Saliva Crystallization test has been around for more then a half a century, and has been used succesfully to predict ovulation.
In 1945, Papanicolau first observed ferning (crystal formation) in dried cervical fluid.
Further, Dr. Biel Cassals, a spanish gynecologist, studied the crystallization of saliva. In 1969 Sr. Cassals concluded that the ferning of saliva is virtually identical in appearance to the arborization effect of cervical fluid.
Studies were continued internatinally; in 1991, Institute of Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinic in Napoli, Italy, M. Guida study achieved a 92 reliability rate was claimed.
In 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 2001, a pioneer of saliva ovulation testers, MaybeMOM, Inc. sponsors the first-ever U.S. clinical study in compliance with United States FDA requirements to test the effectiveness of its Mini Ovulation Microscope saliva fertility tester versus a urine-based ovulation tester. A 98% accuracy rate is achieved and the results are submitted to uphold their FDA 510(k).
FDA clearance to market the MaybeMOM Mini Ovulation Microscope in the United States is granted. To this day, MaybeMOM is the only FDA approved saliva OPK.
