ovuline : by amy

 my buddy, DJ, sent me this link and asked for my opinion.

Ovuline
http://www.techstars.com/ovuline-smart-fertility/

From their website:

Ovuline helps couples conceive faster. Going way beyond fertility calendars and period trackers, Ovuline tells couples when they are fertile and exactly what to do each day to maximize their chances of getting pregnant. Ovuline can also be used to avoid pregnancy or track menstrual cycles.

Does anyone else think is a little...weird? 

First, I read "Ovuline?"  Where I have I heard that before?  Then realized it was from one of the best holiday movies of all time, A Christmas Story (Be sure to drink your...Ovaltine??  A crummy commercial??  Sonovabitch!)  Pretty crappy name because while this company is trying to inform me of infertility, all I can think about is little Ralphie drinking his Ovaltine.

Sorry, I digress.

I had a hard time understanding what this company actually did.  After clicking around its website, I came to the following conclusions:

• After the free trial, you pay a monthly price of $xx (website conveniently leaves this price out, but at one point, I thought I saw $70/month)
• You get daily notifications like "Don't have sex today, but have lots of sex tomorrow!"
• Stupid reminders that you shouldn't need a service to remind you of, like "Take your vitamins" (might as well say "Eat your breakfast.  Don't hold in your pee.")
• You can ask them a question like "I have pain in my lower abdomen, what can it be?" and their experts will respond with something like  "It could be because of your hormones, PMS, hormones, lack of exercise, hormones, indigestion, hormones, etc." 
• They also have a "Virtual Doctor which is an advanced computer algorithm developed by Harvard Doctors that learns about your unique cycle from the data you enter"  in case you ever wanted to feel like a science experiment while trying to conceive your baby.
• You get a monthly shipment of "fertility supplies" with reminders on when/how to use each item.  If you're trying to have a baby, aren't the "fertility supplies" already, uh, there?  Like, attached to your body?

OK, so I'm a little harsh on them.  But really, wouldn't a woman who is seriously considering to get pregnant speak with their doctor-- a REAL doctor-- first?  Depending your medical history/age/etc., I'm pretty sure doctors tell you what you need to know.  I was relatively young when I first started "trying," so my doctor gave me the basics: prenatals for 2 months, calcium, vitamin D, exercise, and knowing my "fertile window" of the month.  I guess if you're really into the TMI-type-of-detail that they provide (like charts and statistics...really?) then yeah, go for it.   I could see it making a woman become obsessed with the getting-it-just-right aspect, which I feel could almost be counterproductive.  I've heard of (and seen) SO many stories of women who became naturally pregnant once they stopped "trying" and timing it so much.  Stress (and hormones) also can play a big factor on conception.

I'm also a little weirded out at how technology is finding a way into my ovaries.  What is today's society coming to when you need a technology-generated daily reminder to take your prenatal vitamin or have sex in a certain position for optimal sperm flow?  The only aspect I like is the educational information.  If they weren't trying to sell me anything, then I'd be way more amenable.   And I do understand why this would work today.  In today's world of start-ups, people are trying to make lives easier by turning any "planning" situation into an algorithm and giving you daily "stuff" (advice, reminders, boxes of gadgets and gifts) to keep you on track.  Combine that with today's female generation getting married/pregnant much later in life and you get Ovaltine, I mean Ovuline.

Maybe I'm just too old-school for this.

Interested to hearing your thoughts on this, especially if you had a hard time conceiving.  Does this sound like something you'd consider paying for, or was your doctor's guidance sufficient?