BACKGROUND Although widely used, the mechanisms of action of the levonorgestrel emergency contraceptive pill (LNG ECP) are still unclear. There are increasing data to indicate that LNG is particularly effective as an ECP by interrupting follicular development and ovulation. An important outstanding question is whether it has any effect on fertilization or implantation. METHOD Ninety-nine wome...

Background: In vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes reduces the costs and averts the side-effects of gonadotropin stimulation for in vitro fertilization (IVF). Reliable IVM is an intellectual, scientific and clinical challenge with a number of potential applications. Objective: The effect of hCG was evaluated on the timing and regulation of in vitro ovulation for the Syrian mice oocytes in the pre...

Hormonal asynchronies during oestrus, related to the presence of suprabasal plasma-progesterone (P4) concentrations and a delayed ovulation, interfere with the fertility of repeat-breeder heifers (RBH). Since tubal dysfunction can occur in connection with hormonal asynchronies and constrained availability of fertile spermatozoa at the time of ovulation, the present study tested the hypothesis t...

PURPOSE To assess variations in the biomechanical properties and central corneal thickness (CCT) throughout the female menstrual cycle. SETTING Department of Ophthalmology, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin Israel. DESIGN Case series. METHODS Young healthy women were prospectively recruited. Every participant was assessed at the beginning of the menstrual cycle, at ovulation, and at t...

We examined the echotexture in ultrasonographic images of the wall of dominant ovulatory follicles in women during natural menstrual cycles and dominant anovulatory follicles which developed in women using oral contraceptives (OC). Ovarian follicles in women are fluid-filled structures in the ovary that contain oocytes (eggs). Dominant follicles are physiologically selected for preferential dev...