title: The salivary ferning test and ovulation in clomiphene citrate-stimulated cycles.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the day of ovulation by the salivary ferning test in clomiphene citrate-treated women.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-five infertile women with regular menstrual cycles.
  
  
  METHODS
  Infertile women were given 100 mg of clomiphene citrate for five days and collected their saliva samples daily until seven days after ovulation. Transvaginal ultrasound was performed daily to detect ovulation. The salivary ferning formation was examined by a normal light microscope and graded from 1-3, according to its extent and intensity.
  
  
  METHODS
  The salivary ferning score, the peak salivary ferning day, and the day of ovulation detected by ultrasound.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients' age and cycle length (mean +/- SD) were 32.9 +/- 3.7 years and 28.4 +/- 1.3 days. The peak salivary ferning day corresponded with the ultrasound ovulation day in only 7.1%. There were two peaks of median salivary ferning scores; one was two days prior ovulation and the other was five days post ovulation. There was no correlation between the peak salivary ferning day and day of ovulation detected by ultrasound (r = 0.102, p > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In clomiphene citrate-stimulated cycles, the saliva ferning test does not seem to associate with ovulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, HRH Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Srinakharinwirot University, 62, moo 7, Klong 16, Rangsit-nakornnayok Rd, Ongkharak district, Nakornnayok 26120, Thailand. sumate@swu.ac.th
authors.forename: Sumate
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pattanasuttinont
authors.forename: Wisan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sereepapong
authors.forename: Somchai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suwajanakorn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002996:Clomiphene / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000187:drug effects; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000187:drug effects*; D010060:Ovulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D010061:Ovulation Detection / Q000379:methods*; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D012463:Saliva; D013785:Thailand; D013995:Time; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D004965:Estrogen Antagonists; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female; D002996:Clomiphene; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone