FUNCTIONAL LIFE-SPAN OF THE DOMINANT FOLLICLE IN PHARMACOLOGICALLY INDUCED ANOVULATORY CYCLES

With the purpose of measuring the duration of the functional life-span (FLS) of the anovulatory follicle in women under continuous low-dose progestogen treatment, the oestradiol curve of Norplant implant users was retrospectively analysed. From all the data collected during the p revious 5 years at the Department of Biomedical Research at the Family Planning Clinic of Profamilia, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, dat a from all 29 Norplant implant users showing follicular activity witho ut luteal activity were selected for this retrospective analysis, Seri al blood sampling twice or three times a week for 5 or 6 consecutive w eeks had been taken in all subjects, The duration of the FLS of the do minant follicle in anovulatory cycles was defined as the period from t he first day of ascending oestradiol curve until the day preceding ons et of menses, The mean FLS of the dominant follicle in anovulatory cyc les under continuous low-dose progestogen administration was 21.1 +/- 4.2 days, independently of the length of the menstrual cycle, The dura tion of the FLS of the anovulatory dominant follicle appears not to be different from the duration of a normal follicle/corpus luteum unit.