Abstract
Two groups of women were studied in whom a proportion of follicles had either ovulated spontaneously (7 women) or ruptured during manipulation at laparoscopy (30 women), and oocytes were recovered from the pouch of Douglas. There were no significant differences in the fertilization rates of oocytes collected in the pouch of Douglas from ovulated follicles, compared with those from the remaining intact follicles [15/20 (75%) vs 14/20 (70%)]. Also there was no significant difference between the fertilization rate of oocytes from follicles ruptured at the time of oocyte collection and that of oocytes from inlact follicles [25/38 (66%) vs 101/140 (72%)]. One woman became pregnant, following the transfer of four four-cell embryos, all derived from spontaneously ovulated oocytes found in the pouch of Douglas. She gave birth to a baby girl. The present study has shown that (1) oocytes may still be retrieved from the pouch of Douglas, despite follicle dispersal; (ii) these oocytes can be fertilized; and (iii) the embryos derived from ovulated oocytes recovered from the pouch of Douglas may generate an ongoing pregnancy following in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
MeBain JC, Trounson A: Patient managennt—treatment cycle.In Clinical in Vitro Fertilization, C Wood, A Trounson (eds.), Berlin. Spring-Verlag, 1984, pp 49–66
Dowing B: Oocyte pick-up.In Clinical in Vitro Fertilization, C Wood, A Trounson (eds). Berlin, Springer-Verlag. 1984, pp 67–82
Lenz S, Lauritsen JG: Ultrasonically guided percutaneous aspiration of human follicles under local anesthesia: A new method of collecting oocytes for in vitro fertilization. Fertil Steril 1982;38:673–677
Yovich JL, Stanger JD: The limitations of in vitro fertilization from males with severe oligospermia and abnormal sperm morphology. J Vitro Fert Embryo Transfer 1984;1:172–179
Craft I, Porter R, Green S, Tucker M, Smith B, Twing H: Success of fertility, embryo number and in-vitro fertilisation. Lancet 1984;1:732
Trounson A, Mohr L: Human pregnancy following cryopreservation, thawing and transfer of an eight-cell embryo Nature 1983;305:707–709
Kerin J: Methods of timing egg recovery.In In Vitro Ferilization and Embryo Transfer, PG Crosignani, BL Rubin (eds). London, Academic Press, 1983, pp 271–292
Stanger JD, Yovich JL. Failure of human oocyte release at ovulation. Fertil Steril 1984;41:827–832
Yovich JL, Stanger JD, Tuvik AI, Yovich JM: In-vitro fertilization in Western Australia: A viable service program. Med J Aust 1984;140:645–649
Whittingham D: Culture of mouse ova. J Reprod Fert 1971; 14 (Suppl.):7–21
Yovich JL, Stanger JD, Yovich JM, Tuvik AI: Quality of embryos from in-vitro fertilisation. Lancet 1984;1:457
Craft I, Shelton K, Yovich J, Smith D: Ovum retntion in the human. Fertil Steril 1980;34:537–541
Matson PL, Tyler JPP, Collins WP: Follicular steroid content and oocyte meiotic status after PMSG stimulation of immature hamsters. J Repord Fert 1981;61:443–452
Moor RM, Crosby IM, Osborn JC: Growth and maturation of mammalian oocytes.In In Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer, PG Crosigmani, BL Rubin (eds). London, Academic Press, 1983, pp 39–63
Trounson AO, Mohr LR, Wood C, Leeton JF: Effect of delayed insemination on in vitro fertilization, culture and transfer of human embryos. J Reprod Fert 1982;64:285–294
Halme J, Hall JL: Effect of pelvic fluid from endoemetriosis patients on human sperm penetration of zona-free hamster ova. Fertil Steril 1982;37:573–576
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Matson, P., Yovich, J.M., Junk, S. et al. The successful recovery and fertilization of oocytes from the pouch of Douglas. J Assist Reprod Genet 3, 227–231 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01132809
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01132809