The Fertility Tracker is an excellent ovulation microscope. It works by taking a sample of first morning saliva and testing it on a slide. Seeing a ferning pattern indicates that ovulation is imminent.

If you are trying to conceive and charting your fertility signs, then using a saliva ovulation monitor is a good way to alert to impending ovulation. They can be used over and over and last for years. They can work as a form of natural birth control, when seeing the ferns, you can avoid possible pregnancy. (Nothing except sterilization is 100%)

I always use an ovulation monitor along with charting to help me stay on top of where I am in the reproduction cycle. To use properly, be sure to read all instructions.

Ovacue Fertility Monitor

If you want to invest in a good fertility monitor, the Ovacue Fertility Monitor is, in my opinion, the top one on the market. This monitor does not require the use of urine, nor does it require the purchase of anything extra like test strips, other than a battery every couple of years.

The OvaCue will alert you days in advance of ovulation, and will again alert you of imminent ovulation then will confirm ovulation occurred after. Used with fertility charting you will see the results verified. I used the OvaCue with my last 4 pregnancies. This device works as an excellent *birth control also, if you establish your fertility pattern, and will know when to avoid sexual intercourse.

While it’s a sizable investment, it’s worth it if you plan to use it through more than one pregnancy or may want to use it as *birth control.

*Note – the manufacturer does not make this claim, however with continued use through the past 10 years, I can see it working as a method of natural birth control very well.

If cost is an important factor but you do not want to compromise another product to consider for Natural Family Planning or Conception is the Fertility Tracker.

Is it true that female ovulation cycle occurs on day 14 of every woman’s cycle? In spite  of the general consensus the answer is a resounding NO. [WIDGET1]

Each and every woman is unique and while it may be normal for one woman to ovulate on day 14 another may ovulate as early as day 8 and yet another may ovulate as late as day 22. Any of these cases can be perfectly normal. It’s this misconception that has caused women to not conceive if they only have sexual intercourse around day 14 of their cycles.

Given the fact that most women are taught that ovulation occurs on day 14 has caused some to believe that they suffer from infertility and others amazed that they conceived even while avoiding intercourse on day 14.

In my own experience I have ovulated as early as day 12 and as late as day 22.  Many factors determine when ovulation actually occurs.

Hormones play a key role in the release of the monthly mature egg and anything from stress to health can hinder the time ovulation actually happens. Of the hormones your body produces the key hormones in the reproductive cycle are follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), estrogen, luteinizing hormone (LH), and progesterone. Any imbalance in these hormones can impede or prevent  ovulation. The presence of prolactin (the hormone produced while breastfeeding) and or a dysfunctional thyroid can stop ovulation.