The OVWATCH is a very accurate means to “pinpoint” the day of ovulation. In addition, the OVWATCH gives a couple far more “warning” of the impending ovulation than tradition methods that rely on temperature changes or detection of hormones in the urine. Studies indicate that the OVWATCH detects a 4 or 5-day fertility window in almost 6 times more women than the older, less accurate methods. This increased opportunity for pregnancy results in 66% more pregnancies in just 6 months. In addition, the OVWATCH does not suffer from the potential false readings that many women experience with temperature monitoring or the pee sticks. Likewise, the use of morning temperature readings may be inaccurate and has the potential to dramatically increase a woman’s stress over her difficulty conceiving.

Regardless of a woman’s age, if she is ovulating, the OVWATCH can optimize the chances of pregnancy by accurately identifying the maximum fertility window where sexual relations have the potential to result in a pregnancy. The proper timing of intercourse or IUI relative to ovulation dramatically enhances the probability of conception. However, it becomes increasing hard to get pregnancy as a women enters her late thirties and early forties. Studies estimate that only 1 in 3 women between the ages of 40 and 44 who are trying to conceive will be successful. As one’s fertility declines, identification of the fertile window may be even more crucial. However, as time is of the essence, prompt evaluation and treatment by a fertility specialist should be considered. While simple treatments such as fertility tablets (clomiphene citrate or letrozole) may be all that is needed, injectable fertility medication or IVF may be required. Even in cases where a woman is much older (50 – 55 years of age) or has very poor function of her ovaries, IVF with a donor eggs gives women an outstanding chance to achieve a successful pregnancy.

It becomes increasing hard to get pregnancy as a women enters her late thirties and early forties. Studies estimate that only 1 in 3 women who are trying to conceive between the ages of 40 and 44 will be successful and the chance of success declines further with each addition year. In addition, the success of advanced treatments such as IVF also declines rapidly with few pregnancies reported after the age of 44 or 45. A recent report from a large IVF center found only 2 successful pregnancies out of 150 IVF attempts in women who were 44 or 45 years of age. Although the number of women who attempted an IVF cycle beyond 45 years of age was small, no successful pregnancies occurred. Fortunately, IVF with a donor eggs gives women an outstanding chance to achieve and carry a pregnancy regardless of their age (up to 50 or 55) or ovarian function. Many couples also opt to pursue adoption as a means to become parents. As one’s fertility declines, identification of the fertile window may be even more crucial and the OVWATCH is an excellent means to accurate predict the most fertile period during a woman’s cycle. However, as time is of the essence, prompt evaluation and treatment by a fertility specialist should be considered.

The fallopian tubes or a history of an ectopic pregnancy have no direct impact on the function of the ovary or the ability of OVWATCH to accurately identify the fertile window. However, timing of sexual relations and optimizing one’s fertility may be even more crucial when one fallopian tube is not functioning. In fact, an ectopic pregnancy implies that the microscopic function of the fallopian tubes is not normal allowing the pregnancy to continue in the fallopian tube instead of being transported to the uterine cavity. In addition, often when one tube has been damage or removed, the other tube is not normal. Even if the remaining tube is open or patent, the damage or abnormal function due to infection or scar tissue may prevent normal function of the microscopic fingers within the fallopian tube that transport a fertilized egg or embryo to the uterine cavity. Therefore, women with tubal disease or those who have had an ectopic are at increased risk of another ectopic pregnancy in the same tube or on the other side. These women may also find it more difficult to conceive. In many cases more aggressive treatment with fertility medications or in some cases, IVF may be required. In addition, after pregnancy occurs close follow up with a woman’s healthcare provider is important to rule out an ectopic pregnancy. Finally, if either fallopian tube is filled with fluid (hydrosalpinx), the fluid may have a detrimental impact on a pregnancy and many experts recommend removal of that tube prior to IVF.

In my experience, the OVWATCH is a good method to identify the fertility window if a woman is ovulating in response to clomiphene citrate. The OVWATCH can also be used to accurately time intercourse or insemination (IUI). Preliminary evidence from an ongoing trial indicates that it is comparable to ultrasound and lab work performed in a physician’s office. In addition, clomiphene citrate is often used to induce ovulation in women who have chronically high LH (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: PCOS). Chronically high LH may cause false reading with monitors that rely on urine testing or pee sticks. The OVWATCH may be the most accurate means to correctly identify the fertile period in these women once ovulation has been restored with weight loss, diabetes therapies or fertility medications. In a head to head comparison with ovulation predictor kits that relied on testing for hormone changes in the urine, the OVWATCH was almost 6 times more likely to identify the true 4 or 5 day fertile window.

The OVWATCH is a good method to identify the fertility window if a women is ovulating in response to clomiphene citrate. The OVWATCH can also be used to accurately time intercourse or insemination (IUI). In addition, preliminary evidence from an ongoing trial indicates that it is comparable to ultrasound and lab work performed in a physician’s office. In addition, clomiphene citrate is often used to induce ovulation in women who have chronically high LH (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: PCOS). Chronically high LH may cause false reading with monitors that rely on urine testing or pee sticks. Likewise, the use of morning temperature readings is often inaccurate and may dramatically increase a woman’s stress. The OVWATCH is often the most accurate and most user friendly method to correctly identify the fertile period in these women.

The length of the menstrual cycle (from the first day of menstrual flow until the start of the next) may vary from 21 – 35 days but 28 days is the most common. Cycles that are at or near either end of the range (21 or 35 days) may not be associated with ovulation. In addition, as a woman gets older or approaches menopause, her cycle will often shorten as the function of the ovary declines. An irregular or absent period typically indicates that a woman is not ovulating regularly. If the irregular cycles are associated with other signs of hormone dysfunction or imbalance, such as acne or abnormal hair growth, the conditions is often classified as PCOS or polycystic ovarian syndrome. The name of this condition reflects the fact that the ovaries often have many small cyst or fluid filled pockets that contain immature eggs. The lack of ovulation may also be associated with abnormal thyroid or pituitary function and other hormonal problems. If a woman is not pregnancy, a complete lack of menses may be associated with failure of the ovary or menopause. This condition can occur at any age but is just over 50 is the norm and it is rare before 40 years of age. Women who have irregular or absent cycles should be evaluated by a women’s healthcare professional or fertility specialist. Fortunately, in most cases, women who do not ovulate regularly respond well to treatments including weight loss, medication to enhance the processing of sugar (Metformin) or fertility pills such as clomiphene citrate. While urine hormone kits have traditionally been used to monitor the return of ovulation and time intercourse or insemination, the OVWATCH has many potential advantages and may further increase a woman’s chance of success during treatment by identifying the maximum fertility window.

Timed intercourse and even proper timing of IUI with the OVWATCH or any other method of ovulation detection has a much lower pregnancy rate than IVF. In addition, the failure to respond to treatment or successfully conceive with several cycles of IVF implies that it is unlikely that pregnancy will occur. However, exception do exist and some couples will achieve a pregnancy after several cycles of IVF, but it is difficult to determine if the potential benefit or chance of pregnancy following treatment is worth the risk or the emotional, physical and financial cost. If age is not a significant issue (the woman is less than 40), ovarian function as measured by hormone levels (predominately FSH and estradiol), ultrasound assessment of the ovarian and response to previous treatment, form the backbone of future predictions of success or failure. While the majority of the failures can be attributed to low egg number or poor quality, abnormal sperm function may play a role in unusual cases. Advanced genetic or functional testing of the sperm may be indicated but lacks a wealth of research to support it. Likewise, PGD (pre-implantation genetic diagnosis) or genetic testing of the embryo with a biopsy prior to returning it to the uterus after IVF has been proposed, but the latest research suggests that PGD does not increase the overall pregnancy rate. Even in cases where a woman is much older (50 – 55 years of age) or has very poor function of her ovaries, IVF with a donor eggs gives women an outstanding chance to achieve a successful pregnancy. Many couples also pursue adoption as a means to become parents.

The fallopian tubes have no direct impact on the function of the ovary or the ability of OVWATCH to accurately identify the fertile window. However, timing of sexual relations and optimizing one’s fertility may be even more crucial when one fallopian tube is not functioning. In fact, when one tubes has been damage or removed, the other tube is often not normal. Even if the remaining tube is open or patent, damage due to infection or scar tissue may prevent normal function of the microscopic fingers within the fallopian tube that transport a fertilized egg or embryo to the uterine cavity. Therefore, women with tubal disease are at increased risk of a pregnancy in the fallopian tube (ectopic) and may find it more difficult to conceive. In many cases more aggressive treatment with fertility medications or in some cases, IVF may be required. In addition, after pregnancy occurs close follow up with a woman’s healthcare provider is important to rule out an ectopic pregnancy. Finally, if the block fallopian tube is filled with fluid (hydrosalpinx), the fluid may have a detrimental impact on a pregnancy and many experts recommend removal of that tube prior to IVF.

Any woman considering pregnancy should consult with her healthcare provider to review her health and issues that might impact pregnancy. It is also of paramount importance that a woman who is considering pregnancy take at least 400 mcg (0.4 mg) of folic acid a day. Cessation of tobacco or drug use and avoidance of alcohol is also crucial to a healthy pregnancy. In general, a healthy well balanced diet is all that is required for pregnancy. The US Department of Health and Human Services recommends that a woman considering pregnancy load up on fruits, vegetables, and whole-grains (such as whole-wheat breads or crackers). Eat plenty of calcium-rich foods such as non-fat or low-fat yogurt, milk, and broccoli. Avoid eating a lot of fatty foods (such as butter and fatty meats). Choose leaner foods when you can (such as skim milk, chicken and turkey without the skin, and fish). Women who are pregnant or attempting to conceive should avoid seafood that may contain high levels of mercury: swordfish, tilefish, King mackerel, shark, raw or uncooked fish or shellfish, and refrigerated uncooked smoked fish. To lessen the chances of exposure to listeria and toxoplasma, they also encourage pregnant women to avoid raw or undercooked meat or poultry, pates or meat spreads, soft cheeses, raw or unpasteurized milk, unwashed fruit or vegetables and luncheon meat or hot dogs unless they are reheated until steaming hot. Other forms of seafood are allowable but in reduced amounts. Tuna, halibut and snapper should be limited to one serving per week. Shrimp, crab, clams, oysters, scallops, salmon, Mahi Mahi, Pollack, catfish and cod may be consumed twice weekly. The Federal Office of Women’s Health also recommends limiting caffeine during pregnancy because it is a stimulant and a diuretic that may lead to dehydration. Caffeine is found in colas, coffee, tea, chocolate, cocoa, and some over-the-counter and prescription drugs. Large quantities of caffeine can cause irritability, nervousness and insomnia as well as low birth-weight babies. Some studies show that drinking caffeine during pregnancy can harm the fetus. Other research suggests that small amounts of caffeine are safe and there is limited data on the effect of caffeine on fertility.