Effects of Different Temperatures for Drying Cervical Mucus Smear on their Crystallisation Pattern

Abstract

The effects of different room temperatures for drying cervical mucus on crystallisation of fern-tree patterns was determined using cervical mucus smears from 60 women undergoing investigation for infertility at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital. Cervical mucus smears were dried in the oven at 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35°C and examined rapidly for fern-tree pattern crystallisation. Fern-tree patterns were formed consistently between 15 and 25°C. At 30 and 35°C fern-tree crystallisation patterns decreased significantly in proportion (p < 0.05); they became atypical or were not formed at all. The finding in this study demonstrates that in tropical environments where ambient room temperature may reach 35°C, fern-tree pattern would differ from those in temperate regions. (Afr J Reprod Health 2002; 6[1]: 107-108)

Keywords: Infertility, ovulation, cervical smears, fern-tree patterns, temperature