Trying to have a baby is a very exciting time in a couple's life. However, even a perfectly healthy couple in their 20's have only a I in 4 chance of conceiving in each cycle. The ability to conceive declines with age and yet, despite this, more couples are seeking to start a family later in life, possibly for reasons such as career progression and improved financial stability. In addition, medically defined infertility is a growing problem, and estimates have reported up to 15% of couples having difficulty conceiving. It is estimated in the US that 3.5M women are actively trying to conceive per year. The fertility market is therefore quite substantial.  Of couples having trouble conceiving and presenting for infertility evaluation, unexplained infertility is estimated at 20-30%, and a significant proportion of these are thought to be attributable to mistiming of intercourse during the cycle.

The general belief is that mid-way between menstrual periods is the fertile time of month for all women of child-bearing age.  But for many women periods don't always come regularly. In fact, cycle lengths vary from one cycle to the next, and from one woman to another.  So determining precisely when a woman is fertile during each cycle is key to determining when she can become pregnant.  It is known that timing sexual intercourse to coincide with ovulation can positively influence the chances of conception.

Identifying when a woman is ovulating and the high fertility days leading up to ovulation help to maximize a woman's chance of conceiving.  Most conceptions take place following intercourse during the six days leading up to, and ending on, the day of ovulation. Knowledge of the day on which a woman is likely to ovulate and the highly fertile days immediately preceding it can, therefore, be of great use for couples attempting to conceive. The cycle is controlled by reproductive hormones which are detectable in blood and urine. Luteinizing hormone (LH) triggers ovulation and the estrogen (estrone 3 glucuronide) rise preceding this identifies the high fertility days leading up to ovulation. Ovulation tests identify the 2 peak days for conception.  The Fertility Monitor uses a special algorithm to measure both LH and E3G to help identify the time of high fertility – typically up to five days – before a woman reaches her peak fertility and the days of peak fertility.
 
For the millions of women worldwide who wish to become pregnant, this simple test provides welcome help and reassurance and provides natural, non-invasive methods to maximize the chances of conception.