Ovulation prediction by monitoring the conductivity of woman's saliva

摘要

This paper studied the problems encountered in predicting the ovulation by measuring the electrical resistance of saliva with stick electrode, and presented the design of a test cup with four electrodes and a microprocessor-based device for measuring the conductivity of saliva then predicting the ovulation. Data of seventy-seven menstrual cycles were collected from sixty-six subjects with this device and monitored with an ultrasound. A nadir in conductivity curve of saliva was observed on 5 days before ovulation. The correlation coefficient was 0.732 between the prediction by this device and the observation of the follicle rupturing and releasing its ovum into the pelvic cavity by ultrasound. The results indicate that this device may provide a simple, self-administered, non-invasive, no side-effects and acceptable method for predicting ovulation.