Method of predetermining time of ovulation in women and in animals to control conception
First Claim
1. The method of monitoring the progress of the ovulation cycle of a female mammal of the kind having an ovulation cycle which comprises periodically determining the concentration of ATP in the mammal'"'"'s vaginal fluid over the period of desired investigation by measuring the intensity of light resulting from the reaction of the ATP content of periodically taken samples of the fluid with luciferase/luciferin in the presence of magnesium and manganese ions.
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Abstract
The achievement of conception and the sex of the resulting human baby depends upon, or is influenced by, the time of impregnation with respect to the time of ovulation. Predetermination of prospective ovulation time enhances success since impregnation should precede ovulation because sperm remains viable longer than the egg. On the basis of the discovery that vaginal fluid contains ATP not only in women but also in a class of mammals, e.g., cows, and that the concentration varies in repeated patterns in successive ovulation cycles, the time of ovulation is predicted by measurement of ATP concentration. This is done quantitatively and reliably by measuring the intensity of light resulting from the reaction of ATP with luciferase/luciferin. A suitable buffer effects protraction of light for accurate reading with a simple meter.
30 Citations
10 Claims
- 1. The method of monitoring the progress of the ovulation cycle of a female mammal of the kind having an ovulation cycle which comprises periodically determining the concentration of ATP in the mammal'"'"'s vaginal fluid over the period of desired investigation by measuring the intensity of light resulting from the reaction of the ATP content of periodically taken samples of the fluid with luciferase/luciferin in the presence of magnesium and manganese ions.
- 7. The method of predetermining the time of ovulation of a woman which comprises periodically determining the concentration of ATP in the woman'"'"'s vaginal fluid over at least her ovum development period by measuring the intensity of light resulting from the reaction of the ATP content of successive samples of the fluid with luciferase/luciferin in the presence of magnesium and manganese ions to indicate the trends of change in concentration of the ATP in the fluid.
- 9. The method of predetermining the time of ovulation of a cow which comprises periodically determining the concentration of ATP in the cow'"'"'s vaginal fluid during the period immediately preceding the cow'"'"'s anticipated normal incidence of estrous by measuring the intensity of light resulting from the reaction of the ATP content of successive samples of the fluid with luciferase/luciferin in the presence of magnesium and manganese ions to indicate the trend of change in concentration of the ATP in the fluid and therefrom the imminence of estrous and thereafter placing the cow under surveillance and determining the onset of estrous and ensuing ovulation from externally visible sign.
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