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A typical in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle requires hormone therapy to stimulate production of eggs, and daily blood tests to monitor hormone levels and a patient's response to therapy. These daily blood draws for up to seven days can be one of the most unpleasant parts of fertility treatment — leaving a woman feeling stressed and even a little bit like a voodoo doll.

But a Boston fertility clinic is eliminating that stress. Following two years of research, Boston IVF fertility doctors have developed the first needle-free saliva test that will replace the daily blood tests to monitor infertility treatment. They have proven that the hormone estradiol, traditionally measured in the blood, can also be accurately measured in saliva, which virtually eliminates the need for daily blood testing during a patient's treatment cycle.