| Controlled ovarian stimulation. Three-dimensional sonography may be used to facilitate standard measurement of follicular diameter (a). During the latter stages of ovarian stimulation the ovaries may contain many follicles, which become progressively harder to measure reliably between observers, as there are no landmarks to aid orientation. Off-line analysis of stored three-dimensional datasets reduces the time spent with the patient and may potentially improve the number of mature oocytes retrieved by identifying the most appropriate time for oocyte collection. Evidence also suggests that three-dimensional rendering allows demonstration of the cumulus oophorus complex in follicles containing a mature oocyte (b). |