Ultrasonographic and hormonal studies in physiologic and insufficient menstrual cycles

Intraovarian morphologic alterations in 6 physiologic menstrual cycles were studied by sonography and compared with 13 inadequate cycles with a short or missing luteal phase. In addition, basal body temperature, 17 beta-estradiol, luteinizing hormone, progesterone, testosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels in serum were measured. The maximal follicle was significantly smaller in insufficient cycles (17.7 +/- 2.9 mm) than in physiologic cycles (23.0 +/- 2.3 mm). Corpus luteum structure was visualized in five of the six physiologic cycles but was not detected in insufficient cycles. Persistent polyfollicular reaction (greater than 3 follicles per ovary) without a dominant follicle larger than 10 mm was detected in the ovaries of three patients with clinical and hormonal signs of polycystic ovarian disease. Ultrasonography can be regarded as a useful additional tool in the evaluation and management of insufficient ovarian cycles.