| The technology behind Maybe Baby is simple: a precisely-designed single-purpose microscope, with the exact magnification needed to see oestrogen crystals in the dried saliva of women at the peak of their fertile period every month. For women who are trying to conceive and get pregnant, Maybe Baby offers an extremely convenient and cost-effective ovulation diagnosis tool. I. Scientific Studies on the “Saliva Ovulation Crystalisation Method” II. Scientific Studies on the “Saliva Ovulation Crystalisation Method” and Maybe Baby III. Research on Ovulating Twice in One Cycle IV. Using Maybe Baby with other Ovulation Detection Methods V. Research on Influencing Gender I. Scientific Studies on the “Saliva Ovulation Crystalisation Method” The discovery that crystals formed in cervical fluid and in saliva, and that these crystals depended on the presence of oestrogen, is re-told in this chronology of scientific papers published over the last 60 years. After the initial observations, a lot of work was done to establish the causal link to the presence of oestrogen, then to establish the reliability of the "saliva crystalization method" in isolation when compared to established methods of oestrogen level measurement and the timing of ovulation itself. Some of this work was inspired by a desire to establish non-fertile periods, and while this was satisfactory, Maybe Baby isn't intended for, and should not be used as a contraceptive aid. Once the excellent correlation of the microscope test with the fertile and non-fertile phases of a woman's cycle had been established, all that remained was to reduce the cost and size of the microscope to something convenient and affordable. The final stage of studies was to ensure that the small specially-designed microscope was as reliable as a full-size scientific model for the purposes of predicting ovulation, and to compare its accuracy with other established methods of oestrogen-level detection.
A major paper is reproduced here. Galati, Trapani et al ‘A new test for human female ovulation diagnosis’. Progress report: International Review of Medical Sciences. Reprint Vol: 6 - Nº 1, 1994 This is a report of a test of a mini-microscope in an outpatients obstetrics and gyneacology clinic attached to the department of Physiology at the University of Rome. Those women whose samples showed fern-like crystals were asked to permit an ultrasound examination of their ovaries. Almost all of those who were tested had follicles at the point of ovulation. The paper claims an accuracy rate of 98% with less than 8% false-positive. II. Scientific Studies on the “Saliva Ovulation Crystalisation Method” and Maybe Baby This is a comprehensive study using the Maybe Baby brand of mini-microscope itself. The entire paper is reproduced with all the test results statistically analysed and tested. The last three pages are a summary in less technical terms, and are also available as a downloadable pdf. Ganovic, et al ‘Determination of Fertile and Infertile Days of the Menstrual Cycle of women by using the saliva crystallization test'. Belgrade, September 1995 III. Research on Ovulating Twice in One Cycle There has recently been a buzz about the possibility of ovulating twice in one cycle, based on the findings of research funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. There is no data that suggests you can ovulate more than once in a cycle. If you see full ferning more than once in a cycle, it does not indicate ovulation; please see our FAQ section for details. IV. Using Maybe Baby with other Ovulation Detection Methods It may helpful to use several ovulation detection methods together with Maybe Baby to confirm your ovulation date. Tracking Basal Body Temperature and Cervical Mucus Charting your temperature is an important practice which can help you understand your cycle. Most women see their temperature rise when they are ovulating and also notice a change in the texture of their cervical mucus during ovulation. But this method, which depends on a basal or fertility thermometer, is designed only to help determine when ovulation has occurred. It does not allow you to predict ovulation and determine when you are close to ovulating like Maybe Baby does. However, if used in combination with Maybe Baby, this method can help reaffirm your ovulation date so you can be certain of that precious 24-hour window when you see the “full fern” pattern. Urinary Ovulation Prediction Kits These ovulation tests are designed to detect a luteinising hormone (LH) surge evident in urine just before ovulation. LH is always present in a woman’s blood and urine, but the level of this hormone increases dramatically in the days prior to ovulation. Depending on the type of urine ovulation prediction kit (“OPK”) you are using, you may obtain this urine sample in a number of ways (the most common methods are either by urinating in a cup and putting the testing stick in, or urinating over the testing stick while holding it. This can be a tedious, unpleasant, and messy task. You may find it more clean and pleasant to use Maybe Baby, because you need only dab a bit of saliva onto a slide of glass. The LH surge can happen rapidly and then disappear quickly, so unless you test your urine at the right time, the test could be unclear and you could actually miss it. Some urine test kits suggest testing twice a day to ensure you don’t miss the surge, but since urine-based predictor test strips are not reusable, this method may become very costly. Using this type of test in combination with Maybe Baby may be advantageous to help determine your ovulation time with confidence, and predict your ovulation timing. Please note the following if using Maybe Baby and a urinary ovulation prediction test simultaneously… - Maybe Baby can be used any time of day, but we recommend using it when you first wake up before anything comes in contact with your saliva (such as food or drinks except water). However, Some OPK’s recommend use anytime of day except first thing in the morning. Please check the instructions on your specific urinary ovulation prediction test for the recommended time of use. - LH can increase even if no egg is released, so even if the test reads a positive, that does not always determine ovulation with certainty. If your Maybe Baby readings show dots or pebbles, but your LH test show ovulation, there is a chance your LH test may be providing a false positive. - Urinary ovulation prediction kits generally only give couples 24 to 36 hours advance notice. However, it can take as long as 24 hours for sperm to reach the egg, and an egg can die in as few as six hours after its release, so that may not be enough notice. To help predict your ovulation timing with confidence, it may be beneficial to use LH tests and Maybe Baby at the same time. V. Research on Influencing Gender Some time ago, a famous American IVF pioneer, Dr Landrum B Shettles, suggested that it was possible to influence whether a child was a boy or a girl by having intercourse earlier or later around the time of ovulation (early for girls, late for boys). This was instantly controversial: partly because this is a very intriguing idea for parents who want a boy or a girl for whatever reason; partly because some people don't think that it is right to want to choose in this way; partly because subsequent scientific studies have failed to come up with similar results. There have been dozens of scientific studies since that seek to prove or disprove the idea that the timing of intercourse during your cycle may have some correlation with whether you have a baby boy or a girl. Does timing have any real basis? The concept that timing might have some influence is based on the fact that sperm either carry an X chromosome, or a Y chromosome. An X chromosome sperm will create a female embryo if it fertilises the egg, and a Y chromosome sperm creates a male embryo. Some observers have published claims that Y-Chromosome sperm ("male" sperm) are smaller, less viable, but more energetic than X-Chromosome ("female" sperm). The implied conclusion is that parents interested in conceiving a girl should have intercourse early in the fertile period, prior to ovulation. This, however, is gambling on both (a) male sperm not surviving and (b) surviving female sperm being more likely to achieve fertilisation. Conversely, parents interested in conceiving a boy should leave intercourse until the last minute (during ovulation) and hope that the more nimble male sperm will beat the slower female sperm to the egg. The Evidence Study after study has failed to determine any significant alteration in the natural imbalance of about 0.5% in favour of boys over girls, but the theory still has its strong proponents. Furthermore, few of the studies that seek to dismiss the idea have been carried out using strict controls and counter-controls. Since all necessarily have to rely on couples accurately recording what happens in the privacy of their own homes, there is a large potential for error and inconsistency. Even if there is scientific basis to the so-called “Shettles Method” (the theory of timing intercourse to influence gender), it doesn't change the overall odds by much. The controversy will continue to rage, fuelled by the many reports of couples delighted with the outcome of their own efforts. Precise prediction of ovulation using Maybe Baby Should you wish to try to alter the odds in your favour by using the "Shettles Method", then it is very important to know just when ovulation will take place, and this is where Maybe Baby can help. While Maybe Baby can help you predict ovulation, it cannot guarantee that you will get pregnant, nor can it guarantee what sex your baby will be.
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