Ultrasound and Fertility
During fertility assessment and treatment measurements of the dominant follicle occur, and an assessment can be made if ovulation is about to occur. A follow up ultrasound post ovulation can confirm if ovulation has occurred.
Fertility Scans Follicle Tracking
The standard menstrual cycle is on average 28 days +/- a couple of days. The purpose of the menstrual cycle is to produce a mature egg for fertilisation, to prepare the endometrium for the fertilised egg and to support the pregnancy in its early stages.
During fertility assessment and treatment measurements of the dominant follicle occur, and an assessment can be made if ovulation is about to occur. A follow up ultrasound post ovulation can confirm if ovulation has occurred.
Pre-ovulation
A pre-ovulation pregnancy scan is usually performed to confirm how many weeks pregnant you are, but can be performed for other reasons, such as bleeding or if you have had previous miscarriages.
The early pregnancy scan will confirm the following:
-
The pregnancy is correctly located in your womb
-
Viability – A heart beat is demonstrated
-
Determine if it is a single or twin pregnancy
-
Confirm your expected delivery date
Pre-ovulation dominant follicle
The brain produces continuous bursts of follicle-stimulating hormone, or FSH, throughout your cycle. FSH does exactly what it’s named for — it stimulates follicles to develop. As follicles grow, they produce estrogen. As a dominant follicle is selected and grows (days 6–9 of the cycle), estrogen begins to spike.
A follicle becomes dominant at about 10mm in diameter, and typically grows to be about two centimeters in diameter (and up to about 3.3cm) (14–17). That’s about the size of a grape, or a hazelnut with its shell on.
Post-ovulation follicle rupture
When the follicle ruptures, the egg and fluid are released along with some torn patches of tissue. The cells, fluid, and egg are directed into the nearby fallopian tube, which serves as a passageway by which the egg reaches the uterus and as a site for fertilization of the released egg by sperm.
Fertility Ultrasound Scans available
- Baseline transvaginal ultrasound Scan (Day 10-14)
- Endometrial Thickness measurement scan
- Follicle Tracking Series – development, tracking and measurement of ovarian follicles over a series of days mid cycle