Follicle Monitoring Question - Another one at bottom of page

[Peach Blossom]

Hi there,

I had my second follicle monitoring scan yesterday at 11dpo. They said that I had a follicle maturing on my left ovary measuring 12mm. I have to go back on Monday which I am assuming is because they think I'm about to ovulate... Is that right? I'm new to this and don't really understand what size a follicle is when it releases an egg. Can anyone educate me?!

 

[CurlySue]

They say 17mm is optimum size so at 12 it's still a few days away, I'd imagine.

 

[chocci]

It grows about 2mm a day too so you can probably work out ovulation to be at about 14dpo at approx 17mm

 

[Peach Blossom]

Thank you! I don't wholly understand about all of this yet, so sorry if I sound stupid, but is there a chance of the follice maturing slower that 2mm a day? For instance is it possible to go in on Monday and the follicle to have not grown at all since Friday? I'm curious I guess as I normally don't OV til CD 26 and I'm on track for OV on CD 14 at the moment which is very exciting!

 

[CurlySue]

There is a possibility but if the treatment is working it's unlikely. I know when I went for a follicle tracking scan with IVF they told me I had a certain number of mature follicles and when I went for egg collection some of them had caught up. Some were only at around 10mm but had grown enough over a few days to produce eggs. Some had not grown at all.

 

[Peach Blossom]

Thanks Curlysue. I'm not on treatment just yet, they're monitoring as I've mc'd 2 and had a chemical this year. I also have pco. I'm convinced I have a luteal phase problem which is also why they decided to monitor me. I guess we'll see on Monday!

 

[Peach Blossom]

Had my 4th monitoring scan today... I'm a bit confused. He said that he couldn't see the follicle so hopefully that means the egg has been released. Surely if the egg has been released they would be able to see a corpus luteum? Wouldn't they? He said he couldn't see the egg... should he be able to? What will they see on Friday that they didn't see today? Sorry if any of these are stupid questions and thank you in advance for the advice offered!

 

[chocci]

Your right yes, if the egg had been released it should be clear on the scan that a corpus luteum is present, they can tell by the shape as to weather the egg has been realsead. Sometimes people doing the scans use differnt terms and confuse us, they have differnt phrases for communicating things. If it is bothering you i would just pick up the phone and ask to speak to one of them to explain what they ment? its not fair you worrying about it

Let us know what they say XX

 

[Peach Blossom]

Thank you Chocci... I thought my amatuer obstetric research couldn't be that off... I will try not to worry about things and go back on Friday and hope that they can tell me something a little less confusing! Will let you know!

 

[chocci]

Hey hun, was just wondering how you got on? x

 

[Peach Blossom]

Well, I went in on Friday for final scan and he was so non commital... He said he thought he could see the corpus luteum measuring 14.2 x 11mm. He said there was a good blood flow to it whatever it is, but as I say was incredibly non commital about it all... grrr.. Guess I'll find out at the weekend when I test if he was right or not!

 

[chocci]

Well good luck hun, whatever happens

Sounds a bit odd though that he cant tell wether its a corpus luteum or not, I would have thought it is that or a cyst but then the cyst would have been spotted on other scans at the start of tracking soooo dunno. I have a cyst that is there all the time and some of the nurses doing a scan think its a follicle until i point it out to them. Cysts 9 times out of 10 are nothing to worry about though. Doesn't sound like he thinks its a cyst or I am sure he would have told you, but to not know wether its a corpus luteum or not sounds a bit odd.

Good luck hun

 

[Peach Blossom]

Yeah tell me about it... he was so non commital I thought that perhaps he was an intruder and not a Dr at all!! Sometimes my imagination runs away with me The follicle they were monitoring wasn't there anymore, and he didn't mention anything about a cyst although I do have PCO. To top it all off I got cramp whilst I had my legs in the stirrups and the u/s instrument inside... So painful! And he didn't stop!!! He just carried on. will let you know what the hpt say on Sunday!

Thanks for all your advice

 

[punch]

we don't trigger our patients until they are between 17 and 19mm... you've got a few days to go. are they monitoring your hormones as well? if so, what are they at?

 

[Peach Blossom]

Thanks punch... this was a natural cycle. Turns out not a successful one 2 weeks before I can get in to see my FS... Started spotting at 7dpo even though the endometrium measured 13.2mm at the last scan... Plus I was on cyclogest... Still didn't make any difference. :BFN: today... back to the drawing board...

 

[punch]

oh peach, i'm so sorry!

better luck next time, hun!!!! i hope it goes great. takes a few times usually.