Effect of short follicular phase with follicular maturity on conception outcome.

Abstract

PURPOSE: To determine if a short follicular phase despite attaining a mature follicle is associated with a lower pregnancy rate. Furthermore the study would determine if delaying the maturation of the follicle by the use of ethinyl estradiol could improve the pregnancy rate. METHODS: The clinical and viable pregnancy rates of 32 infertile patients were matched to 32 similar controls who ovulated at or past day 11. After 2-3 cycles of demonstrating ovulation before day 11 some patients were treated with ethinyl E2, 20 mcg daily, from day 2 of the cycle until ovulation. RESULTS: Clinical and viable pregnancy rates for the normal ovulators (84.4%, 59.3%) were significantly higher than the rates for early ovulators (21.8%, 9.3%). However, the pregnancy rates were 83.3% and 66.7% for the subset of early ovulators who were made to ovulate later by ethinyl E2. CONCLUSIONS: The short follicular phase per se reduces fecundity.