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How Follicular Scans Help Track Ovulation in Women with PCOD

July 5, 2025

When a woman is trying to conceive, tracking her menstrual cycle is instrumental in identifying the most fertile days for her to try conceiving. When periods are irregular due to various issues, including PCOD, it becomes tough to know when she is ovulating. This can cause a delay in conception. When the menstrual cycle is unreliable enough to track ovulation, follicular scans can help.

What are Follicles?

The ovaries have small sacs known as follicles where the eggs develop. Every month, a group of eggs start developing in the follicle, but only one egg matures and is released. The other eggs in that group die and are reabsorbed by the body. This is how a woman’s egg reserve declines. The rate of depletion varies from woman to woman.

What is PCOD?

Polycystic Ovarian Disease is a gynaecological condition where the ovaries, which are supposed to release just one mature egg every month, produce multiple immature eggs instead. Since the eggs are immature, they are not released into the fallopian tube, and they develop into cysts instead. Such cysts cause irregular menstrual periods, hormonal imbalances, and fertility issues as well.

PCOD is caused by hormonal imbalance. So, managing the symptoms, changing lifestyle, and medications can help increase the chances of pregnancy.

Follicular Scan

A follicular scan is a series of ultrasound scans that track the ovaries to identify the exact timing of egg release. These vaginal scans can help understand when an ovarian follicle with a mature egg will rupture and release the egg down the fallopian tube. Knowing this time can help couples learn the most fertile days for conception.

How Does a Follicular Scan Work?

When the egg inside a follicle starts developing at the start of a menstrual cycle, the follicle grows in size. A follicle scan will identify and track this follicle as it grows throughout the cycle. When it reaches about 1.8-2.5 cm in size, it indicates the time for the egg’s release.

Once this follicle reaches its full size, it ruptures and releases the egg. This release is known as ovulation. During ovulation, the egg will leave the follicle and travel down the fallopian tube. If a sperm meets the egg and successfully penetrates it during this time (about 2 days), fertilisation can happen.

The follicular scan will track the growth of the egg to help understand when it will be released. If the couple has unprotected sex during this period, it increases the chance of pregnancy. The scan will also confirm the formation of a structure called corpus luteum. This is a structure that remains after ovulation happens. So, if the scan identifies the corpus luteum, the egg was successfully released.

Need for Follicular Scan

For women suffering from PCOD, irregular or missed periods make it very difficult to know the exact time of ovulation. A follicular scan can help in the following ways:

● Know the exact dates of ovulation or egg release

● Help couples plan when to have unprotected sex to increase their chances of conception

● In the case of ART (assisted reproductive techniques), knowing the ovulation date can help plan the treatments

● Help identify anovulation (lack of ovulation), which can be the reason for infertility

● Track follicle growth and identify any potential problems or abnormalities

Follicular Scan Timing

A woman will need multiple scans to track her ovulation. The doctor will note your last period date and calculate the dates from there. Usually, ovulation occurs around day 14 of the menstrual cycle. Since PCOD causes irregularities in the cycle, a follicular scan is taken multiple times from day 9 to day 20. It may extend for a few more days if the follicle has not reached the desired size.

A follicular scan is not painful. It may be a little uncomfortable when the doctor inserts the plastic probe into the vaginal opening. The doctor will track the follicle’s growth by noting its size during every scan.

A follicle scan can also detect follicles that fail to grow or rupture prematurely. It can also detect the implantation of the egg into the womb lining. These scans help closely monitor the entire menstrual cycle progression to detect any issues at the earliest.

Follicular Scan Frequency

On average, a follicular scan can include 4 to 6 scans. It will start on day 9, when the follicles start developing and continue until the ovaries release the mature egg. The last will confirm whether ovulation occurred or not. Each of these scans will take about 5-10 minutes only. After each scan, you will receive a report with the findings.

Follicular Scan Success Rate

While the follicular scan alone does not guarantee pregnancy, it is a powerful tool in timing conception efforts, especially when paired with other fertility treatments. Though the scan can track the exact ovulation period, conception depends on various factors. The scan only tells you when the egg is releasing. It does not determine the health of the egg, if it can be fertilised, if the sperm is healthy, etc. Follicular scans also can’t determine the health of the uterus or uterine lining, which are essential for implantation.

Book an online appointment with Dr. Monika Bhatia for Pregnancy & Gynecology related issues.

Can a Follicular Scan Help with Pregnancy in PCOD?

A follicular scan can only help track and detect ovulation. These scans help understand if a woman’s ovaries are functioning properly and are releasing a mature egg for fertilisation. A follicular scan is not a treatment that can help with pregnancy. It only provides the details required to take the next step.

For women suffering from PCOD, follicular scans can be very helpful in detecting their exact fertile period. The success of her conception attempts will depend on various other factors.

Conclusion

A follicular scan can provide valuable information about a woman’s fertility. It can help track ovulation and also detect various other issues. Detecting issues at the earliest can give your doctor enough time to identify and implement the right treatment to help increase your pregnancy chances. If you’re trying to conceive with PCOD, speak to a fertility specialist about whether a follicular scan is right for you.

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FAQ

1. How can a follicular scan help women with PCOD?

For women suffering from PCOD, knowing when their next period will be or when she is ovulating can be very difficult. Follicular scans help track her egg development and determine the exact ovulation period. This information can help her plan for pregnancy.

2. How often should I get a follicular scan if I have PCOD?

All women with PCOD don’t need a follicular scan. You will need the scan only when you are trying to conceive or are worried about your menstrual cycle and egg reserve. Once you start trying to conceive, you can take regular scans until you conceive or narrow down your menstruation timeline. Your doctor can help you make an informed decision.

3. What is the best time to get a follicular scan for ovulation tracking?

The best time to get a follicular scan for tracking ovulation will be between days 9 and 20 after your last period. The first day of your last period will be day 1, and you have to calculate your day 9 to get your first scan.

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