile period. It does not require you to take time out of your day or to drink a glass of water to produce urine. Instead, OV-Watch will measure chlorine-ions in your perspiration while you sleep. Special OV-Watch sensors work during your natural sleep cycle. When you wake, you’ll know exactly when your fertile period will occur, giving you the time to plan ahead and keep from rushing.

The Technical Jargon

Too often women and couples confuse LH testing with ovulation. Ovulation is the physical release of an egg from the ovaries. The only way to positively confirm ovulation is to visit a hospital and get an ultra-sound test that visually confirms the release of the egg. Ovulation cannot be confirmed with chemical or hormonal testing with total precision simply because it does require a physical egg to be in the fallopian tubes. And that may or may not occur after certain chemical or hormonal test suggest such ovulation.

In other words, you’ll have to subject your body and spend your time totally devoted to determining your most fertile time. This at the expense of your spouse, your career and your own sanity. Becoming a lab rat isn’t your goal in life and OV-Watch is the exit off the wheel.

You Need Confirmation, Not a “Best Guess”

To get pregnant, there are many things that need to happen–both biologically and emotionally. Then, there’s the physicality of getting pregnant not to mention the practicality. Wouldn’t you prefer something that takes away the “guess work”? Something that lets you know before you need to know?

Urine tests rely on measuring LH levels but that’s far different from predictability. It only is an educated guess and it’s messy to say the least:

“You add a few drops of your urine to the test, hold the tip of the test in your urine stream, or dip the test in a cup of your urine. You either read the test by looking for colored lines on the test or you put the test device into a monitor. You can get results in about 5 minutes. The details of what the color looks like, or how to use the monitor varies among the different brands.” United States Food and Drug Administration

What’s more, is LH testing doesn’t guarantee you results, it only provides information about one or two chemical levels inside your body:

“This is a qualitative test — you find out whether or not you have elevated LH or E3G levels, not if you will definitely become pregnant.” United States Food and Drug Administration

This is where OV-Watch differs. It does give you confirmation of your ovulation cycle and predicts when you are most fertile. This puts the power of knowledge in your hands from a device you wear around your wrist. Forget about having to take time out of your day to pee on a stick. OV-Watch works while you sleep, taking measurements every half hour. You’ll wake up to the results without having to change a single thing in your already busy routine. You want to get pregnant, we are here to help make that possible. When you are ready to purchase an OV-Watch, it is important to do your research.

The OVWatch detects the chloride surge 3 days prior to the estrogen surge, 4 days prior to the LH surge and 5 days prior to ovulation, giving couples a greater window to conceive during every month.

Okay, so you’ve probably heard about a period outside your period which is called the “fertile window”. This just means the time which a woman may become pregnant. Outside this time period, a woman would have a great deal of difficulty getting pregnant.

The Old School Method of Family Planning

The Standard Days Method of family planning, on which visual tools like calendars are based, was developed to help women more easily identify all of their fertile days. It serves as in indicator of the fertile window for days 8 through 19 of a woman’s cycle–as long as her cycles are between 26 and 32 days long. The fertile window is a 12 day window which takes into account the 6 days around ovulation during which time a woman can get pregnant as well as the variation in the timing of ovulation from the last cycle to the next.
By analyzing data on thousands of menstrual cycles from women in countries around the globe,

The OV-Watch helps predict fertility, here is what it shows when you are "Not Fertile"

this method was further tested in “multi-site efficacy studies” which determined that it was more than 95 percent effective at preventing pregnancy by researchers at the Institute for Reproductive Health. In other words, having intercourse outside the fertile window only results in a 4 to 5 percent chance of conception.

The New Way of Family Planning

A more recent approach and probably the most recognizable, is to measure LH levels in a woman’s urine. By determining current levels of LH or the Luteinizing hormone, a woman is able to identify when she can become pregnant. But there is a substantial difference in knowing when she can become pregnant opposed to when she is most likely to become pregnant. Further analysis of using LH levels has shown the method to be unreliable, since a woman may become pregnant at practically any time.

This is fact was reported by author Deborah Gaines in Parents/American Baby magazine:

“Over-the-counter kits measure the LH surge that precedes ovulation, but can’t confirm whether you have actually ovulated. Occasionally, an egg fails to emerge from its follicle after the LH surge has occurred, a condition known as LUFS (luteinized unruptured follicle syndrome).”

The OV-Watch takes out the guess work and clearly shows when a women is ovulating.

Translated, this means over-the-counter ovulation kits are expensive, rely on a woman to provide bodily fluids only to tell her that while her LH levels are elevated, it doesn’t mean she has actually ovulated. Which in turn means, she doesn’t know if this is the time to try and conceive.

The Best Method of Family Planning

The OV-Watch removes these barriers, allowing a woman to know her exact fertile window. This not only forgoes having to provide bodily fluids, but also means advanced planning. The last thing a stressful situation needs is uncertainty. And being uncertain about the your fertile window means having to “work” to become pregnant rather than just enjoying the experience.

What’s more, OV-Watch has been clinically proven and cleared by the United States Food and Drug Administration. It detects chloride-ion present on the skin every half hour rather than having to use a sample of fresh urine. Best of all, it works while you sleep, allowing your normal routine to proceed unaltered.

Fertility can be optimized and the time to get pregnant shortened with correct timing of sexual relations. On the surface, timing may seem like such a simplistic approach to enhancing fertility. However, it has been estimated that almost 75% of women could reduce the length of time it takes them to get pregnant from 6 months to just one month with correct timing or identification of ovulation. In addition, if a woman does not conceive within 6 months of properly timed intercourse, a problem may exist and the diagnosis of infertility could be made sooner.

“Honey, my watch says it’s time to . . . make a baby.” You could be speaking – or hearing – those words, if only you had the OV-Watch fertility predictor, which looks like a normal runner’s-type digital watch but instead tells women the six days per month during which they’re primed for pregnancy.

Forget those nasty urine sticks or the ultra-traditional temperature-taking method. Those methods can miss the critical four-day period before ovulation, also known as prime time for making babies, according to device-maker HealthWatchSystems.

How does it work? The OV-Watch uses a patented biosensor, which detects chloride ions in a woman’s sweat. (You do sweat, don’t you? Trust me, you do.) Read More…
Credit to Steven Rosenberg – Los Angeles Daily News October 31st, 2006

Check out this TV Commercial by OV-Watch. Don’t forget to read our Success Stories

OV-Watch® is the only wristwatch-like device that uses advanced technology to identify a woman’s 6 day fertility window. Experts agree that the 4 full days before ovulation hold the highest probability of conception, in part due to the 5-day lifespan of sperm in the female genital tract. OV-Watch® has been found to provide the user with notice up to four days before ovulation during which the user may have the greatest chance of becoming pregnant. Read More…

-From HollywoodGossip

I actually worked with a company called OV Watch. They approached me early on and said, “You should try our watch.” It’s basically an ovulation watch where you wear it at night and it tells you based on the Chloride that you exude when you sweat at night, which isn’t a lot of sweat. But it senses that change and it tells you up to four days prior to normal ovulation. With this, you don’t have to pee on a stick. You just know when you’re going to ovulate. Thankfully, because of this watch, I knew when I was going to ovulate. It was just that, Ryan works 24-hour shifts and we have to be in the same room for conception to happen. So a lot of it came down to timing. If I was away on vacation or visiting family or friends or if he was away climbing a mountain in Argentina — there are so many things that have to come into play, so you never know.

OV-Watch predicts the beginning of the fertile window earlier than most other fertility prediction methods and thereby increases the probability of conception.

Jaclyn Lennard, PharmD candidate

Florida A&M University

College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Tallahassee, Florida

Jennifer Lind, PharmD candidate

Florida A&M University

College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Tallahassee, Florida

Marlon Honeywell, PharmD

Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice

Florida A&M University

College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Tallahassee, Florida

In today’s society, planned conception and timed intercourse to achieve pregnancy are topics of growing importance for couples seeking to start a family. Many couples desire to time conception in order to approximate date of birth, increase chances of pregnancy,
and condense the time required before infertility is diagnosed.1 More than 10% of couples

in the United States have difficultly achieving pregnancy. While many of them will require medical intervention, some may conceive simply by having intercourse during the period of days when conception is most likely to occur.1 Recent research has identified a “fertile window” of approximately six days.1 However, in order to optimally time intercourse, couples must be able to accurately identify this window.1

Conventional Fertility Monitoring

Identifying the fertile window is a key component of fertility monitoring. Lasting approximately six days, the fertile window consists of the day of ovulation, as well as four days before and one day after ovulation.1 For example, if ovulation occurs on day
14, the fertile window would include days 10 through 15.

Traditionally, women have depended on biological markers, calendar rhythms, and self-monitoring of reproductive hormones in order to predict fertility. Used alone, calendar-based methods, which predict ovulation according to previous menstrual cycles, and natural biological markers, such as thickened cervical mucus and changes in body temperature, are unreliable forms of fertility monitoring. Variability in menstrual cycles and subjectivity of body changes render both of these methods inefficient. However, when used with other forms of monitoring, biological markers may aid in estimating fertility. Prior to and during ovulation, the amount of cervical mucus increases and its texture becomes clear and elastic. In addition, body temperature lowers shortly before ovulation and rises once the egg is released.
Self-monitoring of reproductive hormones is a more valuable method for determining fertility. This method includes assessment of urine, cervical secretions, or saliva. Saliva becomes dramatically more concentrated with increased electrolyte and estrogen levels, which are commonly seen prior to ovulation. High estradiol levels lead to increased sodium chloride in the saliva, which crystallizes when dried. During ovulation, the crystallized sodium chloride in dried samples of saliva produces a distinctive pattern, resembling a fern.2 This phenomenon may be observed three to four days before and two to three days after ovulation. However, although several products are available to
examine these patterns, most are difficult to use and interpretation is subjective.

Urine tests that detect increased concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH) are even more accurate than the previously described fertility prediction methods.3 After an egg matures, there is a surge in LH, which stimulates ovulation to occur within 12 to 36 hours. However, LH-detecting urine tests are limited because they do not detect the beginning three to four days of the fertile window.

The OV-Watch Fertility Predictor

The OV-Watch fertility predictor (FIGURE 1) is a biological chloride ion–sensing device that surpasses all other fertility prediction methods, due to its ability to predict ovulation

four days in advance. During the first four days of the fertility window, the cervical mucus is at its most fertile stage, increasing the probability of conception.4

How the OV-Watch Works

During a woman’s menstrual cycle, there is a surge of chloride ion levels that can be seen about six days prior to ovulation.5 This surge appears approximately four days before the estrogen surge and approximately five days before the LH surge, making it an earlier predictor of ovulation than any other methods (FIGURE 2).5 The OV-Watch is a sophisticated microcomputing device that employs an integrated microcircuit and a specialized biosensor to detect chloride ion concentration changes in perspiration on the skin. A software algorithm processes these readings to determine fertility status. The watch must be worn for at least six hours during sleep, and data are recorded every 30 minutes, for a maximum of 12 readings per day. Once the chloride surge ends, the OV- Watch identifies a six-day fertile window that includes the four most fertile days prior to ovulation. Patient instructions are detailed in TABLE 1.

Important Points

The OV-Watch should not be exposed to excessive moisture. Patients should wait at least one hour after showering or exercising vigorously before wearing the watch.
Additionally, certain medications, such as hormonal contraceptives, and medical conditions, such as symptoms of menopause, liver and kidney disease, breast-feeding, and polycystic ovary syndrome, can affect the menstrual cycle and may adversely affect the performance of the watch.5 Women should also be aware that in order to begin using
the watch, they must be in the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd day of their menstrual period. In addition, the

sensor must be replaced at the beginning of each cycle.

Clinical Studies

The concept of using chloride ion levels to predict fertility was illustrated by a U.S. clinical trial that examined sweat chloride changes in women during their menstrual cycle. Forty spontaneously ovulating women ages 21 to 40 were involved, and data were collected 12 times per day using an ion-selective watch. Actual time of ovulation was confirmed using blood LH levels. Results indicated that the average chloride ion level peaked five to seven days prior to ovulation. This study suggested that fluctuations in

menstrual cycle hormones have an effect on sweat chloride release, forming a pattern that can be used to predict the fertility window.
The usefulness of the OV-Watch was assessed in a clinical trial conducted by researchers at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, and the Woman’s Institute in Philadelphia. The effectiveness of the OV-Watch for predicting ovulation within approximately three days of ovulation was compared with that of two commercially available ovulation predictor products—Clear Plan urine LH test strips and basal body temperature thermometers.6 A total of 105 women were selected for participation in the study. The study concluded that the OV-Watch was equivalent to the other two ovulation prediction products in correctly predicting within two or three days the actual day of ovulation. Additionally, it was determined that the OV-Watch could identify more days
of the fertile window than could LH-detecting urine kits. Seventy-three percent of women using the OV-Watch versus 13% of those using LH-detecting urine kits were able to
detect four or more of their fertile days. Furthermore, 56% of women using the OV-

Watch detected five to six fertile days, compared with none of the women using LH kits. Nearly 66% more pregnancies are estimated to occur by the sixth month in patients who use the watch.

Conclusion

The OV-Watch increases the chances of achieving pregnancy by accurately identifying the fertile window. Doing so allows couples to optimize days within that period, making planned conception more natural. Additional information about the OV-Watch is
available online at www.ovwatch.com or by phone at (866) OVWATCH (866-689-2824).

REFERENCES

1. Stanford JB, White GL, Hatasaka H. Timing intercourse to achieve pregnancy: current evidence. Obstet Gynecol. 2002;100:1333-1341.
2. Saliva Ovulation Predictors: Are they right for you? How are they used? Wish 2

Conceive Web site. Available at: wish2conceive.com/saliva_ovulation_test.htm. Accessed June 16, 2006.
3. Eichner SF, Timpe EM. Urinary-based ovulation and pregnancy: point-of-care testing.

Ann Pharmacother. 2004;38:325-331.

4. Weschler T. Taking Charge of Your Fertility: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health. Revised ed. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers Inc; 2002.
5. HealthWatchSystems, Inc. OV-Watch Fertility Predictor Web site. Available at:

www.ovwatch.com.

6. Haney A. Results of US Pivotal Clinical Trial of Fertilite (OV-Watch). Data on file, HealthWatchSystems, Inc.
7. HealthWatchSystems, Inc. OV-Watch Quick Start Guide. OV-Watch Fertility

Predictor Web site. Available at: www.ovwatch.com/downloads/QuickGuideV2.pdf.

Table 1

Patient Instructions

1. Fit the watch and adjust the band. This is required for proper contact with skin. (Adjust the band by pulling the end through the buckle until a tight fit is achieved. The watch should be snug enough not to move around on the wrist but not so tight that it affects blood flow to the hand).
2. Unpack and attach the OV-Sensor.

a. The OV-Watch is shipped with a plastic dummy sensor already attached. Insert a small coin into the slotted edge and gently twist and pull to remove the dummy sensor.
b. Remove the sensor from the package. The two red protective strips must be removed and discarded, starting with the smaller one.
c. Attach the sensor to the watch (the silver plate on the sensor should face the silver plate inside the watch). Hook the sensor into the groove on one end of the frame and push
down the other end. The sensor should snap in and sit firmly.

d. Expose the sensor by removing and discarding the protective strip.

3. Wake up programming. The OV-Watch is put into sleep mode at the factory to conserve battery life and has thorough instructions for exiting sleep mode, setting the time and date, starting a new cycle, setting the cycle day, setting the cycle length, utilizing the normal operating mode, and using the button lock.
4. Test mode verification.

a. After wearing the watch for 30 minutes, press Button C to enter Test Mode. A small T

will appear in the upper left corner of the screen.

b. One of four result screens will appear to indicate test results.

c. If the screen displays OK, it is functioning properly. Press Button C to return to

Fertility Status Mode.

d. If the screen displays Skin Too Wet, Skin Too Dry, or Not Reading, refer to the User

Reference Manual.

Source: Adapted from reference 7.

With so many couples waiting until their 30s to start a family, babymaking woes are a fact of our modern world. One in seven couples experiences infertility, defined as the inability to conceive or sustain a pregnancy after one year of regular, unprotected intercourse.

The good news is that the latest and greatest in fertility treatments promise success to nearly 90 percent of the couples who try them. The bad news is that trudging through such treatments is a seemingly never- ending crescendo of money and stress that takes a toll on your
relationship. Struggling with slower-than-expected conception can make sex about as sexy as doing the laundry. Suddenly, the world’s most pleasurable pastime is ridden with scheduling, obligation and tension.

Infertility is an equal-opportunity offender: 40 percent of cases are the result of female factors, 40 percent male factors and 20 percent a combination of the two
or unknown factors. Ovulation-stimulating drugs or surgery are often the first steps for women. Men make that not -so-fun trip to the doctor’s office with a cup to get
a check on sperm count.

When sperm count is low or otherwise impaired or a woman doesn’t respond to initial treatment, couples often try intrauterine (a k a artificial) insemination. A man’s strongest sperm — harvested via a process known as “washing” — are injected into a woman’s uterus at ovulation. Couples have a 2 percent to 20 percent chance of successful conception and generally go through three to six cycles.

In vitro fertilization is the best-known next step. Fertilized embryos, cultured in a laboratory, are implanted inside a woman’s uterus. Chances of a successful pregnancy are around 30 percent for each cycle, which costs an average of
$12,500. It’s a more invasive procedure than other fertility treatments, since the eggs are often harvested from a woman’s ovaries.

There are more than physical side effects to contend with when managing

infertility. Performance anxiety, body-image issues, frustration and resentment are all common interpersonal repercussions. Every couple benefits from counseling while treating infertility. Therapy helps to ensure that your relationship — and your sex life — stay on track for when this highly anticipated baby arrives.

An important part of preserving your connection to each other during fertility treatment is enjoying non-baby sex, so your sex life doesn’t become all work and no play. Your non-fertile time is an opportunity for sensual, spontaneous sex that will get you through the rigors of infertility medicine. Even if all you’re doing is tracking your basal temperature, remind yourselves that sex is about pleasure and connection.

And long before turning to any infertility treatments, make sure you’re up to speed on your own body — not just technology. Since most people spend their whole lives trying not to get pregnant, many of us need some help in knowing when the time is right for procreation.

The OV-Watch from HealthWatchSystems alerts a woman to her six most conception-friendly days each cycle: the four days before ovulation, the day of ovulation and the day after. You wear the pale lavender wristwatch to bed at night, which alerts you to your fertile pre-ovulation days. It might not be the sexiest look I can think of, but it’s kind of sporty and laboratory-chic, as far as fertility aides go.

When it comes to fertility, don’t forget the old adage: time flies when you’re having fun!

Laura Berman, Ph.D., is a couples therapist and director of Chicago’s Berman
Center. Questions? E-mail drberman@suntimes.com .