Science, Software and Your Biology
Our fertility kits come with testing strips that detect different hormone levels in urine. These are called LFAI’s, or “lateral flow immunoassays”. LFAI’s work by “binding” the hormone to biomolecules, making them easy to measure.
These biomolecules contain metallic nanoparticles that then change color, acting like “visual reporters”. Once the strips are subjected to urine, the colorful lines that appear detect the extent and concentration of the hormone being tested.
It would be impossible to accurately interpret the strips with the naked eye. Most laboratories have specialized, highly accurate equipment, but these are expensive, and nearly impossible to replicate at home. This is where Pearl’s software comes in.
The Pearl software
Pearl’s algorithm utilizes data from the test strips to detect hormone patterns. It then predict events to happen in the cycle well in advance.
At the heart of our software is a proprietary algorithm. It detects a pattern of two vital hormones: FSH (Follicle-stimulating hormone) and LH (Luteinizing hormone). Using this hormone pattern input, the software then accurately predicts the “fertile window”, or the days where you are most likely to conceive, making it one of the most accurate cycle trackers.
Hormones, Ovulation and Fertility
Pearl uses hormonal data...
...to calculate your "fertile window", a 6-8 day span in each cycle with the highest chances of conception.
After ovulation, your egg is only viable for 12-24 hours. However, sperm can survive inside the body up to 2 to 6 days after intercourse.
These facts together influence your fertile window, the span of days when you have the highest chance of conceiving. that is why it starts a couple of days before ovulation and ends approximately two days after.
The Pearl app in combination with the Pearl kit helps women learn about their fertile window, making fertility tracking easier and more effective than ever.
[1] Ecochard, R., et al. "Use of urinary pregnanediol 3-glucuronide to confirm ovulation." Steroids 78.10 (2013): 1035-1040. Baird, Donna Day, et al. "Using the ratio of urinary oestrogen and progesterone metabolites to estimate day of ovulation." Statistics in medicine 10.2 (1991): 255-266.
[2] Rubenstein, B. B., Strauss, H., Lazarus, M. L., & Hankin, H. (1951). Sperm survival in women, motile sperm in the fundus and tubes of surgical cases. Obstetrical & Gynecological Survey, 6(5), 757.
[3] Stanford, Joseph B., and David B. Dunson. "Effects of sexual intercourse patterns in time to pregnancy studies." American Journal of Epidemiology 165.9 (2007): 1088-1095.