Follicular monitoring is the process of tracking growth of the ovarian follicles to identify maturation status of eggs. This is done by serial ultrasound imaging. Ovarian follicles are the basic units of female fertility. Each of the follicles contains a single egg. These structures are periodically initiated to grow and develop, leading to release of a single mature egg in female. Apart from nurturing the egg, follicles also contain cells which produce hormones in you. Follicular monitoring tells us about the time of follicular growth and release of egg. This helps in administering medications in time. Follicular monitoring is an important part of IUI and IVF program.
At times follicles form cysts and don’t rupture. This happens frequently in elderly patients or patients with low ovarian capacity. It may be due to poor quality of oocyte.
Facts of follicular growth in Ovary
- Follicles in the ovary of a girl child are not growing and are in the sleeping stage.
- Follicles in the ovary grow progressively in the early half of menstrual cycle.
- Each mature follicle contains an egg surrounded by cells called cumulus.
- A mature egg only can be fertilised by a sperm.
- Healthy sperms with good movement are essential to fertilise an egg.
- In ultrasonic monitoring we can only see the follicle filled with fluid.
- Human eggs are not visible to naked eye and can only be seen under microscope.