Daily Fecundability:
First Results from a New Data Base

Bernardo Colombo
Guido Masarotto
on Behalf of the Menstrual Cycle Fecundability Study Group [Note 1]

Date Received:	19 July 2000
Date Published:	6 September 2000

Abstract:
This multicentre study has produced a database of 7017 menstrual cycles contributed by 881 women. It provides improved knowledge on length and location of the "fertile window" (identified as of up to 12 days duration) and the pattern and level of daily conception probability. The day of ovulation was identified in each cycle from records of basal body temperature and mucus symptoms. By referencing days of intercourse to the surrogate ovulation markers, estimates of daily fecundability were computed either directly or by the Schwartz model, both for single and multiple acts of intercourse in the fertile window. The relationship between coital pattern and fecundability has been explored. Univariate analysis underlines the significant link with fecundability only of the woman's reproductive history.

Author's affiliation:
Bernardo Colombo
is Emeritus Professor of Demography, University of Padua, Padua, Italy. [Dipartimento di Scienze Statistiche, Via S.Francesco 33, 35121 Padova, Italy]

Guido Masarotto
is Professor of Statistics, University of Padua, Padua, Italy [Dipartimento di Scienze Statistiche, Via S.Francesco 33, 35121 Padova, Italy]

Table of Contents:

1.		Introduction
2.		Materials and Methods
3.		Results
4.		Discussion
5.		Acknowledgements
		Notes
		References
		Tables
		Figures

Keywords: fertility, fertile period, daily fecundability, fertility awareness, Schwartz model, natural family planning

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