Ultrasonic measurement of ovarian follicles during chronic LRH agonist treatment for contraception

Abstract

Ultrasonic examinations of ovarian follicles were performed in seven healthy women on continuous luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LRH) agonist treatment for contraception. Four of the women had 1–4 uterine bleedings during the four-month study period and the remaining three women developed amenorrhea. The follicle diameter varied during LRH agonist treatment up to or above the preovulatory size of the normal menstrual cycle in the menstruating group of women. No ovulation occurred as judged by the low progesterone levels in serum. Slightly raised progesterone concentrations (mean 7.6 nmol/l) were observed during four treatment cycles with persistent follicles indicating luteinization of unruptured follicles. No or only small ovarian follicles (8–10 mm) were visualized by ultrasound in the amenorrheic group of women. This study further establish previous reports that chronic LRH agonist treatment effectively inhibits normal ovulation in regularly menstruating women.