Method of detecting and predicting ovulation and the period of fertility

Abstract

Methods of detecting and predicting ovulation and a period of fertility include determining a series of measures indicative of the basal body temperature of a female human user to identify a temperature change event. The method includes obtaining, within a first 24 hour period, a plurality of first readings of the temperature of the female human user at intervals over a first extended period of at least an hour. The plurality of first readings are then processed to determine at least one first representative temperature reading representative of the basal body temperature of the user for the first extended period and the at least one first representative temperature reading is stored. The method is repeated for at least second and third 24 hour periods and the representative temperature readings are provided for analysis to identify a temperature change event for the female human user.

1 . A user terminal comprising:
 a temperature measuring device for taking multiple body temperature readings from a female mammal during multiple extended periods:   a memory for storing said temperature readings;   means for communicating the multiple body temperature readings, or a derivative thereof, stored in the memory to a remote data processing device;   means for receiving information relevant to the fertility of the female mammal from a remote computer file server; and   a signalling device to provide said information relevant to the fertility of the female mammal to a user.   
     
     
         2 . A user terminal according to  claim 1 , wherein the temperature measuring device comprises a wearable, removable temperature sensor. 
     
     
         3 . A user terminal according to  claim 1  wherein the temperature measuring device comprises an intravaginal temperature measuring device. 
     
     
         4 . A user terminal according to  claim 1  wherein the remote data processing device comprises a device associated with the user. 
     
     
         5 . A user terminal according to  claim 1  wherein the remote data processing device comprises a display for providing the information relevant to the fertility of the female mammal to the user. 
     
     
         6 . A user terminal according to  claim 1  wherein the remote data processing device comprises a device to which the multiple body temperature readings, or a derivative thereof, are transmitted by telephone, a wireless connection, or by use of an internet protocol. 
     
     
         7 . A user terminal according to  claim 1  wherein an extended period comprises a portion of an ovulatory cycle. 
     
     
         8 . A user terminal according to  claim 1  wherein the means for receiving further comprises means for displaying the information to the user. 
     
     
         9 . A user terminal according to  claim 1  wherein the remote data processing device comprises:
 means for receiving multiple body temperature readings of the female mammal or a derivative thereof from the temperature measuring device; and 
 a processor for identifying temperature readings having one or more characteristics of faulty or irrelevant data and either deleting said readings or labelling them to be subsequently disregarded; and for obtaining one or several representative temperature values for each extended period; and for analysing the representative temperature values obtained over multiple extended periods for one or more patterns in the representative temperature values indicative or predictive of ovulation and thereby provide information relevant to the fertility of the female mammal to a computer file server for later retrieval by a user. 
 
     
     
         10 . A device for providing information relevant to the fertility of a female mammal comprising:
 a temperature measuring device for taking multiple body temperature readings from the female mammal during multiple extended periods;   a memory for storing said temperature readings;   a processor for identifying temperature readings having one or more characteristics of irrelevant or faulty data and either deleting said readings or labelling them to be subsequently disregarded; and   for obtaining one or several representative temperature values for each extended period; and   for analysing the representative temperature values obtained over multiple extended periods for one or more patterns in the representative temperature values indicative or predicative of ovulation; and   a signalling device to provide information relevant to the fertility of the female mammal to the user, wherein the representative temperature values are not the maximum or minimum temperature readings obtained for the extended period.   
     
     
         11 . A device as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said information relevant to the fertility of the female mammal is an indication of the timing of the next fertile period. 
     
     
         12 . A device as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said extended period comprises an overnight period of at least 4 hours. 
     
     
         13 . A device as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein at least 25 temperature readings are taken in said extended period. 
     
     
         14 . A device as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said one or more characteristics of irrelevant or faulty data are disregarded if they are characteristic of irrelevant or faulty data by reason of being characteristic of diurnal temperature fluctuations unconnected to levels of female hormones and therefore unrelated to ovulation. 
     
     
         15 . A device as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said representative temperature values are all of the temperature readings remaining after those having one or more characteristics of irrelevant or faulty data are disregarded. 
     
     
         16 . A device as claimed in  claim 10 , where said pattern in the representative temperature values indicative or predictive of ovulation is the dip in body temperature associated with a rise in oestradiol. 
     
     
         17 . A device as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said female mammal is a human woman and said information relevant to the fertility of the human woman is provided to her. 
     
     
         18 . A device as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the temperature measuring device is an indwelling device suitable for introduction into the vagina of the female mammal. 
     
     
         19 . A device as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the temperature measuring device and the signalling device are provided in separate units, said separate units being able to communicate with each other wirelessly. 
     
     
         20 . A remote data processing device comprising:
 means for reading multiple body temperature readings of a female animal or a derivative thereof from a user; and   a processor for identifying temperature readings having one or more characteristics of irrelevant or faulty data and either deleting said readings or labelling them to be subsequently disregarded; and for obtaining one or several representative temperature values for each extended period; and for analysing the representative temperature values obtained over multiple extended periods in order to identify a pattern in the representative temperature values indicative or predictive of ovulation and thereby provide information relevant to the fertility of the female mammal to a computer file server for later retrieval by a user, wherein the representative temperature values are not the maximum or minimum temperature readings obtained for the extended period.