Monitoring gonadotrophin therapy by real‐time ultrasonic scanning of ovarian follicles

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Real-time ultrasound scanning of ovarian follicles was performed during 61 cycles in 22 infertile patients being treated with sequential injections of human menopausal gonadotropin (hHG) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Total 24-h urinary estrogens were estimated (and in 13 cycles plasma estradiol) but the amount of gonadotropin given was based mainly on the ultrasound findings. A retrospective analysis of the results showed that there was a poor statistical correlation between the diameter of the largest follicle and the total urinary estrogens (r = 0.39) and with the level of plasma estradiol (r = 0.56), although similar clinical information was obtained by all methods. Ovulation was induced in 58 cycles when the leading follicle had a mean diameter of 20-25 mm (mean 21.3 mm); follicular rupture was observed in 57 cycles and in these cases there was biochemical evidence of luteinization (plasma progesterone > 15 nmol/l; total urinary pregnanediol > 8 .mu.mol/24 h). Three patients (3 cycles) were not given hCG; 1 developed micropolycystic ovaries and 2 showed evidence of hyperstimulation (1 follicle > 25 mm diameter, 3 or more follicles 20-25 mm diameter). Twelve patients became pregnant, all with single fetuses. Subsequently 1 aborted, 1 had an ectopic pregnancy, 3 gave birth to normal babies at term and 7 pregnancies are continuing. Real-time ultrasound scanning of ovarian follicles is a simple, practical method for monitoring follicular growth during administration of hMG and predicting the response of hCG.

This publication has 13 references indexed in Scilit: