Ultrasonic measurement of ovarian follicles, ovarian and uterine size during induction of ovulation with human gonadotrophins

Abstract

Twelve anovulatory women were examined by compound B-mode and real-time ultrasound scanning during induction of follicular maturation and ovulation by human gonadotropins. The treatment was monitored by daily serum estrogen determinations. Ovarian follicles became visible on the ultrasound scans after 4 days of treatment, on average. The mean follicular diameter at that time was 8 mm. Multiple follicles developed in all but 1 of the 12 patients. At induction of ovulation the diameter of the dominant follicle varied between 15 and 22 mm. The serum estrogen level was related to the number of follicles, the diameter of the greatest follicle and the ovarian size. There was a marked increase in the ovarian size during the treatment. The size of the uterus also increased. Ultrasound may be a valuable complement to daily estrogen determinations for monitoring human gonadotropin therapy.