Patient's question:
Before undergoing an ultrasound to monitor follicular development, are there any precautions to take? Is it not allowed to have sexual intercourse?Doctor's answer:
For those with a longer menstrual cycle, such as those with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), it is common to experience infrequent menstruation, with periods occurring every 30, 50, or even 90 days or more. Follicle monitoring can begin on day 10. If an (dominant follicle) greater than 12mm is observed, monitoring should be performed daily or every other day. If no dominant follicle is present, monitoring can be done every 3 days until a dominant follicle appears, after which daily or every other day monitoring should resume. (Note: The time from monitoring to the mature follicle and ovulation is generally 3-4 days. Therefore, if the interval exceeds 5 days, the opportunity may be missed!)