OvaCue Fertility Monitor Facts & Questions

Very easy - you simply take an oral reading by placing a spoon-shaped sensor on your tongue every morning for 3-5 seconds to predict ovulation. While the oral sensor can only predict ovulation, to confirm ovulation you need to use the vaginal sensor as well. The vaginal reading needs to be taken daily after then end of your period until ovulation is confirmed (usually about 6-8 days).

The OvaCue Fertility Monitor measures the changes in electrolytes in your saliva and vaginal fluids that signal the onset and completion of the ovulatory process.

Yes. The OvaCue has been clinically proven to be 98.3% accurate in predicting and confirming ovulation.

The OvaCue can give 5-7 days advance notice of upcoming ovulation.

Advance notice is important because sperm needs time to travel to the proper place in the Fallopian tube for fertilization of the ovum.

The OvaCue offers a higher degree of accuracy in predicting ovulation when compared to urine-based fertility monitors. It also also provides the convenience of saliva-based testing. Urine-based fertility monitors base their prediction on the presence of a specific level of an estrogen metabolite in urine. OvaCue bases its prediction on changes in saliva produced by the hormone interaction that triggers this rise in estrogen. The OvaCue does not require that the hormone reach a specific predetermined threshold, but rather it reports the individualized hormone pattern.

The confirmation signal in urine-based fertility monitors is the presence of luteinizing hormone (LH) in the urine. Sometimes this signal is seen on the day of ovulation and sometimes on the day after ovulation. (Note that one can not achieve pregnancy after ovulation has already occurred. The OvaCue signal is based on the shift from estrogen dominance to progesterone dominance, which produces changes in the electrolyte characteristics of the vaginal mucus. The lowest OvaCue vaginal reading occurs on the day before the shift; a marked rise in OvaCue vaginal reading usually occurs on the day of ovulation. An additional advantage of the OvaCue is that there are no recurring costs for test sticks.

Yes. The OvaCue was designed to be used by women with varying cycle lengths. The vaginal sensor is recommended to provide more accurate results.

Yes. The OvaCue was designed to be used by women of any age, once they have begun to ovulate.

Yes. The OvaCue was designed to be used by women with very long or unpredictable cycles. The vaginal sensor is recommended to provide more accurate results.

The OvaCue is not approved for use as a contraceptive. Although the OvaCue will inform the user of precisely which days you can or cannot conceive, the use of the monitor as a contraceptive has not been approved by the FDA.

Yes. The OvaCue can still be used when taking Clomiphene Citrate (Clomid, Serophene, etc.) and other fertility drugs.

Only if your menstrual cycle has returned. If your cycle has not returned, the OvaCue will not identify your fertile cycle.

Yes. The FDA has approved the OvaCue as a safe and effective aid to assist with conception.

Not normally. Once the egg has passed the Fallopian tube without being fertilized, you cannot become pregnant in that cycle, except in rare cases.

No. There is nothing more to buy with your OvaCue (except replacing the battery) and it can be used safely for many years.

You must start taking oral readings by day 5 of your cycle, preferably by cycle day 2. (Day 1 is the first day of menstruation.) *Please note, if your cycle length is less than 27 days, you must begin by cycle day 4.

Yes, if possible. Variances of fewer than two hours are not going to change your result, but for the most accurate data, try to take the reading at the same time every day.

You should not allow anything to enter your mouth before taking an oral reading, particularly liquids, toothpaste, food, cigarettes, etc.

The OvaCue will give a ‘possible’ (lightest blue) on the calendar at the cue peak (selection of the dominant follicle). This is the beginning of the fertile window and would still be 5-7 days before ovulation. It is recommended to begin intercourse every other day throughout the blue days making sure to have intercourse on the darkest blue days and any pink, or purple days (if using vaginal sensor for ovulation confirmation).

The act of taking an oral reading affects both the quantity and quality of your saliva.

A very large amount that is significantly different than normal, especially high-soy sauce Chinese food can affect the result. You will know this has occurred because you will have a reading that is lower and does not follow the existing pattern.

Please retake the reading right away. OvaCue will overwrite the erroneous reading with the good one.

Be sure that you started taking readings between cycle day 2 and cycle day 5. If you begin taking readings later than this, it will yield an error message. This may also result from a problem with the entered "Settings" and if corrected, the error message will resolve.

No, but to have a full picture of your cycle and to establish the habit, we recommend that oral readings be taken every day. Once your calendar turns white, you can discontinue readings until your next cycle if you would like.

To confirm ovulation, vaginal readings should be started the first day after your period has ended (usually about 6-8 days per cycle).

The easiest way to describe how to place the sensor is to imagine you are lying on your back. Insert the sensor vaginally just until you feel it touch the cervix. Then pull slightly out on the sensor (approximately 1/4 to 1/2 inch) and lift the handle so it would essentially be pointing towards the ceiling and the sensor itself pointing towards your backbone. This will drop the sensor into the vaginal mucous pool which is where you want the placement to get an accurate reading.

This is due to secretion. Simply taking the vaginal reading affects both the quantity and quality of the vaginal mucus.

Yes, we recommend using the vaginal sensor prior to intercourse or taking the reading at least 8 hours after intercourse. This also applies to the use of progesterone cream.

Make sure the sensor is plugged all the way into the monitor. Otherwise, it tends to be an issue of sensor placement – please consult the user manual to determine where the sensor should be placed. Retake the reading right away. The OvaCue will overwrite the erroneous reading with the good one.

While the vaginal sensor is not required for predicting ovulation, most of our customers decide to purchase one. The vaginal monitor confirms your time of peak fertility, which usually happens the day before ovulation. If you are uncertain about whether you are ovulating, the vaginal monitor will give you a clear answer. It also gives you the added confidence that the OvaCue is indeed predicting your date of ovulation accurately. Finally, by confirming ovulation it clearly marks the end of your fertile period.

Please check your settings and make sure that the date, time, cycle length and cycle day are correct. This should correct the problem. If you seem to be having a specific issue with either the oral sensor or the vaginal sensor – see the information above for how to solve the issue.