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Progress in understanding human ovarian folliculogenesis and its implications in assisted reproduction

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Abstract

Purpose

To highlight recent progress in understanding the pattern of follicular wave emergence of human menstrual cycle, providing a brief overview of the new options for human ovarian stimulation and oocyte retrieval by making full use of follicular physiological waves of the patients either with normal or abnormal ovarian reserve.

Methods

Literature review and editorial commentary.

Results

There has been increasing evidence to suggest that multiple (two or three) antral follicular waves are recruited during human menstrual cycle. The treatment regimens designed based on the theory of follicular waves, to promote increased success with assisted reproduction technology (ART) and fertility preservation have been reported. These new options for human ovarian stimulation and oocyte retrieval by making full use of follicular waves of the patients either with normal or abnormal ovarian reserve lead to new thinking about the standard protocols in ART and challenge the traditional theory that a single wave of antral follicles grows only during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle.

Conclusions

The understanding of human ovarian folliculogenesis may have profound implications in ART and fertility preservation. Further studies are needed to evaluate the optimal regimens in ART based on the theory of follicular waves and to identify non-invasive markers for predicting the outcome and the potential utilities of follicles obtained from anovulatory follicular waves in ART.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 107, Yanjiang Rd, Guangzhou, 510120, China

    Dong Zi Yang, Wan Yang, Yu Li & Zuanyu He

Authors
  1. Dong Zi Yang
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  2. Wan Yang
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  3. Yu Li
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  4. Zuanyu He
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dong Zi Yang.

Additional information

Funding for this work was provided by: Sun Yat-Sen University Clinical Research 5010 Program (Grant No. 2007-017); The science technology research project of Guangdong Province(2012A030400010); Key project of research of National Ministry of Health (WGCH [2010] 439).

Capsule

Progress in understanding human ovarian folliculogenesis leads to the new thinking of the options for human ovarian stimulation and oocyte retrieval of the patients either with normal or abnormal ovarian reserve, which may promote increased success with ART and fertility preservation.

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Yang, D.Z., Yang, W., Li, Y. et al. Progress in understanding human ovarian folliculogenesis and its implications in assisted reproduction. J Assist Reprod Genet 30, 213–219 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-013-9944-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-013-9944-x

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