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Ovarian Cycle

Ovarian Cycle

The menstrual cycle includes a critical component known as the ovarian cycle, which undergoes two main phases each month—the follicular phase and the luteal phase. The follicular phase is variable and averaging around 14 days. Ovulation, triggered by a surge in luteinizing hormone (LH), marks the transition between the two phases. The second phase, the luteal phase, is relatively consistent, lasting approximately 14 days, and is marked by the activity of the corpus luteum. While a cycle...

Hormonal Control of the Ovarian Cycle

Hormonal Control of the Ovarian Cycle

The ovarian cycle is meticulously regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. This cycle orchestrates the release of a mature oocyte, essential for reproduction.
Before puberty, the hypothalamus releases GnRH in a low frequency, low amplitude pulsatile manner. This along with the immature hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis activity, results in low estrogen levels and the absence of a fully functional ovarian cycle. At puberty, GnRH secretion increases in both frequency and...

Oogenesis

Oogenesis

Oogenesis, the process of developing egg cells (female gametes), occurs within the ovaries and is fundamental to female fertility. This sequence begins during fetal development when diploid oogonia in the developing ovaries undergo mitotic divisions to produce primary oocytes. By birth, these primary oocytes enter prophase I of meiosis but become arrested in this stage, remaining suspended until puberty.
Each primary oocyte is surrounded by a layer of pre-granulosa cells, forming what is...

Folliculogenesis

Folliculogenesis

Folliculogenesis is the development of ovarian follicles, the specialized structures within the ovarian cortex where oogenesis, or egg development, occurs. This process is essential for female reproductive health and begins during fetal development when primordial follicles are formed. Each primordial follicle comprises a primary oocyte in the center, surrounded by a single layer of squamous pre-granulosa cells. These follicles remain dormant in late prophase I of meiosis until triggered by...

Hormonal Regulation of the Menstrual Cycle

Hormonal Regulation of the Menstrual Cycle

The ovarian cycle regulates endometrial changes throughout a single menstrual cycle via the coordinated action of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and gonadotrophins.
At puberty, GnRH begins a pulsatile release pattern, which triggers the anterior pituitary gland to secrete follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). The frequency and amplitude of GnRH pulses vary across the menstrual cycle, with faster pulses favoring LH release and slower pulses favoring FSH...

Proliferative Phase

Proliferative Phase

The proliferative phase typically occurs after menstruation and lasts between 6 to 13 days in a standard 28-day cycle. This phase involves the reconstruction of the endometrium, guided by estrogen produced by the developing ovarian follicle.
Notably, the stratum basale, the basal layer of the endometrium, including the basal parts of the uterine glands, remains unaffected by menstruation. Stem cells in this layer undergo mitosis, regenerating the stratum functionalis and thickening the...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 4, 2025

Fertility Preservation Through Oocyte Vitrification: Clinical and Laboratory Perspectives

Fertility Preservation Through Oocyte Vitrification: Clinical and Laboratory Perspectives

Published on: September 16, 2021

Progestin-primed ovarian stimulation.

Juan Giles¹, Fabio Cruz¹, Juan A Garcia-Velasco²

¹IVI-RMA Valencia, Plaza de la Policía Local 3, Valencia, Spain; IVI Foundation - IIS La Fe. Avenida Fernando Abril Martorell, Torre, Valencia.

Current Opinion in Obstetrics & Gynecology

|January 31, 2024

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Progestins are effective pituitary suppressors for ovarian stimulation (OS) in in vitro fertilization (IVF). They offer a safe, cost-effective alternative to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues, particularly for frozen-thawed embryo transfers.

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Last Updated: Jul 4, 2025

Fertility Preservation Through Oocyte Vitrification: Clinical and Laboratory Perspectives

Fertility Preservation Through Oocyte Vitrification: Clinical and Laboratory Perspectives

Published on: September 16, 2021

OP-IVM: Combining In vitro Maturation after Oocyte Retrieval with Gynecological Surgery

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Published on: May 9, 2021

Fertility Preservation in Patients with Severe Ovarian Dysfunction

Fertility Preservation in Patients with Severe Ovarian Dysfunction

Published on: March 25, 2021

Area of Science:

Reproductive Endocrinology
In Vitro Fertilization

Background:

Progestins inhibit ovulation, enabling their use in ovarian stimulation (OS) protocols.
They serve as an alternative to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues for preventing luteinizing hormone surges in in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Purpose of the Study:

To review progestin protocols in OS, comparing their efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness against GnRH analogues.
To analyze the impact of progestins on oocytes, embryos, and reproductive outcomes in IVF.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on progestin use in OS protocols.
Comparative analysis of progestin protocols versus GnRH analogue protocols in various patient populations and reproductive procedures.

Main Results:

Progestins demonstrate effectiveness as gonadotropin adjuvants, improving ovarian response, reproductive outcomes, and safety.
Progestins offer convenient oral administration and are more cost-effective than GnRH analogues.

Conclusions:

Progestins are a viable and effective option for pituitary suppression in OS, offering advantages in safety and cost.
While effective, progestin use necessitates embryo cryopreservation due to potential asynchrony between embryo development and endometrial receptivity, making them ideal for frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles.