Helping Patients to Predict and Confirm Ovulation with the Use of Combined Urinary Hormonal and Smartphone Technology: A Proof-of-Concept Retrospective Descriptive Case Series

Rene Leiva; Rene Ecochard

doi:10.1055/s-0044-1791702

Seminars in Reproductive Medicine, Table of Contents

CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Semin Reprod Med 2024; 42(02): 090-099
DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1791702

Review Article

Helping Patients to Predict and Confirm Ovulation with the Use of Combined Urinary Hormonal and Smartphone Technology: A Proof-of-Concept Retrospective Descriptive Case Series

Rene Leiva

¹Department of Family Medicine, Bruyere Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

,

Rene Ecochard

²Hospices Civils de Lyon, Universite de Lyon, Lyon, France

³Laboratoire de Biometrie et Biologie Evolutive, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Equipe Biostatistique-Sante, Universite Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Smartphone-based fertility awareness methods with home-based urinary hormonal testing are gaining popularity for fertility tracking. In our university-affiliated family practice, we integrated a previously developed ovulation tracking application into a protocol for monitoring urinary sex hormones and cervical secretions. Serum progesterone was used to confirm the luteal phase, with levels ≥ 15.9 nmol/L ensuring confirmation. Data from 110 women seen for infertility treatment (n = 95) or family planning advice (n = 15) and using our ovulation prediction protocol showed that most opted for a combination of cervical mucus and luteinizing hormone testing (n = 86). Among those using it for family planning, the median usage among women spanned 56 cycles, and 13 cycles per woman required progesterone testing for confirmation. Thirteen patients are still using the method without unintended pregnancies. No unintended pregnancies occurred. Confidence in tests based on serum progesterone was high (93%). For infertility, the method helped in the identification of anovulation, evaluating treatment response, and in diagnosing subfertility causes. This proof-of-concept retrospective descriptive case series suggests the potential for smartphone-based monitoring in fertility management, urging further studies for application enhancements and prospective validation.

Keywords

fertility awareness methods - progesterone - ovulation detection - mobile application - urinary luteinizing hormone

Full Text

References

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Supplementary Material

Supplementary Material