Absence of ovulation stigma in the conception cycle

The purpose of this paper is to show the incidence of ovulation stigmata (and the so-called luteinized unruptured follicle) in six patients who conceived during the laparoscopy cycle. Only two patients (33.3%) showed ovulation stigmata when their ovaries were visualized 2 to 7 days after the BBT dip, close to the estimated time of ovulation. Four patients (66.6%) whose ovaries were seen 10-12 days after the BBT dip failed to show any ovulation stigmata in spite of the fact that they conceived during that cycle and therefore the ovulation was proven. We have come to the conclusion that the laparoscopic picture of the luteinized unruptured follicle should no longer be considered to contain the trapped ovum and other diagnostic procedures should be used in the diagnosis of the ovum retention syndrome.