The Development of the Oestrogen Crystal Technique

1945: Papanicolau first observed ferning (crystal formation) in dried cervical fluid. He demonstrated way that uterus secretion, after leaving thin layer for some time to dry in glass tube, transforms in tree-like form of crystals, which were much more present when estrogen was active, but almost imperceptible or drastically reduced in the phase when lutein hormone was active.

1957: Dr. C. Andreoli & DR. M. Della Porta, an Italian gynecologists, in their Study “Research of saliva secret crystallization in menstrual cycle” in Clínica Ostetrica Ginecologica dell’Universita di Torino (published in “MINERVA GYNECOLOGICA”, pp.433 – 435), claimed “with certainty that appearance of saliva crystallization can coincide with appearance of discrete phase of pregnancy, which all points out to activity of lutein hormone secretion”. They also concluded that “that crystallization had appearance and spread like fern, but with different characteristics in different phases of menstrual cycle…. Large numbers of crystals characterized by fern-leaf branches, mutually entangled and crossed, get this kind of form only at the middle of menstrual cycle, when estrogen activity is highest and when cocoon burst”

1968: Dr. Biel Cassals, a Spanish gynecologist, studied the crystallization of saliva and concluded that the ferning of saliva is virtually identical in appearance to the arborization effect of cervical fluid (Published in “MEDICINA CLINICA”, 1968, Tom L/No.6, page 385-392);

1989: Tandra Pal & Asok K Bhattacharyya, Calcutta University College of Science, India, concluded that the evaluations of salivary LDH and LAP activities are reliable for the prediction of onset of ovulation. Moreover, saliva is an easily available body fluid, so these efforts may establish an easy method for the detection of ovulation (Published in “ Indian Journal of Experimental Biology” Vol. 27, August 1989, pp. 695-698).

1991: M. Guida, Institute of Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinic in Napoli, Italy, study achieved a 92% positive result matching saliva ferning to the fertile preovulatory and ovulatory period;

1992: M. Barbato, A. Pandolfi, M. Guida study found direct correlation between saliva ferning and the fertile period, stating that “salivary ferning may be used as a new parameter to aid women to detect the fertile period in combination with other sympto-thermal methods of ovulation detection”.

1992: 2nd Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics in Brno, Czechoslovakia studied 300 women from an in vitro fertilization program who used a handheld microscope device to track saliva ferning and ovulation period. Results from the study determined a definite correlation between estrogen activity and the crystallization of saliva, classifying the reliability as “very high level”. When combined with the basil temperature method, a 99% reliability rate was claimed;

1994: Clinical Center of Serbia conducted a study “Determination of Fertile and Infertile Days of the Menstrual Cycle of Women by Using the Saliva Crystallization Test” and found saliva ferning to be as effective as cervical mucus analysis and ultrasonographic folliculometry. In addition, they said that “the special validity of this test (mini-microscope saliva tester) is its certainty of reaction, especially in preovulatory period and the period of ovulation”. Their conclusion was that (saliva tester) “owing to its simplicity and validity, deserves a systematic application in determining fertile and infertile days in the course of the menstrual cycle”;

1994: G. Galati & E. Trapani, Italian gynecologists conducted a study at University of Roma, Department of Gynecology using the Saliva Tester. They performed the saliva test on 328 women and concluded, that “accuracy, in determining fertile moments of the monthly cycle, is close to 98%, higher than other contraceptive devices” and that the Saliva Tester “can be used to determine the fertile period”.

2001: The first-ever U.S. clinical study in compliance with United States FDA requirements to test the effectiveness of Mini Ovulation Microscope saliva fertility tester versus a urine-based ovulation tester. A 98% accuracy rate is achieved and the results are submitted in FDA 510(k) Summary in accordance with the requirements of SMDA 1990 and 21 CFR 807.92. The Maybe MOM Mini Ovulation Minimicroscope is substantially equivalent to the compared urine test. The both methods identify the most fertile days of a women’s menstrual cycle and impending ovulation. Mini Ovulation Microscope detects the characteristic ovulatory ferning pattern seen in dried saliva. That ferning occurs due to increased levels of ovulatory hormones.