FAQ
- Frequently Asked Questions about
Babycomp and Ladycomp
General questions about Babycomp/Ladycomp
1.
Who developed Ladycomp/Babycomp?
Ladycomp/Babycomp was developed by a team made up of gynaecologists,
software specialists, electronics experts and designers. Experience
with the device in practical use and its proven success in vivo
have also made a considerable contribution. The electronic brain,
containing knowledge about fertility, and other components are
manufactured by leading suppliers from all over the globe. The
project was supported by the Federal Ministry for Research and
Technology.
TOP
2.
There is ongoing progress in medicine and
technology. Will Babycomp/Ladycomp be outdated in a few years?
No. Since 1986 the device has been steadily enhanced, and major
improvements have been made using the latest findings of research.
Whenever there is a new Babycomp/Ladycomp generation available
on the market, users can have their existing devices upgraded
with the latest chip upon request. Your personal readings will
not be affected.
TOP
3.
How does the product differ from
other contraception computers?
Of course, this depends on the product you compare it with. These
may be some of the differences: Babycomp and Ladycomp provide
an extremely high safety level of 99.3 - 99.4%. Babycomp and Ladycomp
are characterized by high quality and durability (remember our
service warranty). Babycomp and Ladycomp are equipped with pre-stored
information from 700,000 cycles and a sophisticated measuring
system, which does not permit any measurement errors. Wrong application
resulting in reduced reliability is practically impossible. Taking
your temperature takes no longer than approx. 30 seconds. Taking
your temperature is possible within a period of six hours. Even
shift workers can easily use the product. To change the measuring
period all you have to do is set the alarm clock accordingly,
even to a different time each day, if required. This way you can
also sleep in when you want to. No need to adjust to the device
- Babycomp/Ladycomp does the job for you. Babycomp and Ladycomp
can be used fully independently from the duration of your cycles.
There is no limit for the length of your cycles. It's a one-time
purchase without any follow-up costs. Customers can count on personal
support at any time. Even years after the purchase, you can get
back to us with any questions you may have.
TOP
4.
What does Babycomp / Ladycomp look like and
how big is it?
You can find pictures of Babycomp / Ladycomp on our homepage.
The device is black and white, with mint coloured keys. It is
only about 14 cm (5.5") in diameter and it's very flat, with a
height of about 3.5 cm (1.4"). The measuring sensor safely rests
on the side of the device and has a mint coloured spiral cable
(no entangling) plugged into the bottom of the device. Babycomp/Ladycomp
weighs about 200 g (7 oz). This way, Ladycomp / Babycomp easily
fits on any bedside table and into any handbag.
TOP
How safe is Babycomp / Ladycomp?
5.
How safe is Babycomp/Ladycomp?
With a Pearl Index of 0.7, Babycomp/Ladycomp is as safe as the
pill on "green" days. This has been confirmed by a number of independent
studies. Most importantly, this Pearl Index is not some hypothetical
assumption but the result of several manufacturer-independent
studies. The most comprehensive of these studies was done by the
Women's University Clinic of Düsseldorf, Germany, on more than
650 women.
TOP
6.
Is Lady-Comp/Baby-Comp FDA approved? Does
it have DEKRA certification?
Yes, Lady-Comp/Baby-Comp is FDA approved. Yes, Lady-Comp/Baby-Comp
has DEKRA certification (Scope: Processing, Manufacturing and
distribution of electronic equipment for natural family planning
and contraception).
TOP
7.
What is the Pearl Index?
The Pearl Index indicates the level of reliability of a given
method of contraception. Where 100 women use contraception method
X for a period of one year and one of them gets pregnant despite
correct application, method X has a Methodic Pearl Index of 1.
It is important not to confuse the Methodic Pearl Index with the
Application Pearl Index. The Methodic Pearl Index indicates how
reliable a given method is if used correctly, while the Application
Pearl Index also includes the number of undesired pregnancies
due to disregarded rules of application. For Babycomp/Ladycomp
this would be the case if a couple had unprotected intercourse
despite the device showing the red light. This way there may be
differing Pearl Index values for the same contraception method.
For Ladycomp/Babycomp the value is as follows: Provided the device's
indicators are properly observed, Ladycomp/Babycomp has an excellent
Pearl Index of 0.7, which is similar to the Pearl Index of the
pill.
TOP
8.
Due to the lifetime of the sperm, the fertile
period actually begins five days before ovulation. Does the fertility
indication take this extra time into consideration?
Yes, the computer accounts for the sperm's maximum life expectancy
of five days for its indication of Fertile or Infertile periods.
TOP
9.
When can I start relying on the Infertile
indicator?
As early as the first day of application. This is made possible
by the pre-memorized readings from 700,000 cycles.
TOP
10.
A very sleepless night or the consumption
of alcohol can influence the readings. Can I rely on the device
anyway?
Yes. If your reading is influenced by a bad night or by
drinking large amounts of alcohol (omitting a reading once in
a while isn't a problem), this doesn't mean that the indicator
becomes unreliable. Depending on the phase of your cycle, Ladycomp/Babycomp
will react accordingly. Either the reading will be recognized
and ignored as an exception, or the device will show a yellow
or red light on the next day to be on the safe side
TOP
11.
Does illness reduce the computer's reliability?
No: An increased temperature due to some illness will cause the
device to indicate "F". On those days, the fertility indicator
will be yellow. The best thing is not to take your temperature
while you are sick. After that, you can continue taking your temperature
as usual.
TOP
12.
Will the indication also be correct if I
take medicine??
This depends on whether you just take a regular painkiller once
in a while - that's no problem at all - or whether you take a
medicine over an extended period of time. If that is the case,
you should ask your doctor or pharmacist whether it has an impact
on your body temperature. If so, you should stop taking your temperature
during that time; otherwise you can continue measuring as usual.
TOP
13.
What happens if I omit a few readings?
Not much. Based on the information stored internally, Babycomp/Ladycomp
can make up reliably for missing input. Although we do encourage
you to take your temperature very regularly in order to determine
your fertile period as precisely as possible, omitting some readings
does not reduce the product's safety. If you omit some readings
due to illness, Babycomp/Ladycomp will soon return to normal afterwards.
TOP
Is Babycomp/Ladycomp the right solution for
me?
14.
Can young girls use Babycomp/Ladycomp too?
Of course. Young girls and women usually want an especially safe
method of contraception. And - provided the user sticks to the
rules and has sexual intercourse only on "green" days - Babycomp/Ladycomp
compares very well even to the pill, regardless of the user's
age.
TOP
15.
I will soon be in my menopause. Is it still
wise to start using Babycomp/Ladycomp?
Yes, even then the device works very reliably. Occasional
delays in ovulation or failure to ovulate will cause the device
to show "yellow". In fact this helps women to see how their cycles
are changing. Even financially, purchasing a Babycomp/Ladycomp
will pay off for you. Since our products are extremely durable,
you can easily sell Babycomp/Ladycomp to someone else once you
don't need it any more.
TOP
16.
I have just given birth to my baby and I'm
still breast-feeding. When will it be wise to start using Babycomp/Ladycomp?
Since the concept of natural contraception is based on
recognizing the moment of ovulation, it makes sense to start using
the device once you are ovulating again. This means that you can
begin using the device once you've had your first new menstruation.
TOP
17.
I have a baby, which means I have to get
up often during the night. Can I use Ladycomp/Babycomp anyway?
Yes. The basic rule for natural contraception is that a woman
should have had at least five continuous hours of sleep before
taking her basal temperature. However, this rule basically applies
to the total number of hours, so if a woman had only four hours
of sleep because she didn't go to bed until 2 a.m. and had to
get up as early as 6 a.m., she should not take her temperature
on that day. This won't cause any problem. Ladycomp/Babycomp was
designed to make up for omitted readings automatically, as long
as omitting isn't the rule.
What if a woman has had five hours of sleep, but not five continuous
hours, because she had to feed her baby in the middle of that
period? Normally, taking your temperature is safe even then. A
great number of customers are in that situation and get on well
with it. However, there is no general answer to that question.
It always depends on your specific case. Basically, there are
these types of scenarios:
- You had to get up before your normal waking time, but within
the measuring period (i.e. up to 3 hours before your waking time;
period indicated by the thermometer symbol). In that case, simply
take your temperature immediately.
- If you have slept for a few hours and your baby wakes up BEFORE
the measuring period, there should be enough time left to go back
to sleep after taking care of the baby. In that case you should
have been sleeping for at least another hour before taking your
temperature.
It might be a good idea to organize things in a way you don't
have to get up at all (e.g. have your baby in your bedroom and
keep all necessary items at hand).
- If you really stay up all night once in a while, you can omit
one reading without any problem. There is no reason to be afraid
of a reduced level of safety. A high number of reading errors
will simply result in a slightly reduced green-light phase, which
will gradually return to normal later. Typically, users quickly
develop their own sense of when measuring is necessary and when
it can be omitted. If at some point you should be unsure anyway,
we will always be there to help you.
TOP
18.
My cycles are irregular. Can I use Babycomp/Ladycomp
anyway?
Yes. The devices are designed to handle cycles of varying lengths
without posing a safety risk. Babycomp/Ladycomp does not even
require a minimum or maximum number of days within a cycle to
process its readings reliably. Nevertheless, extreme fluctuations
might make using the device a little inefficient because it will
result in a greatly increased number of "red" days. Fluctuations
of several days are no problem at all. However, if some of your
cycles are as long as several months, we recommend using natural
cycle regulators (herbal preparations). Please consult your gynaecologist
for more information.
TOP
19.
I sleep at rather irregular intervals (shift
work, getting up at night, sleeping in on weekends etc.). Can
I use Babycomp/Ladycomp anyway?
Yes, in fact the new Chip III generation of Babycomp/Ladycomp
was designed especially for that type of women. Thanks to its
very long measuring period of six hours, women who have to get
up several times a night (e.g. mothers of babies or toddlers)
can almost always take their temperature, either at their scheduled
waking time or directly at night before taking care of the child
(since reading takes only 30 seconds, this should not be a problem).
I you are a shift worker or want to sleep in, you can change the
measuring period at any time within a cycle by simply setting
the alarm clock accordingly. That way you can take your temperature
at 7 a.m. on one day and at 2 p.m. on the next, provided you had
your sleep before that. This means that Babycomp/Ladycomp can
be customized to meet your requirements on a daily basis.
Questions regarding the application of Babycomp/Ladycomp
20.
When can I start using Babycomp/Ladycomp?
Right after you receive the device. If you have just stopped taking
the contraceptive pill, you can either start using the device
immediately or wait until the beginning of your first real menstruation.
Maximum safety will always be provided.
TOP
21.
Where do I measure the temperature?
Under the tongue.
22.
Can I use Babycomp/Ladycomp with battery?
Yes, both models always come with an integrated, rechargeable
battery and a separated mains power plug. This way you can even
use the device when you go camping. You can use the device continuously
for about two months before having to recharge the battery.
TOP
23.
Does the device come with everything I need,
including the correct power adapter?
Yes. You can start using the device right after unpacking it.
The shipment includes the correct power adapter for your country.
24.
Why is the method based exclusively on measuring
the temperature? Wouldn't it make sense to enter other information
too, such as the state of the cervical mucus?
Studies comparing normal Ladycomp/Babycomp users with users who
were also regarding other features have shown that regarding those
other features, such as mucus or intermenstrual pain, did not
provide any advantage, but actually produced more insecurity and
in some cases even reduced contraceptive safety. In addition,
those studies did not show a difference between women experienced
in natural family planning and those who had never learned about
it. That's why the developers decided not to consider any additional
features. In fact, the product's unique reliability of 99.3% can
hardly be exceeded.
TOP
25.
Must I always let Babycomp/Ladycomp wake
me, or can I take my temperature even if no alarm has been set?
Setting the alarm clock is not necessary for taking your temperature
.
TOP
26.
Can my readings get lost?
No. Ladycomp and Babycomp are protected against power failures
and voltage fluctuations. When power is shut off, all information
remains stored permanently in the device's memory. Even the time,
date and year information will continue to count indefinitely
without any mains or battery power. Neither can the information
be deleted by mistake, e.g. by children playing with the device.
TOP
27.
How does the device handle time shifts when
you are travelling?
Very well. You can simply reset the clock to the local time of
your destination and continue to measure as usual. By the way,
carrying the device with you on air travels does not involve a
problem, whether you have it in your suitcase or in your hand
luggage.
TOP
Questions about ordering and shipping
28.
What would be the price in US Dollars / in
my currency?
The price in US dollars or another currency is calculated from
the respective exchange rate on the day your credit card is charged
(usually the day of order or the following work day). You can
find a currency converter for all currencies at www.xe.com
Enter the amount of 448 EUR (Lady-Comp) or 658 EUR (Baby-Comp)
which is the total price including shipping and handling
for all countries outside the European Union.
29.
Will I get an order confirmation via e-mail?
Yes, normally within one day. If you haven't received a confirmation
within 48 hours, please inquire whether the product has been shipped
correctly.
TOP
30.
How long does shipping take?
Typically about 2 weeks. However, this may depend on the postal
service of your country.
TOP
You have a question that hasn't been answered
here?
Ask Andrea Nowak at info@ladycomputer.com
She will e-mail you the answer, usually within 24 - 48 hours.
www.ladycomputer.com
|
