How do you test for ferns?

Examine the air-dried smear under the microscope without a coverslip and using low power magnification (10x magnification). I. Dried amniotic fluid produces a microscopically visible crystallization in a “fern” pattern. Dried normal vaginal fluid does not produce a “fern” pattern.

How can I test my fern at home?

You put some of your saliva on a glass slide, allow it to dry, and look at the pattern it makes. You will see dots and circles, a fern (full or partial), or a combination depending on where you are in your monthly cycle.

What causes ferning?

Ferning occurs due to the presence of sodium chloride in mucus under estrogen effect. When high levels of estrogen are present, just before ovulation, the cervical mucus forms fern-like patterns due to crystallization of sodium chloride on mucus fibers. This pattern is known as arborization or ‘ferning’.

When is fern test done?

The fern test is used to provide evidence of the presence of amniotic fluid and is used in obstetrics to detect preterm premature rupture of membranes and/or the onset of labor. It also may provide indirect evidence of ovulation and fertility, although it does not predict the time of ovulation.

How accurate is Ferning test?

Results: Salivary ferning test by KNOWHEN ovulation microscope is accurate method of detecting ovulation. Its accuracy was 86.5%. Conclusions: Salivary ferning test is a reliable test to detect fertile period of menstrual cycle.

Why does a fern test show ovulation?

It also may provide indirect evidence of ovulation and fertility, although it does not predict the time of ovulation. Ferning occurs due to the presence of sodium chloride in mucus under estrogen effect.

What kind of test is a fern test?

Fern test refers to detection of a characteristic ‘ fern like’ pattern of cervical mucus when a specimen of cervical mucus is allowed to dry on a glass slide and is viewed under a low-power microscope.

How are saliva ovulation predictors used in fertility tests?

Saliva Ovulation Predictors (Saliva Fertility Tests) When a woman is about to ovulate, her saliva begins to form a distinct fern-like pattern due to an increase in the level of salt and estrogen.

When do you see crystal ferning on a fertility test?

After a five minute “drying period”, they view the sample through the microscope and record the result on their fertility chart. During the “transitional phase” (at the onset of the estrogen surge), my patients will see a mild or disconnected crystal-ferning pattern. This transitional phase can typically last a few days.