Follicular study ultrasound

There are no contraindications for this test.

Your healthcare provider may order this test in the following conditions:

• Infertility: A follicular study ultrasound is one of the first steps in checking for infertility. Women who are unable to get pregnant after at least a year of trying are asked to get a follicular study ultrasound.
• Irregular menstrual cycles: If you are trying to get pregnant but have an irregular menstrual cycle, your doctor may ask you to get a follicular study ultrasound to identify your fertile days of the month and improve your chances of conceiving naturally.
• In utero insemination: In utero insemination is a procedure in which sperms are placed inside a woman’s uterus in a lab to increase their chances of conceiving. A follicular study ultrasound can help the physician determine the exact time of ovulation to time the placement of sperms in her uterus.
• In-vitro fertilisation (fertilising the egg in a laboratory): A follicular study ultrasound is a vital part of in-vitro fertilisation procedure since it helps to monitor a woman’s follicles at regular intervals and determine exactly when would she ovulate.

Here are some important things you should keep in mind before going for a follicular study ultrasound:

• Make your ultrasound appointment as soon as your period starts.
• If your doctor has prescribed you a medication to have before the test, take it as instructed. 
• For hygiene purposes, it is advised to take a bath before coming in for the scan. 
• You will have to empty your bladder before the scan.
• If you are allergic to latex, inform the medical staff.

A transvaginal ultrasound scan is done to study ovarian follicles. The scan will be done either by a doctor or sonographer in the following manner:

• You will be asked to take off your clothes from the waist down and instead use a sheet to cover yourself.
• You will have to lie on your back on a special table, with knees bent. Your hips might be slightly raised.
• Once you are positioned comfortably, your doctor will insert a small probe, covered with a condom and gel, into your vagina. The probe is just a little bigger than a finger, and only the tip of the probe (about 2-3 inches) will be inserted into your vagina.
• Once the probe is in its place, your doctor will gently move it to get the best view of your uterus and ovaries.
• The ultrasound machine will display the images captured by the probe on the computer screen. 
• The test usually lasts for about 15 minutes.

A follicular study ultrasound is started on day 7 of the menstrual cycle and repeated at intervals of one to two days until the doctor gets evidence of ovulation. In patients undergoing in-vitro fertilisation, the ultrasound is started on day 2 of the beginning of the menstrual cycle.

The test is completely painless, although you may feel mild discomfort when the doctor inserts the probe into your vagina.

The test helps doctors to advise couples on the most fertile days of the month, so the couple can time intercourse and maximise their chances of having a baby. It also measures the thickness of the endometrium, which is one of the parameters to determine the chances of implantation.

Additionally, this test allows detection of the following abnormalities:

• Failure of the ovarian follicle to grow
• Deficient growth of follicles
• Luteinised unruptured follicle syndrome (failure of release of the follicle from the ovary
• Enlarged ovaries containing multiple follicles, one of the main features of polycystic ovary syndrome.
• Less endometrial thickness, studies show that the probability of clinical pregnancy is low if the endometrial thickness is less than 7mm.
• Endometrial pathologies including adenocarcinoma and endometrial polyps and myomas

In drug-induced follicular growth such as in case of assisted reproductive technology, this test allows doctors to monitor the number and maturation of follicles, so that they can time the introduction of sperm into the woman’s womb, either by natural or artificial means. Follicular study ultrasound also helps to determine if the drug treatment is causing hyperactivity, resulting in the formation of a giant or multiple follicles.

There are no risks associated with this test.

The benefits of this test are:

• The procedure is painless
• This test does not involve the use of any radiation
• There are usually no injections involved
• The high-frequency sound waves give a very detailed picture of even the smallest parts of the body

Since the test has no aftereffects, you can drive yourself home and resume your normal activities after the test.

Your healthcare provider may order the following tests along with a Follicular Study Ultrasound:

• Blood tests to monitor hormone function
• Hysterosalpingogram (an x-ray procedure to look at the uterus and fallopian tubes - a pair of tubes through which the egg passes from the ovaries into the uterus)
• Hysteroscopy (a procedure to look at the inside of the uterus)
• Laparoscopy (a procedure that involves the use of a narrow tube inserted into the abdomen to look at the uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes)
• Endometrial biopsy (a procedure involving removal of a small tissue sample from the inner lining of the uterus for testing)

Disclaimer: All results must be clinically correlated with the patient’s complaints to make a complete and accurate diagnosis. The above information is provided from a purely educational point of view and is in no way a substitute for medical advice by a qualified doctor.