- Academic Editor
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Background: Cervical discharge is considered a hydrogel, which is part
liquid and part solid. Under physiological conditions, the characteristic
“fern-leaf” arborization is proportional to the circulating estradiol
concentration and maximal in the preovulatory phase. Crystallization of the
cervical secretion is a process of dehydration with the arrangement of sodium and
potassium chloride crystals around a main axis composed of mucin. L-type (Loaf)
(L) is proportional to the circulating estradiol concentration and is higher in
the Fertile Window (FW). Currently, most studies comparing the FW with cervical
discharge include the biophysical fertile window (BFW) which is 6 days before the
estimated day of ovulation (EDO). Methods: Samples were taken from the
vulvovaginal region within the FW using the Creighton Model System for Fertility
Care (CrMS). Optical images of the samples were digitized to perform a
binarization, skeletonization, and crystallization directionality study of the
scanned branches. These samples taken from the vulvovaginal secretion were not
collected from the endocervix. They were recorded by the Vaginal Secretion
Recording System (VDRS) using CrMS. The FW was taken into account from 6 days
before the peak (P) day according to CrMS. A statistical study was performed by
comparing vulvovaginal crystallization samples including –6 day EDO in FW.
Results: Out of 29 samples, 58.6% deemed true positives, 34% were true
negatives, 6.8% represented 2 false positives, and no cases were false negatives
(p