Follicle Tracking

Follicle tracking  allows women to know if and when they are ovulating. For a woman to ovulate, the egg must be released from a follicle and travel along the fallopian tube.

A follicle is a fluid filled sac situated within the ovary  – the follicle acts as a basket to hold and nourish the egg. As the follicle grows, the egg matures. When the follicle reaches approximately 19 to 20 mm ovulation occurs ,releasing the egg from the follicle. As the egg travels through the Fallopian tube it meets the sperm. Once the egg and sperm meet pregnancy is likely to happen.

The ultrasound scanning technique provides information to us to inform couples when ovulation will occur, thereby providing exact timing of intercourse to help achieve pregnancy.

How Follicle Tracking Works

Follicle tracking is a series of vaginal ultrasound scans which usually take between 10 to 15 minutes to perform. These scans are preformed from day 9 to day 17 of your menstrual cycle. These scans show the development of follicles assessing the size and growth. Scanning continues until the follicle(s) have disappeared and ovulation has occurred. We then advise couples to have sexual intercourse.

Follicle tracking is a natural method of assisted conception as it simply optimises the timing of the sperm and egg to meet.

Who Needs Follicle Tracking?

Women who do not ovulate.

Women who are not sure when they ovulate.

Women who are prescribed fertility medication.

Couples who are not conceiving after 6 months to 1 year of trying.

Secondary infertility (where a couple have conceived naturally on their first pregnancy but are having difficulty conceiving their second child).

Unexplained infertility. When all investigations are normal.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Antral follicle count.

Endometrial thickness.