Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 2, Issue 9 407-412, Copyright © 1983 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
Assessment of follicular development by ultrasonography and total serum estrogen in human menopausal gonadotropin-stimulated cycles
N. C. Dornbluth, J. L. Potter, M. K. Shepard, J. P. Balmacedo and T. M. Siler-Khodr
Ovarian follicular development was assessed by serial ultrasonography in
infertile women being treated with human menopausal gonadotropin. Both
follicular size and number of follicles correlated with serum estrogen
values in most patients, and follicles increased in size 2--3 mm per day.
Most patients had serum estrogen values greater than 750 pg/ml when one or
more follicles larger than 18 mm were present. A comparison of conception
cycles with non-conception cycles did not reveal a significant difference
in size or number of follicles, or in the rate of rise or peak value of
serum estrogen. When women monitored with ultrasonography were compared
with patients treated with gonadotropins prior to the availability of
ultrasonography, there was no significant difference in the rates of
successful conception, although the number of ampules of pergonal used by
the former was significantly reduced, permitting more efficient use of an
expensive medication.
