This FDA Response Suggests Women Are Too Emotional to Test Their Hormone Levels

As a longtime user of Natural Family Planning (NFP), also known to many as Fertility Awareness Based Methods (FABM), I am always watching for the latest developments in technology to help chart my cycle. In April 2016, for instance, I was very excited to read about the new at-home progesterone tests being developed by MFB Fertility, Inc., a company focused on creating new in-home diagnostic tests for fertility monitoring in women.

At the time, I was in the midst of a very frustrating series of cycles, in which my fertility monitor—used in conjunction with the Marquette Method—missed peak three cycles in a row. An in-home test that could be used to confirm ovulation via measuring post-peak progesterone levels even if my monitor missed peak seemed like a dream come true. I eagerly contributed to the crowdfunding effort and was excited to try out the finished product. Years later, I’ve had the pleasure of testing those strips. After a couple months of use, I’ve been pleased with the results. I’ve found them to be an effective way to cross-check my fertility monitor’s readings (and I’ve been taking temps via the Wink thermometer as well, just to have an additional check in place).

Ever since this happened, I’ve been intrigued at the prospect of how much more accessible we can make fertility testing for women. So I was excited to hear that recently MFB has had another development in progress—a smartphone app that would allow women to track progesterone, human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG, a hormone produced by the placenta after implantation), and other hormones via an at-home blood test.

You can read the rest of my piece at the Natural Womanhood blog.