Are fertility apps a useful tool for tracking ovulation?

We love our phones and enjoy using apps, which probably explains why there are over 100 fertility apps available that claim to help women predict their fertile days and optimize their chances for getting pregnant. With so many apps to choose from, what’s the best option for a woman who is trying to build her family?

Researchers and physicians, intrigued by the many fertility apps on the market, decided to conduct studies to determine whether or not these apps were truly effective.

Recently, a study published in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine investigated 95 fertility apps, studying 30 apps in-depth, and researchers found that only six actually helped a woman accurately track her cycles. According to this study, the fertility apps that were based on fertility awareness-based methods were the most accurate, not the apps that used basal body temperature to track ovulation.

Women should not rely solely on even the most accurate fertility apps for tracking ovulation; instead, we suggest employing fertility awareness-based methods.

Here are some fertility awareness-based methods that we know to be helpful:

• Track your menstrual cycle on a calendar each month.
• Note changes in your cervical mucus. Cervical mucus that has the consistency of egg whites usually accompanies ovulation.
• Purchase an over-the-counter ovulation kit. Kits such as First Response and Clearblue Easy detect surges in your LH, or luteinizing hormone, which occurs approximately 24 to 36 hours before you ovulate.

Employ each of the methods above to help you track ovulation and determine the optimal days to have sexual intercourse. To learn more about fertility awareness-based methods for tracking ovulation, contact us. Our goal is to help you have the family of your dreams.