# To the reproductively challenged: ever use a fertility microscope?a
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-reproductively-challenged-ever-use-a-fertility-microscope-a/202152
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [September 17, 2003, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-reproductively-challenged-ever-use-a-fertility-microscope-a/202152 "2003-09-17T15:45:45Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@mmm.forbidden\_doughnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mmm.forbidden_doughnut)
#### Post date: [September 17, 2003, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-reproductively-challenged-ever-use-a-fertility-microscope-a/202152/1 "2003-09-17T15:45:45Z")
I have pcos and endometriosis. Knowing when/if I’m ovulating is a total shot in the dark for me. I took clomid this month and _still_ didn’t ovulate (increasing the dosage for next month cause 50 mgs just doesn’t make me bitchy enough!). If my period doesn’t come in 2 weeks, they’ll give me progesterone to kick start it. So, I bought one of the saliva microscopes and am still holding out hope that I may ovulate late this cycle. Has anyone every used one? Please tell me your experiences or those of people you know. Thanks most kindly!
mmm…
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### Author:  [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)
#### Post date: [September 17, 2003, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-reproductively-challenged-ever-use-a-fertility-microscope-a/202152/2 "2003-09-17T16:03:36Z")
I worked in a fertility office for 5 years as an RN. This was 5 years ago. I have not heard of a fertility microscope for saliva. Can you tell me more about it?
Also, how old are you? Are you at the GP, OB-GYN, or RE’s office for your treatments? I take it you do not have any regular cycles?
How do you know you didn’t ovulate? Did you have an ultrasound? It sounds like you took the clomid and didn’t either get pregnant or your cycle.
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### Author:  [@mmm.forbidden\_doughnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mmm.forbidden_doughnut)
#### Post date: [September 17, 2003, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-reproductively-challenged-ever-use-a-fertility-microscope-a/202152/3 "2003-09-17T16:49:56Z")
The microscope allows you to see a “ferning pattern” in your saliva a few days before you ovulate indicating that hormone levels are changing. You can also use cervical fluid. I had heard of the ferning pattern before. So, I believe it is legit.
I am 33. I’ve done verything short of IVF to get pg w/my first child. In the end, it just happened. For those of you that “hear that all the time,” it really doesn’t happen all that often. About 5% of the time (according to inciid–don’t feel like looking for the cite). I don’t plan on going back to the RE’s office as I will not do all the IF treatments again. It was too hellish the first time. If it comes to that, we’ll either adpt or let our son be an only child. My cycles are not as bad as some I’ve heard. I usually have 6-8 cycles/year and my periods feel like my guts are going through a blender. I wouldn’t wish them on my worst enemy.
I know I didn’t ovulate bcause my ob had me come in on cd 20 to check my progesterone. It was less than 5. That’s pretty conclusive.☹ :mad: 😕 :mad: :dubious:
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### Author:  [@easy\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/easy_e)
#### Post date: [September 17, 2003, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-reproductively-challenged-ever-use-a-fertility-microscope-a/202152/4 "2003-09-17T23:59:29Z")
In my physiology and human sexuality classes, I’ve heard of the ferning in cervical mucous, but not saliva. Can you provide a site for that? I would test the cervical mucous, just to be safe. You could also try measuring your basal body temperature (temperature at waking up in the morning, before _any_ activity). [This website](http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/3195.html) recommends you monitor both (they recommend monitoring cervical mucous by observing its texture and consistency). But IANA doctor or fertility specialist.
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### Author:  [@mmm.forbidden\_doughnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mmm.forbidden_doughnut)
#### Post date: [September 18, 2003, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-reproductively-challenged-ever-use-a-fertility-microscope-a/202152/5 "2003-09-18T12:56:10Z")
Thanks for the response, **easy e**. I’ve just heard about the saliva anecdotally, so no cite. Measuring bbt doesn’t work very well for me because I’ll have many, many temperature spikes and dips (false alarms) before I actually ovulate.
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### Author:  [@tanookie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanookie)
#### Post date: [September 18, 2003, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-reproductively-challenged-ever-use-a-fertility-microscope-a/202152/6 "2003-09-18T13:17:39Z")
I had seen articles about those microscopes coming out soon and then I ended up pregnant myself (no thanks to the clomid I took the year before)
I thought that was an amazing thing (the ferning and stuff) and was on the lookout to try them when they came out.
I found this: [http://www.babyhopes.com/fertilitymicroscope.html](http://www.babyhopes.com/fertilitymicroscope.html)
and this: [http://www.gentlebirth.org/nwnm.org/Saliva\_Ferning.htm](http://www.gentlebirth.org/nwnm.org/Saliva_Ferning.htm)
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### Author:  [@mmm.forbidden\_doughnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mmm.forbidden_doughnut)
#### Post date: [September 18, 2003, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-reproductively-challenged-ever-use-a-fertility-microscope-a/202152/7 "2003-09-18T22:25:18Z")
Thanks, **tanookie.** Aren’t you pregnant now? Or did you just give birth? That second link was good. I’d seen several sites but they were all for companies selling the gizmo. That second one was more informative without trying to sell anything.
Anyone else have any experiences?
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### Author:  [@tanookie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanookie)
#### Post date: [September 18, 2003, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-reproductively-challenged-ever-use-a-fertility-microscope-a/202152/8 "2003-09-18T23:38:32Z")
I’m pregnant now with a little boy. He’ll be here on October 28. Seems once I got pregnant my body just kinda went ‘oh ok now I see what you wanted’ and so the second time was a lot easier than the first. (Only took 18 months instead of 5 years!)
I’m glad that site was useful 🙂 That is great technology… I like that better than some of the other stuff… and the scopes seem like a one time investment instead of lots and lots of those packs of sticks.