|
Ovulatory disorders are a major cause of female infertility and the diagnostic workup includes fertility tests to determine if ovulation is regular and "effective". One objective of these tests is to predict the time of ovulation, which facilitates timed intercourse.
Urinary test kits are the preferred means of predicting ovulation because they accurately measure the surge of luteinizing hormone (LH) that occurs prior to ovulation. Ovulation occurs approximately 36 hours after the LH surge and intercourse can be planned around these times.
We usually recommend daily testing between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. starting from approximately cycle day 8 (depending on length of natural menstrual cycle).
Rising levels of progesterone in the luteal phase of the cycle indicate that "effective" ovulation occurred. Progesterone is produced by the follicular structure remaining after ovulation, known as the corpus luteum. Low levels of progesterone may signal the presence of a luteal phase defect.
Historically, the BBT was the primary means to assess and document ovulation. The BBT requires that the woman take her temperature immediately upon arising in the morning prior to getting out of bed using a sensitive thermometer. The daily temperature values are charted. Because progesterone, which is secreted only after ovulation, is thermogenic (causes a small increase in body temperature), a clear biphasic temperature pattern is highly suggestive of regular ovulatory cycles. However, by the time an increased basal body temperature has been noted, ovulation has already occurred, therefore timing of ‘highly fertile’ days is retrospective. Predicting impending ovulation is better performed using urinary LH test kits.
If treatments fail to establish ovulation, the best treatment choice, and in some cases the only choice, is donor egg IVF.
"Search Our Site"
|
