TY - JOUR

T1 - Technologies of time

T2 - women’s practices of trying to conceive with ovulation biosensing

AU - Wilkinson, J.

N1 - This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Wilkinson, J. (2020), Technologies of time: women’s practices of trying to conceive with ovulation biosensing. Sociol Health Illn. doi:10.1111/1467-9566.13150 which has been published in final form at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1467-9566.13150 This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance With Wiley Terms and Conditions for self-archiving.

PY - 2020/9/1

Y1 - 2020/9/1

N2 - Ovulation biosensors are devices worn on or used with the body, which can help women detect ovulation. The manufacturers of such devices claim that if women know when they ovulate, couples can arrange heterosexual intercourse during this time, and thus increase their chances of conceiving. Within the contemporary UK context, in which becoming pregnant is presented in the popular media, and in medical discourses, as more difficult for women in their thirties and forties, manufacturers' claims are attractive for those trying to conceive. Yet few sociological studies have examined women's practices of ovulation biosensing. Drawing on women's accounts of tracking ovulation, this paper explores how such practices fit into their trajectories of trying to conceive. It examines why ovulation biosensing seemingly becomes helpful, relevant or important during this time. Ovulation biosensors, it argues, alter the landscape of trying to become pregnant by introducing new stages and materialities which seemingly place women closer to conception. Women engage in ovulation biosensing, not only to help them become pregnant, but also as a way to manage the complexities of fertility and the uncertainties of becoming pregnant in contemporary society.

AB - Ovulation biosensors are devices worn on or used with the body, which can help women detect ovulation. The manufacturers of such devices claim that if women know when they ovulate, couples can arrange heterosexual intercourse during this time, and thus increase their chances of conceiving. Within the contemporary UK context, in which becoming pregnant is presented in the popular media, and in medical discourses, as more difficult for women in their thirties and forties, manufacturers' claims are attractive for those trying to conceive. Yet few sociological studies have examined women's practices of ovulation biosensing. Drawing on women's accounts of tracking ovulation, this paper explores how such practices fit into their trajectories of trying to conceive. It examines why ovulation biosensing seemingly becomes helpful, relevant or important during this time. Ovulation biosensors, it argues, alter the landscape of trying to become pregnant by introducing new stages and materialities which seemingly place women closer to conception. Women engage in ovulation biosensing, not only to help them become pregnant, but also as a way to manage the complexities of fertility and the uncertainties of becoming pregnant in contemporary society.

KW - conception

KW - fertilities

KW - ovulation

KW - ovulation biosensors

KW - reproductive technologies

KW - self-tracking

U2 - 10.1111/1467-9566.13150

DO - 10.1111/1467-9566.13150

M3 - Journal article

VL - 42

SP - 1597

EP - 1610

JO - Sociology of Health and Illness

JF - Sociology of Health and Illness

SN - 0141-9889

IS - 7

ER -