How is ovarian function tested?

In clinical practice, women often suffer from ovarian dysfunction. To address this problem, hormone therapy can be used first, and immunotherapy can be used. Because ovarian dysfunction can lead to infertility, some fertility treatments can be used. In short, ovarian health is very important to women. If some ovarian diseases occur, ovarian function will be greatly reduced. So how is ovarian function tested clinically?

Methods for testing ovarian function:

1. Basal body temperature measurement

Measure continuously for 3 months to understand the pattern of ovulation and corpus luteum function.

2. Cervical mucus crystal examination

During ovulation, the cervical mucus is thin, making it easier for sperm to penetrate. Typical fern-like crystals appear on the smear, and gradually decrease or disappear. Therefore, the changes in cervical mucus crystals during the menstrual cycle can help diagnose the presence or absence of ovulation and changes in ovarian function.

3. Vaginal cytology examination

The smear can measure hormone levels, starting from the end of menstruation, every other day until the next menstruation.

4. Endometrial pathology examination

Understand whether ovulation and corpus luteum function occur.

5. Endocrine test

For patients suspected of having pituitary, thyroid or adrenal diseases, pituitary ketogenic hormones, hydroxy, estrogen, progesterone, prolactin, testosterone, progesterone, etc. can be measured.

6. Ultrasound test

B-ultrasound monitors ovulation in the ovaries.

The ovary is the origin of human beings. It is divided into the peripheral cortex and central medulla. The cortex is composed of follicles and interstitium, which is responsible for the production of eggs and female hormones. It plays an important role for women. Therefore, we must pay attention to care.

Basal body temperature measurement: Progesterone increases body temperature through the body temperature regulation center, causing the basal body temperature to show a biphasic type in the normal menstrual cycle, that is, the basal body temperature in the second half of the menstrual cycle is 0.4℃~0.6℃ higher than that in the first half, indicating that the ovarian function includes ovulation and corpus luteum formation.

The main methods of examining ovarian function

Vaginal exfoliated cell examination: Observe the percentage of surface, middle and bottom layer cells. The higher the percentage of surface layer cells, the higher the estrogen level. The smears of patients with premature ovarian failure show varying degrees of low estrogen levels or continued mild estrogen effects.

Examination of cervical mucus crystals: Estrogen makes the cervical mucus thinner, more stringy, and contains fern-like crystals. The more obvious and thicker the fern-like crystals are, the more significant the effect of estrogen is. If rows of ellipses are seen on the smear, it indicates that the hormone progesterone has been affected in addition to the action of estrogen.

Blood steroid hormone determination: Radioimmunoassay of estradiol, progesterone and testosterone. If the estrogen and progesterone concentrations are low, it indicates abnormal ovarian function or failure. If the testosterone level is high, it may indicate polycystic ovary syndrome, ovarian masculinization tumor or testicular feminization.