The regulation of follicle growth: some clinical implications in reproductive endocrinology.

Objective: To review the literature concerning the regulation of follicle growth, to describe a model for unifollicular ovulation based upon the information gleaned, and to discuss some clinical implications in reproductive endocrinology underscored by this expanding knowledge.

Design: Studies relating to follicular growth in lower animals and primates were reviewed. From the most pertinent articles the individual agents playing a significant role in the regulation of follicle growth were identified along with their mechanisms of action.

Natural oocyte retrieval with intravaginal fertilization: a simplified approach to in vitro fertilization.

To simplify in vitro fertilization (IVF), we have combined natural-cycle oocyte retrieval with intravaginal fertilization. Our subjects ranged in age from 28-40 years and were monitored by ultrasound and steroid hormone levels. Oocyte retrieval was carried out under vaginal ultrasound-guided aspiration 32-36 hours after the onset of the LH surge.

Comparison of the in vitro fertilization rate by human sperm capacitated by multiple-tube swim-up and Percoll gradient centrifugation.

Two sperm preparation methods, a multiple-tube swim-up and Percoll-gradient centrifugation, were employed in our human in vitro fertilization program. The fertilization rate of these two sperm preparation methods was compared when they were employed in semen samples of less than 60 million motile sperm/ml. The results described here suggest that both of these methods gave a similar fertilization rate in these semen samples, i.

Efficacy of danazol treatment for minimal endometriosis in infertile women. A prospective, randomized study.

We compared pregnancy rates between a danazol-treated and an untreated group of infertile women with minimal endometriosis. After completion of a basic infertility workup and laparoscopy, women with minimal endometriosis were entered into the study and randomly selected to receive either a six-month course of danazol or no treatment at all. Those patients with other infertility factors were included in the study only if the factors were correctable and ultimately determined to be noncontributory.