Repetitive hormone blood tests (FSH, LH, estradiol and progesterone) and ultrasounds during a menstrual cycle to advise infertile patients on when to time intercourse are not necessary. Optimal timing of intercourse to achieve pregnancy can be easily performed through at home urinary ovulation predictor kits or the use of a fertility application with high fecundability rates. Additionally, these tests create patient discomfort, require travel to the clinic, and use of plastic blood tubes and reagents, contributing to the growing negative impact of emissions and healthcare waste on the environment.
Sources: Favaro C, et al. Time to Pregnancy for Women Using a Fertility Awareness Based Mobile Application to Plan a Pregnancy. J Womens Health (Larchmt). Nov 2021;30(11):1538-1545. Epub Sep 8 2021. PMID: 34495761. Practice Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Fertility evaluation of infertile women: a committee opinion. Fertil Steril 2021;116:1255-1265. Epub Oct 2 2021. PMID: 34607703. Silverstein WK, et al. Reducing routine inpatient blood testing. BMJ. Oct 26 2022 ;379:e070698. PMID: 36288811.