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Tools of the Trade

3 Things Hopeful Moms Can't Live Without

By Kelly Burgess

Three experts. Three high-tech tools. We asked three female fertility experts about three technological-based tools commonly used by women who are trying to conceive. Our experts are:

• Dr. Sejal Dharia Patel, an associate with the Center for Reproductive Medicine in Celebration, Fla., and an associate professor at the University of Central Florida.
• Dr. Eve Feinberg, reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist at the Fertility Centers of Illinois.
• Kristin Kali, midwife at MAIA Midwifery and Preconception Services in Orinda, Calif.

The tools they're evaluating for us are ovulation predictor kits (OPKs), personal computers (PCs) and home pregnancy tests (HPTs).

From dealing with women who may be having issues with fertility, as Drs. Dharia Patel and Feinberg do, to working with gay couples who may have limited access to sperm, as Kali does, these experts understand the importance of a woman's awareness of her cycle. "Women are only fertile a few days of every month," Kali says. "It can be crucial to know when those days are."

What are they?
OPKs detect the surge in the production of luteinizing hormone (LH), which occurs roughly 36 hours before ovulation. Timing intercourse shortly after the LH surge can increase the odds of conception.

What's the cost?
$20 to $50 per kit (about a month's worth of tests)

What are the pros?
Dr. Feinberg says OPKs have allowed women to take charge of their fertility and to optimize timing of intercourse. Furthermore, Dr. Feinberg says they often prompt women to seek help sooner if they are made aware that they are not ovulating.

What are the cons?
They can be wrong. Dr. Dharia Patel notes that if you have elevated LH levels due to conditions such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), the test may not be accurate. It's estimated that OPKs do not work properly in approximately 1 percent of all users. It's also possible to have that LH surge and not ovulate. Alice Smith, of Chicago, Ill., says she found OPKs worked best for her if used in conjunction with a traditional basal body temperature chart. Kali agrees this dual approach is best, and it's one she recommends to her patients.