Increase your chances of pregnancy with this reusable portable kit.
Also great for checking sperm health after mating!

Fertile-Focus is designed for use by women, but dog breeders have found it works for canine's as well.  It works on the same principle as the Dramiński Dog Ovulation Detector, but is less evasive and more accurate.  A drop of saliva from under the tongue is put on a glass slide and allowed to dry for 5 to 60 minutes (as long as it takes to dry).  Then look at the ferning results through the microscope.  It is a compact way to test and can be taken anywhere.

Lapdog is selling the Fertile-Focus kit to both women and dog breeders for fertilisation detection.  For this reason the information presented below includes instructions and charts for both.

• One-off purchase.  The kit is reusable.

• Provides results in approximately 5 to 30 minutes when saliva has dried on the slide.  Give the slide plenty of time to dry.  You can leave it as long as you like to dry without affecting the results.  However, reading too soon may appear to have less crystallisation than is the case.

• Positive ferning for women occurs 24 to 72 hours prior to ovulation and successful mating occurs up to 24 hours after ovulation.  For canines the eggs ripen (allowing the sperm to penetrate the eggs) anywhere from 24 to 96 hours after ovulation. 

• In Canines, the transitional ferning normally starts with the LH surge and continues through ovulation -- this phase can last approximately 3 to 5 days.  When the eggs start to ripen the saline ferning will indicate fertile.  The fertile phase will normally last 3 days and this is the ideal time for mating.  Canine sperm normally lives up to 5 days in the female.  For best results in canine breeding, mate either every other day 3 times or 3 days in a row.  See charts and instructions below.

• The kit can be used to check the health of the male's sperm after a mating.  See instructions below.

 

Instructions for Women Introduction Fertile-Focus is a personal ovulation microscope that allows you to predict ovulation – your most fertile time of the month to conceive - with 98% accuracy. When a woman is about to ovulate, her saliva begins to form a distinct crystal, fern-like pattern due to an increase in hormone levels – as seen through Fertile-Focus. This “ferning” pattern begins to appear around 3 to 5 days prior to ovulation, allowing you to predict peak fertility. Using Fertile-Focus Ovulation Microscope With Fertile-Focus, PULL the lens from the tube and just add a drop of saliva. Let the sample dry. In about five minutes, view the sample through the microscope. Press the LED light button and focus by turning the eyepiece of the microscope. If you are ovulating - or about to ovulate - a ferning, crystal-like pattern can be viewed. NOTE: Test first thing in the morning using a sublingual saliva sample (fresh from below the tongue). Do not test after eating, drinking, smoking, or brushing teeth. Carefully remove the lens by pulling it out of the casing. Pull the lense - do not unscrew. Place a drop of saliva on the surface of the lens. Try to avoid creating air bubbles. Allow the saliva sample to dry for at least five minutes and replace the lens into the body of the microscope. Look into the lens and push the light button to observe the test result. To focus, rotate the lens while bringing it close to the eye. Interpreting Fertile-Focus Results With Fertile-Focus, just add a drop of saliva to the lens and let the sample dry. In five minutes, view the sample through the microscope. Press the LED light button and focus by turning the eyepiece of the microscope. If you are ovulating - or about to ovulate - a ferning, crystal-like pattern can be viewed.     Not Fertile: Simple dot patterns and lines indicate no ovulation. You are not fertile at this time. Transitional: Small ferning patterns – or crystal forms - appear among the spots and lines. Ovulation may occur in 3-4 days. At this time, conception is possible, though not yet likely. Fertile: Strong ferning – or crystal – patterns dominate the sample. Ovulation is about to occur or already occurring. At this time, conception is likely. This is your most fertile time of the month. Conception is possible from between 5 days before to 24 hours after ovulation. For best results, test on a daily basis, preferably first thing in the morning before eating, drinking or brushing your teeth. Track each day's results on a calendar or fertility chart. When you begin to see a ferning pattern, the onset of ovulation is approaching. This is the beginning of your most fertile time to conceive. Click here for Fertile-Focus FAQ Understanding How Fertile-Focus Works The science behind Fertile Focus is really quite simple in principle. As you aproach the time of the month when you are most fertile, the level of the hormone estrogen increases in your body (see the blue line below). As the estrogen surge intensifies, so does the concentration of electrolytes (salinity) in your saliva. This is the cause of the crystal ferning patterns that indicate that you may be about to ovulate. By detecting changes in electrolytes in saliva - which are caused by an increase of the hormone estrogen - you can learn when you are most likely to conceive a baby! The Blue Line represents the hormone estrogen that increases in your body before you ovulate - and causes the ferning patterns viewable in dry saliva samples. As the blue line rises, indicating an estrogen surge, so increases the intensity of ferning patterns, indicating that ovulation is about to take place - or is already taking place. Notice how the blue line increases earlier than the green line? The green line is LH - or luteinizing hormone. Lh ovulation (urine) tests tell you when you are going to ovulate just a day or two before ovulation happens. Fertile Focus can alert you to when you will ovulate up to several days before peak fertility! How to Replace the Batteries The unit's light is battery powered, and the batteries can be replaced once the battery life is expired. You can replace the battery without too much effort.  First take off the bottom metal casing from the white part of the unit (twist and pull), then remove the black end cap that houses the button (a pen knife helps).  At this point you want to be careful with that assembly as you don't want to break the circuit connection but you will now be able to access the batteries.  The unit takes 2 standard watch batteries, code GPA76   Fertile Focus FAQs for Women Trying to Conceive? Then increase your odds of becoming pregnant by pinpointing your most fertile days of the month - the handful of days prior to and during ovulation. Questions and Answers about Ovulation Microscopes: FAQ How does Fertile-Focus work? Fertile-Focus detects hormone changes that occur prior to and during ovulation. As estrogen increases, "ferning" or crystal patterns can be viewed in dried samples of saliva (due to elevated quantities of electrolytes that will appear in your saliva). These ferning patterns indicate that ovulation is about to take place. The duration of a woman's fertile period is typically around six days, ending 24 hours after ovulation takes place. Unlike urine LH tests, Fertile-Focus allows you to track fertility and your cycle changes throughout your entire menstrual cycle. When you observe a positive result (crystal/ferning patterns), ovulation is likely to occur within 24 to 72 hours. Tip #1: When applying a saliva sample, remember to PULL the lens from the microscope - do not unscrew. When do I test with Fertile-Focus? Test on a daily basis and record results on a fertility chart or calendar. Test first thing in the morning - but never after eating, drinking, or brushing your teeth. These activities may interfere with results. If you test later in the day, try to wait at least two to three hours after eating or drinking. Is Fertile-Focus accurate? When instructions are followed, determining fertility through ovulation microscopy has been shown to be 98% accurate. Fertile-Focus meets or exceeds all ovulation microscopy quality standards. Tip #2: Avoid brushing teeth, eating, or drinking for several hours before collecting a sample. A sublingual saliva sample, collected from below the tongue will provide the best results! To apply a saliva sample, swirl fresh saliva to the tip of your tongue and dab on the lens. Alternately, use a clean dry finger or soft applicator to collect and apply the saliva sample. How do I clean Fertile-Focus? To clean the glass slide or lens, simply use a damp, non-abrasive cloth (no soaps or cleansors). What is an "estrogen surge" or "estrogen spike"? While estrogen is present in your body throughout your cycle, just prior to ovulation you may have an “estrogen surge” - a marked increase in the presence of estrogen. The increase of estrogen facilitates the ferning patterns in your saliva. An estrogen surge or ovulation may not occur in all cycles for all women. Intensity and duration of the surge may vary among women. Using average menstrual cycle values, the chart below shows the increase of estrogen during the early part of the cycle - up to and during ovulation. The blue line (estradiol) represents the primary estrogen hormone. Note how the gradual increase of the blue line / estrogen allows for you to predict ovulation earlier than with LH urine tests that use luteinizing hormone. What kind of ferning pattern "schedule" or result timeline can I expect? For most women, results patterns will conform to the following general schedule, though variables like cycle length and intensity/duration of estrogen surge may influence results. As a general guideline, this is what you can expect to see. Notice how the timeline matches the graph below! •Follicular Phase: Early part of your cycle (Negative Result): Low Estrogen Levels. You'll See Dots, bubbles, and lines. You are not likely fertile. • 0-2 Days (Transitional): Increasing Estrogen. You'll see incipient ferning patterns, light ferning at margins of result. You are approaching your most fertile time. • 2-4 Days (Positive): Estrogen Surge: You'll see strong ferning patterns: You are at peak fertility. • 0-2 Days (Transitional): Decreasing Estrogen. You'll see diminishing ferning patterns, light ferning at margins of result. • Remaining luteal phase following Ovulation (Negative Result): Low Estrogen Levels. You'll See Dots, bubbles, and lines. Are ferning patterns observable at other times in my cycle? A second second estrogen surge may occur right at the end of your cycle. By monitoring cycle length, and keeping daily results, the second surge should not be confounded with the estrogen surge preceding ovulation. Also, as different women produce differing levels of estrogen, ferning patterns may vary a bit in appearance and duration. Can Ovulation Microscopes be used as a contraceptive device? Ovulation microscopes should not be used as a contraceptive device. How do I apply a saliva sample? For best results, collect a sublingual saliva sample as saliva glands are located below the tongue. Pull (do not unscrew) the lens from the housing. Collect a dab of saliva and place it on the surface of the lens. Try to avoid making bubbles and allow the sample to dry for at least five minutes before attempting to read results. Will Clomid interfere with test results? Clomid will not interfere with Fertile-Focus results, though it may intensify the appearance and duration of ferning. If you are taking Clomid, consult your physician for details. Can I use Fertile-Focus if my cycle is irregular? Yes, Fertile-Focus can be used by women with both regular and irregular cycles. What are some tips for optimizing results? Do not eat, drink, smoke, or brush teeth for at least 2-3 hours before taking the test. Apply sublingual saliva sample to the exterior lens (pull the lens from the housing/do not unscrew lens). Always allow the saliva sample to dry, avoid air bubbles in the sample and Focus by turning the focalizable lens (remove eye-glasses). What can interfere with results? Pregnancy, menopause, or hormonal imbalance, supplemental estrogen, and recent discontinuation of birth control medication may interfere with results. In continued absence of any ferning, your body may not be producing sufficient estrogen. Consult your physician. Fertile Focus FAQs for Canines Journal test results below. How to check sperm The kit is great for checking the health of the male's sperm at time of mating.  To do this just put a dab of the semen fluid after mating on the lens.  Keep holding the lens upright and fit the case back over the slide part of the microscope/slide unit.   Still holding the case is the same position, bend your head back and put the microscope up to your eye and check the results.  The sperm appear as small black dots that can be seen moving. How to check canine fertility -- approximate guideline Approximate Reproduction Cycle in Bitches Below are some other charts showing the canine mating cycle Chart from Modern breeding management in dogs; September 2000 Veterinary Medicine "During proestrus, a bitch is under the influence of estrogen but not progesterone. The first rise in progesterone concentration correlates with the ovulatory luteinizing hormone (LH) peak. The combination of estrogen and progesterone initiates standing behaviour in bitches. Once the ovulatory LH peak has occurred, ovulation will begin in 24 to 48 hours. It takes about 24 to 48 hours for ovulation to be complete, and it takes another 24 to 48 hours for the primary oocytes to undergo two meiotic divisions to become secondary oocytes capable of being fertilized.  (Modern breeding management in dogs; by BEVERLY J. PURSWELL, DVM, PhD, DACT; NIKOLA A. PARKER, DVM, MS, DACT.  September 2000 Veterinary Medicine ) Journal Test Results In the testing below, the Fertile-Focus test kit proved more valuable than the progesterone blood tests because the actual fertile days were above the progesterone blood normal range. RETURN