Follicles are tiny fluid-filled sacs in the ovary that contain eggs. The follicles grow in size and develop as the eggs mature.
When an egg or oocyte matures, the follicle releases the mature egg out of the ovary in a process called ovulation. This is an integral part of the fertility cycle. While your follicles grow, they also release hormones like estrogen that regulate your reproductive cycle.
Follicular monitoring is a process in which the growth of ovarian follicles is monitored. This keeps a check on the size of the follicles and indicates the level of maturity of the eggs. This is done through ultrasound image views.
Follicular monitoring helps keep track of the stages of growth of the follicles and the reproductive cycle. The follicular monitoring test in Hindi is also known as Koopik Nigarani.
What happens to follicles during IVF?
During in vitro fertilisation (IVF), your ovaries are stimulated to encourage the growth of the follicles so that they produce mature eggs.
When the follicles have reached the required size, it indicates that the mature eggs are ready. This is when you will receive a trigger shot – a hormonal injection that triggers your follicles to release the eggs.
You will then undergo the egg retrieval procedure, whereby the mature eggs are removed from your follicles. Using a needle guided by ultrasound imaging, the IVF specialist or gynaecologist will retrieve fluid from the follicles in your ovaries. This fluid contains mature eggs.
The timing is important because the trigger shot and egg retrieval must occur just before the follicles rupture and release the eggs (ovulation).
This allows the mature eggs to be collected so they can be fertilised by sperm in the IVF process, which is why follicular monitoring is so important for IVF treatment.
How is the procedure of follicular monitoring conducted?
Follicular monitoring begins when the ovaries are not active or resting. This means that the follicles have not started the growth process.
As you begin treatment and medication, the follicles start growing. They also begin to release estrogen, which increases your estrogen levels.
Along with the follicular monitoring, medications and hormonal injections are continued over the course of your fertility cycle. Your ovaries are stimulated to help them produce mature eggs. You undergo regular check-ups and ultrasound scans to track your follicular cycle.
The ultrasound scans indicate whether the follicles have grown to the right size and the number of follicles that have developed. This is known as the ultrasound sonography (USG) scan test or USG for follicular monitoring. Based on the ultrasound scans, you will get a follicular monitoring report.
This monitoring process will continue throughout the stimulation process. It helps the fertility specialist understand whether the ovaries are responding to the treatment and whether the treatment or stimulation needs to be modified.
Follicular monitoring prices can vary between ₹2000 to ₹3000 for the multiple scans involved in the process.
Who requires follicular monitoring treatment?
Follicular monitoring is required for women who are undergoing fertility treatment such as IVF to have a baby. It is also required by women who are egg donors and are donating their eggs to a couple who needs them for their fertility process.
Besides that, women concerned about their fertility or finding it difficult to become pregnant may also undergo follicular monitoring.
What are the benefits of follicular monitoring treatment?
Follicular monitoring has various benefits for understanding your reproductive cycle and for fertility treatment. These include:
Understanding your reproductive cycle
Follicular monitoring reports help the fertility specialist, gynaecologist, or OB-GYN understand the condition of your fertility and the functioning of your reproductive cycle. They also help track the development of mature eggs in your ovaries.
All the reproductive processes are closely connected to the follicle cycle. It affects the release of reproductive hormones and your body’s preparation for pregnancy.
This is why follicular monitoring plays such an important role in fertility treatment and pregnancy planning.
Tracking your cycles for IVF treatment
Follicular monitoring is important for IVF treatment because it helps the fertility specialist track the growth of follicles in your ovaries. It indicates the right time for administering medications or hormonal injections.
It is especially important in deciding the right time for the trigger injection, which initiates the release of eggs before egg retrieval. It ensures that the mature eggs are collected in time so that the ovaries do not release them before egg retrieval.
Follicular monitoring also helps your fertility specialist or gynaecologist understand how you are responding to the treatment. If the follicles are growing too quickly or too slowly, the stimulation protocol may need to be adjusted.
Besides that, monitoring the follicle growth cycle is important because it affects reproductive hormones like estrogen. If the follicle cycle is proceeding optimally, the estrogen levels in your body will also be balanced accordingly.
Pregnancy planning
Follicular monitoring helps you understand the timing of your reproductive cycle and when you are producing mature eggs. This allows you and your partner to plan your efforts to conceive and get pregnant with more accurate timing and better understanding.
In this way, it can improve your chances of conception.
Uterus preparation
The gynaecologist, fertility specialist, or OB-GYN can track the thickness of your uterus by checking your follicle growth cycle.
The follicle cycle regulates the release of hormones, which affects the thickening of the uterus wall in preparation for implantation. Implantation is the process where a fertilised egg attaches to the lining of your uterus.
Follicle monitoring can help track whether your uterus is thickening properly so that implantation can take place successfully.
Conclusion
Follicular monitoring is an important tracking process in fertility treatment. If you are concerned about your reproductive cycle and fertility, it is best to visit a gynaecologist or a fertility specialist.
A fertility specialist can suggest appropriate tests to help determine what is making it difficult for you to become pregnant. They can then suggest a suitable course of treatment for you and your partner. IVF treatment and regular follicular monitoring can help you conceive.
For the best fertility treatment and care, visit the Birla Fertility and IVF centre near you or book an appointment with Dr. Deepika Mishra.
FAQ’s
1. Can follicular monitoring confirm pregnancy?
Follicular monitoring cannot confirm pregnancy. However, it helps identify the presence of mature follicles and the timing of ovulation. It can also help check whether your body is properly preparing itself for pregnancy.
2. Is follicular monitoring painful?
Follicular monitoring is not painful. It involves continuous treatment or medications and regular ultrasound scans. The ultrasound scan does not cause any pain.
3. When should you monitor follicles?
Follicles are monitored from the time when they start growing to the time when they mature. The process begins when follicles have not yet started maturing and continues until the follicles reach the right size, till the mature eggs are ready to be released.
