Can Follicular Study Confirm Pregnancy? Understanding The Scope
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- First Parents
- March 4, 2025
If you are here to find out, “Can follicular study confirm pregnancy?” The short answer is no! To delve deeper into the topic, you must continue reading.
Planning for a baby is a big deal. It’s a life-changing decision you cannot back from once you have committed. Naturally, you have many pregnancy-related questions, including the one we mentioned at the beginning of our post.
A follicular study is performed to see how follicles inside your ovaries are developing. While it plays a crucial role in fertility, it doesn’t confirm if you are pregnant. The post below explains everything related to follicular study and pregnancy.
Can Follicular Study Confirm Pregnancy?
Before we tell you anything else about follicular study, let us first answer the question, “Can follicular study confirm pregnancy?”
Well, a follicular study cannot confirm pregnancy. Even though it is vital in tracking ovulation, it cannot determine if you are pregnant. Instead, it helps predict the best time for intercourse or egg retrieval in fertility treatments like IUI, IVF, etc.
In short, a follicular study helps with the following:
- Monitoring follicle development
- Identifying the dominant follicle
- Measuring endometrial thickness (ET)
- Estimating the timing of ovulation
Once a dominant follicle is detected, you are given an HCG injection that helps initiate ovulation. It takes around 24-36 hours for ovulation to start after the shot. It is recommended you prepare for intercourse 24 hours after the injection.
What Is A Follicular Study?
Now that we have answered your question let us tell you what follicular study means.
To put it simply, a follicular study is a process used to observe the growth and development of ovarian follicles until ovulation occurs. Also known as follicular monitoring, it tracks the release of an egg from the dominant follicle. It also assesses if the corpus luteum has formed post-ovulation. For your knowledge, the corpus luteum is responsible for the progesterone production that supports early pregnancy.
Doctors often recommend a follicular study to people who struggle to conceive. However, it is essential to note that a follicular research does not confirm pregnancy. Instead, it helps determine the most fertile phase of a woman’s cycle, making it a valuable treatment for determining the timing for fertility treatments or intercourse.
Why Is Follicular Study Performed?
As an essential part of fertility treatments, follicular studies let doctors check if your body is responding well to the treatment. It is essential if you are undergoing IVF (in-vitro fertilization).
With the help of this process, doctors can determine the number of eggs produced during the ovulation phase. Not only that, but it also tracks hormone levels. In case the hormone levels are not balanced, medication is used to enhance the chances of conception.
Follicular monitoring also helps identify the exact time of ovulation. This is why many couples get this test done, as it allows them to time intercourse correctly. Additionally, it helps diagnose ovulation-related issues that may prevent you from getting pregnant.
However, it is essential to remember that follicular monitoring does not guarantee pregnancy. We mean that follicular study does not ensure the egg will be fertilized or implanted in the uterus.
When Is Follicular Study Needed?
A painless procedure, follicular study helps doctors check the follicles inside your ovary. They insert a small probe into your vagina to see how the egg is developing inside the follicle.
Here are some situations where follicular monitoring may be helpful:
- If you are over 35 and unable to conceive in the last six months.
- If you are under 35 but unable to conceive even after trying for a year, follicular study can help rule out ovulation issues.
- If you are taking fertility drugs or undergoing treatments like IVF or IUI to increase follicle production.
- If you have PCOD, it may result in ovulation issues or irregular cycles. In some cycles, you may not ovulate at all.
Doctors usually recommend follicle scans around day 6 or 7 of the menstrual cycle. Additional scans are scheduled every two to three days to track follicle growth and ovulation timing.
How Is A Follicular Study Done?
How is follicular study done? We will explain the procedure in this section.
A follicular study involves multiple ultrasound scans that are performed at different stages of your menstrual cycle. Each scan serves a specific purpose, depending on the cycle day.
The key steps of the process include:
Baseline Ultrasound Scan
This scan is done on the second or third day of your menstrual cycle to check the condition of your reproductive organs, including your ovaries, uterus, and fallopian tubes.
Monitoring Scans
These scans are performed regularly between days 7 and 8 of your cycle. However, the timing may vary based on your cycle’s length. These scans help track ovarian follicles’ growth and measure the uterine lining’s thickness.
Follicular Tracking
As ovulation approaches, further ultrasound scans are performed to evaluate the size of the developing follicles. It also helps identify the dominant follicle that is likely to release an egg.
Ovulation Prediction Scan
Another scan is performed when you are near your ovulation period. It helps determine the size of the dominant follicle and whether it has matured. Additionally, it looks for signs of follicle rupture, which indicates that ovulation is about to occur.
How Is Follicular Study Important For Infertility Treatment?
Follicular study is a crucial part of fertility treatments because it helps monitor ovarian follicles’ growth and development. To help you understand better, we have explained the details below.
- In some cases, follicles develop correctly but fail to release an egg at the right time. In such situations, the follicular study is performed to identify the problem.
- Some people experience irregular ovulation, while others may not ovulate at all. In such cases, doctors may administer an HCG injection that mimics the luteinizing hormone (LH) to trigger ovulation.
- A mature follicle reaches around 20 mm in size before releasing an egg. If a follicle does not rupture independently, an HCG injection can help stimulate its release.
- Once the injection is given, ovulation usually occurs within 24 to 36 hours.
- If intercourse takes place at the right time, there is a higher chance of fertilization.
However, a follicular study does not confirm pregnancy. To determine if you are pregnant, you must get a blood test or a urine pregnancy test (UPT) done a few days after you have missed your period.
By tracking follicle growth, doctors can assess the chances of successful ovulation and move forward with fertility treatments.
Chances Of Pregnancy After A Follicular Study
A follicular study helps track the growth of eggs in your ovaries. Doctors generally recommend this procedure to determine the best time for conception. It should be noted that the chances of you getting pregnant after a follicular study are around 10%.
However, the success rate depends on several factors, including the following:
- Age: As you grow older, you become less fertile.
- Health Conditions: Issues like pelvic disorders, PCOS, or diabetes can reduce the chances of pregnancy.
- Hormonal Balance: Hormonal imbalance can affect your ovulation.
- Lifestyle: The success rate also depends on your diet, stress, and overall health.
When to Take a Pregnancy Test After a Follicular Study?
After a follicular study, many women wonder when they should take a pregnancy test. If an HCG injection was given to trigger ovulation, it should occur 24 to 36 hours later.
Once fertilization occurs, the fertilized egg implants itself in the uterus within 7 to 10 days after intercourse. To get the most accurate results, you should take a pregnancy test after a missed period.
Remember, testing too early may lead to false-negative results as the pregnancy hormone may not yet be detectable in urine.
Benefits Of Follicular Study
Performing a follicular study offers several advantages, especially if you want to enhance your chances of conception. Some of the main benefits of this procedure include the following:
- It helps track follicle development, allowing doctors to determine the type of hormonal stimulation and appropriate dosage.
- It helps doctors identify follicles that fail to rupture or mature.
- For assisted conception, follicular studies can predict the timing of ovulation accurately.
- It helps detect conditions like luteal phase deficiency, ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), and other possible complications.
- Based on the results, doctors prescribe the correct ovulation-inducing injections or medications.
Limitations Of Follicular Study In Confirming Pregnancy
Although follicular study is a crucial procedure, it has certain limitations when confirming pregnancy. Here’s why you shouldn’t rely solely on a follicular study:
Predictive Nature
A follicular study is mainly used to predict when a woman is most fertile. It helps doctors monitor the growth of follicles and determine the best time for conception. However, it does not confirm if fertilization and implantation have occurred.
No Definitive Answers
Follicular studies only show ovulation patterns and follicle development. Even if ovulation occurs, pregnancy is not guaranteed. Since this method does not detect pregnancy-specific hormones, it cannot provide a definite confirmation.
Focus on Preconception
This study is designed to give insights before conception so you can understand your ovulation cycle better. While it improves your chances of getting pregnant, it does not confirm pregnancy.
HCG Detection
Pregnancy tests work by identifying HCG, which is produced by the placenta after implantation. Without detecting this hormone, it is impossible to confirm pregnancy. That’s why blood tests or home pregnancy kits are necessary for a reliable result.
Need for Pregnancy Tests
To confirm pregnancy, you must take a urine or blood test that detects pregnancy-related hormones. These tests help detect human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), which is produced only after implantation. You cannot measure this hormone with a follicular study.
Holistic Approach Needed
Relying only on a follicular study can lead to misunderstandings about your pregnancy status. If you are trying to conceive, you should take a more comprehensive approach that includes ovulation tracking and timely pregnancy tests. The best solution is to consult a doctor, as they can detect pregnancy more accurately.
Final Words
By now, you know the answer to the question, “Can follicular study confirm pregnancy?” While it is a helpful procedure for tracking ovulation and improving the chances of conception, it doesn’t confirm pregnancy. To find out if you are pregnant, you should get a blood or urine test done. Combining follicular study with other medical tests can be helpful if you are trying to conceive.
FAQs
Is pregnancy possible in the follicular phase?
Yes, you can get pregnant during your follicular phase.
What is the success rate of pregnancy after follicular study?
Based on studies, the success rate of pregnancy after follicular monitoring is around 10%.
Can a fertilized egg be seen in a follicular scan?
A follicular scan cannot detect a fertilized egg.
What is the next step after a follicular study?
The next step after a follicular study is determined based on your condition and the study results.
Which phase is best for pregnancy?
The best time for pregnancy is during the follicular phase, as it is the most fertile period.
Can you be pregnant and have follicles?
You can have follicles while being pregnant. Some women get pregnant with a single mature egg.
