Search citation statements
Paper Sections
Citation Types
Year Published
Publication Types
Relationship
Authors
Journals
Using biosensors, or devices that provide biological information to users about their own bodies, to map ovulation and time intercourse is a practice of rising significance in economically privileged countries. Based on an ethnographic study of ovulation biosensing, this paper explores the contradictions between device manufacturers' figurations of reproductive heterosex as a natural and pleasurable experience facilitated by fertility monitoring technology, and heterosexual women users' accounts of the pleasures and difficulties of ovulation monitoring and associated sexual encounters. Drawing on Science and Technology Studies and the concept of 'script', we examine the frameworks of action defined by makers of ovulation biosensors and how these are accepted, refused or remade by users. Within the scientific romance configured by manufacturers, reproductive heterosex emerges as exciting and fun, whilst the hard, 'technical' work of conception is done by ovulation technologies. Yet ovulation monitoring is described by many heterosexual women users as an exciting and yet anxiety-producing practice through which they come to know their bodies differently, often through online discussions with other women. Living a 'conceptive imperative', women engaging with ovulation sensing reconfigure their reproductive embodiment and shift their relationship to male partners in ways that reveal heterosexual 'baby-making' as a complex and nuanced practice worthy of critical engagement.
Using biosensors, or devices that provide biological information to users about their own bodies, to map ovulation and time intercourse is a practice of rising significance in economically privileged countries. Based on an ethnographic study of ovulation biosensing, this paper explores the contradictions between device manufacturers' figurations of reproductive heterosex as a natural and pleasurable experience facilitated by fertility monitoring technology, and heterosexual women users' accounts of the pleasures and difficulties of ovulation monitoring and associated sexual encounters. Drawing on Science and Technology Studies and the concept of 'script', we examine the frameworks of action defined by makers of ovulation biosensors and how these are accepted, refused or remade by users. Within the scientific romance configured by manufacturers, reproductive heterosex emerges as exciting and fun, whilst the hard, 'technical' work of conception is done by ovulation technologies. Yet ovulation monitoring is described by many heterosexual women users as an exciting and yet anxiety-producing practice through which they come to know their bodies differently, often through online discussions with other women. Living a 'conceptive imperative', women engaging with ovulation sensing reconfigure their reproductive embodiment and shift their relationship to male partners in ways that reveal heterosexual 'baby-making' as a complex and nuanced practice worthy of critical engagement.
Sensor-based diagnostics are increasing rapidly and in clinics, they can transform the health care as they will be in use out of clinics as well, namely, by the non-clinicians and people without expertise. The trade-off between the advantages and disadvantages of their implementation into the clinical settings should be decisive in their use, at the current state. Yet, disadvantages must be carefully worked out and tried to be eliminated in any case, while keeping the inborn benefits. Therefore, we would like to draw attention to the reliability and security risks of personal health data and associated concerns. We further discuss the related issues of sensor-based diagnostics, mobile health (mHealth) and eHealth. The debate starts with the current states of the rules and regulations. It is argued that there is prompt need for internationally consolidated solutions for vast device types and uses onto which the local needs may have to be implemented without violating the basic assets such as the inherent privacy rights of the users/patients. The resistance factors against the sensor-based healthcare devices and applications are also conferred. There are additionally data quality and assessment issues, and in relation to the data assessment, concerns that are associated with the psychological responses of the layman to the health data are mentioned. For these and more reasons, and finally for proper use and implementation of sensor-based tests and devices in the clinical settings, education of both professionals and non-professionals seems to be the key. All these require much work and maybe even more workforces to be allocated for the emerging, associated tasks. However, there are economic benefits, and beyond those, they bring new features in the health care that were deemed to be impossible. Besides, despite the apparent unethical use risks, they can result in better ethical practices, e.g., possible prevention of unnecessary tests on animals when similar test on organ-on-chips would be failing.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2025 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.