"A new diagnostic aid for natural family planning"

SpringerLink - Article: "A new diagnostic aid for natural family planning"

M. Barbato1, A. Pandolfi1 and M. Guida2
(1) Centro Ambrosiano Metodi Naturali, Via Bergamini, 8, I-20122 Milano, Italy
(2) II School of Medicine, University of Naples, Naples, Italy

Received: 9 December 1992 Revised: 22 July 1993 Accepted: 22 July 1993
Abstract
Introduction We have studied the use-effectiveness of salivary ferning as a diagnostic testing aid to natural family planning. We used PG/53, a pocket microscope.
Materials and methods Use of natural family planning methods was studied in 32 women who used the new technology PG/53 to detect the fertile period. By this means the women observed their menstrual cycles and other markers of fertility, such as basal body temperature and appearance of cervical mucus.
Results Of the 32 women participating in this research, 28 women had a good salivary test with positive ferning by the microscope in the same period as other markers of fertility. In 4 cycles the ferning was uninterpretable as there was no correspondence with the cycle phase. Ferning began 1–2 days before cervical mucus appearance, and lasted a mean of 6.2 days. Ferning occurred, on average, 7.2 days before the first day of temperature shift.
Conclusions There is a direct correlation between salivary ferning and fertile period. Salivary ferning may be used as a new parameter to aid women to detect the fertile period in combination with other symptothermal methods of ovulation detection. We now need further research in order to improve the use-effectiveness of salivary ferning."