But, question: does it do what it says on the can? We ask the experts.
“The eighteen months we spent getting pregnant were the darkest of my life,” explains Dr. Amy Divaraniya. “I did everything I was supposed to do – use ovulation sticks, take my body temperature every morning and track it down. everythingyet we still got negative pregnancy tests every time, ”she shares.
This is where Oova was born – a home fertility test that claims to be the first and only measure of two hormones quantitatively, which makes ovulation detection for women without PCOS – this is polycystic ovary syndrome – even more accurate and those with the condition, possible.
“My journey was heartbreaking, and all the applications that promised to help were designed for women who had perfect menstrual cycles,” she continues. See, Divaraniya has not done this and although couples struggling to conceive can use standard ovulation kits to track their cycle, those with irregular cycles and fertility issues such as PCOS sometimes have elevated luteinizing hormone (LH) levels, which can lead to to false positives on traditional ovulation tests. “Oova, on the other hand, measures LH levels quantitatively,” Divaraniya explains.
“Our algorithm does not care if your baseline is high or low – we simply learn your unique baseline and wait for your hormone levels to deviate from it and thus identify your most fertile days. ”
Infertility is a growing problem – one in eight couples is thought to be affected – and PCOS can often be part of the problem. So, this PCOS Awareness Month, we decided to dig a little deeper into Oova. Keep reading as we talk to the scientists behind the test, outline what it is and also explain how it works.
Introduce Oova: but does it work?
First, a little background for you – when a woman is trying to conceive, they can use an ovulation test to determine when they are most fertile during their menstrual cycle. “Ovulation tests usually detect an increase in LH in the urine that occurs just before the ovum is released through the ovary,” Divaraniya explains.
This process is known as ovulation and for those trying to conceive, it is ideal to align with the LH surge so that sperm can be in the vicinity of the ovum when it is released. As above, for those with PCOS, typical ovulation tests are not as reliable due to elevated LH levels – this is where Oova comes in, promising to monitor ovulation for all women.
Did you know? Within any given cycle, you can only get pregnant for two to five days. “This makes it critical to ensure you have time until the days you are likely to be pregnant, and ovulation tests help identify your most fertile days,” Divaraniya explains.
So, how does Oova work?
All you have to do is take your Oova test at home – it’s a urine test strip, so pretty simple. Then scan it to your phone and your hormone levels will be sent to the Oova application so you can see it.
The application gives you a daily action plan to help you achieve whatever goal has been set, whether it is fertilization or just hormone monitoring.
How accurate is Oova?
Aka, can users be sure that this is correct? According to Divaraniya, Oova provides the same accuracy as a blood test, but non-invasive, from the comfort of your home. “Oova is the most accurate and precise home fertility test available,” shares the co-founder.
So, what does an independent doctor think? We asked Dr. Deborah Lee of Dr. Fox Online Pharmacy to take her.
“Women with PCOS will want to know if they have ovulated and build up a picture of their cycles,” she explains. “In a fertility clinic, they would have a blood test on day twenty-one to measure their progesterone levels and, if there was no pregnancy after six months, they would then be offered a scan cycle.”
So, on the plus side? “I think it’s a good device and setup,” she shares. “Oova gives a realistic option to be able to see if ovulation takes place at home every month. In addition, the application will keep a personal and numerical record of your hormones that can be shown to a doctor later, actually works for women with endometriosis, PCOS, fibroids and other gynecological disorders, and can be a good option for those with fertility problems who have a fear of needles and cannot face blood tests, ”she continues.
However, Oova works on the assumption that an increased progesterone means you ovulate, which ‘does not confirm 100% ovulation’, Lee shares. “Women sometimes have luteinized (thick-walled) uncut follicles, which means that even if the progesterone levels are increased, ovulation can still not have taken place. “It is important to realize that the only way to fully know that someone has ovulated is to do a scan cycle – a series of ultrasound scan clocks allow you to watch the follicles grow and develop in the ovaries,” he explains. his.
In addition, she adds that it does not yet have quite enough scientific support – she can not see any published scientific evidence on how they substantiated their claims. “I could not find any scientific articles to justify their claims of the effectiveness of detecting ovulation,” she shares.
Bottom line? While Oova can certainly be a helpful tool for some, Daisy reckons that a visit to the doctor is your best option for most. “Do not stay away from the clinic that is obsessed with home ovulation kits – go see your doctor and ask for a referral to a fertility clinic sooner rather than later.”
Ovulation kits: 4 to try
Still want to try an ovulation kit for yourself at home? As both doctors share, they can be an effective way to track your fertility, even if you have a female health condition such as PCOS. Try the following:
Clearblue Advanced Digital Ovulation Test Kit (OPK), 1 digital container and 20 tests, £ 36.99
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Boots Ovulation Test Strips – 5 Tests, £ 4.99
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Pack of 60 x Ovaview Sensitive Ovulation / Fertility Tests Kit – 25mlU / ml, £ 14.89
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