What Is A Follicular Study?
The follicular study is a series of transvaginal ultrasound scans that studies the growth of follicles in a woman’s ovaries to identify the exact ovulation window in her menstrual cycle.
Let’s zoom in to understand more on a follicular scan. A woman is born with millions of immature eggs waiting to be released from the ovary. During ovulation, a mature egg is released through the fallopian tube, and becomes available for fertilization.
Since an egg and a sperm fuse to form a baby, the uterine walls thicken in anticipation to prepare for the same. In the event that no conception occurs, both the uterine lining and blood will be shed by the body as the monthly process of menstruation.
An egg is available to be fertilized by a sperm for only 12-24 hours, and at a given ovulation cycle, it is just one mature egg that is released. If the patient is trying for pregnancy, this is the time to have an intercourse to get favorable results.
Most women who have regular menstrual cycles will ovulate between day 11th and 21st day of the cycle, counting from the first day of the last menstrual period. However, this is not the same for all, and many women may ovulate at different times or days each month.
In such cases, some women may find it hard to keep in track of their menstrual cycle and need medical assistance in this regard. This is where they need to consider undergoing a follicular study scan.
The female reproductive system has small tissues called ovarian follicles that contain and release eggs for fertilization during ovulation. A follicle is a fluid area in which the eggs grow. The follicle increases in size as the egg grows.
The follicular study involves scanning the ovaries regularly during the menstrual cycle and observing the follicles as they increase in size. It is a series of vaginal scans to help determine when the patient will ovulate, the number of mature eggs that will ovulate and ensure that this is accomplished safely.
When the eggs are mature, patients are advised to have timed intercourse or Intrauterine Insemination or proceed with egg collection in case of an In-Vitro Fertilization Cycle.
Generally, these scans will start around day 9 of the cycle and continue till day 20. It is a vital process for getting pregnant including through fertility treatments like IVF.
Best Follicular Study Scan in Chennai
Chennai Women’s Clinic at T.Nagar is the best place to get your Follicular Study Scan done in Chennai. Getting your anomaly scan at Chennai Women’s Clinic means you can entrust your baby’s welfare to the hands of an award-winning Obstetrician and Gynecologist in the city, Dr. Deepthi Jammi.
How is a Follicular study done?
Performed via an transvaginal ultrasound, a follicular study examines the ovarian follicles and takes pictures of the internal organs which are further analyzed.
A follicular scan is done by inserting a small probe into the vagina to examine the tissues containing eggs and the endometrial lining thickness to determine when the patient is likely to ovulate.
With this study, the doctor can suggest couples plan for intercourse during these days to maximize the chances of conception.
How long does a Follicle Scan take?
A follicular study procedure will generally take about 5 minutes to complete.
What Is The Use Of A Follicular Study?
A follicular study helps ascertain the size of any active follicles in the ovaries that can contain an egg and effectively predict ovulation so that fertilization can take place naturally.
After a follicular scan, a couple can try for pregnancy when ovulation is likely to happen. In addition, if pregnancy occurs through fertility treatment, the follicular scan helps to determine the presence of follicles and the best time to extract an egg for fertilization.
How Many Scans Per Cycle Are Carried Out?
Because the ovulation window is wide, in each cycle about 8 – 10 scans will be required each cycle. The baseline scan will help the doctor know the initial stage of the follicle, and from there, the development will be closely followed by your doctor to schedule the next scan accordingly.
A follicular scan will give a clear picture of the developments happening and the right time of ovulation. The follicle growth and womb lining will be ascertained as the cycle progresses.
Who Should Get A Follicular Study Done?
Though any woman trying to get pregnant can get a follicle scan done, it is more primarily recommended as a first line of treatment for couples who cannot conceive even after having unprotected intercourse for more than one year.
The woman’s age may also play a significant role as good eggs cease in women who are in their late 30s or 40s. The pregnancy rates can decline sharply after a woman crosses the age of 35. Furthermore, follicular study may also be beneficial for women who:
- Do not know when they ovulate
- If a woman is not sure if she is ovulating at all.
- This is when does not feel any symptoms such as a little bit of pain or aching near the ovaries during ovulation
- If a woman is on drugs that are used to induce ovulation
Is there anything else that Follicular Scan can help with?
Yes, as a fact, a follicular study will also detect some other issues that may impede a pregnancy. Some of them are:
It will help determine the follicles that that do not grow properly before rupturing
The thickening of the womb lining in conjugation with the follicular release
Follicles that do not grow at all or do not rupture at the correct time
These parameters help the doctor to know what and when things are happening and what is not happening.
It makes it easier to identify the problems and thus impart treatment or corrective measures.
Frequently Asked Questions
A follicular scan is not painful. In general, the gel used in a transvaginal scan can be cold and might cause some discomfort but should not cause pain.
A follicular study has no side effects on your physical health. In fact, this procedure helps you resolve your conception issues to live a contented life.
Follicular study is the best way to find your fertile window to assist you in planning the best time for intercourse to maximize the chances of conception.
The number of antral follicles varies every month. A woman with a count of 6-10 antral follicles is considered to have an adequate or normal ovarian reserve.
When your follicles have reached around 18-20mm in diameter, they are deemed ready for egg collection.