Ultrasonographic and endocrinological studies of ovarian function

Ovarian morphological alterations in 6 physiological menstrual cycles were studied by sonography and compared to 13 inadequate cycles with a short or missing luteal phase. In addition, basal body temperature (BBT) and 17-beta-estradiol (E2), luteinizing hormone (LH), progesterone (P), testosterone (T) and dehydro-epiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S) levels in serum were measured. Maximal follicle were significantly smaller in insufficient cycles (17.7 +/- 2.9 mm) than in physiological cycles (23 +/- 2.3 mm). Corpus luteum (CL) structure was visualized in 5 of the 6 physiological cycles but was not detected in insufficient cycles. Persistent poly-follicular reaction (greater than 3 follicles/ovary) without a dominant follicle larger than 10 mm was detected in the ovaries of 3 patients with clinical and hormonal signs of polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD).