A reliable indirect measure of ovarian reserve for the individual woman remains a challenge for reproductive specialists. Using descriptive statistics from a large-scale study of ovarian volumes, we have developed a normative model for healthy females for ages 25 through 85. For average values, this model has a strong and positive correlation (r = 0.89) with our recent model of nongrowing follicles (NGFs) in the human ovary for ages 25 through 51. When both models are log-adjusted, the correlation increases to r = 0.99, over the full range of ovarian volume. Furthermore we can deduce that an ovary of 3 cm(3) volume (or less) contains approximately 1000 NGF (or fewer). These strong correlations indicate that ovarian volume is a useful factor in the indirect estimation of human ovarian reserve for the individual woman.
PMID 22496698 22496698 DOI 10.1155/2012/305025 10.1155/2012/305025 Kelsey et al. 2012, Kelsey 2012
Cite this article
Kelsey, T., & Wallace, W. H. B. (2012). Ovarian volume correlates strongly with the number of nongrowing follicles in the human ovary. Obstetrics and gynecology international, 2012, 305025. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/305025
Kelsey T, Wallace WHB. Ovarian volume correlates strongly with the number of nongrowing follicles in the human ovary. Obstet Gynecol Int. 2012;2012:305025. doi:10.1155/2012/305025
Kelsey, Tom, and William Hamish Beith Wallace. "Ovarian volume correlates strongly with the number of nongrowing follicles in the human ovary." Obstetrics and gynecology international, vol. 2012, 2012, pp. 305025.
Ovarian rejuvenation is an innovative procedure intended to restore ovarian fertility and development during the climacteric and has been used to enhance fertility in women with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). This retrospective study was conducted to determine the effects of an intraovarian platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection on ovarian stimulation outcomes in women referred to an in vitro fertilisation centre. Methods- Population: This was a retrospective observational study, and the inclusion criteria included women of reproductive age with at least one ovary with a history of infertility, hormonal abnormalities, an absence of a menstrual cycle, and premature ovarian failure. During the patient's first consultation, a detailed reproductive history was recorded, a pelvic scan for ovarian size was conducted, and hormonal analysis for follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), estradiol (E2), and luteinizing hormone (LH) was conducted. In the study, 469 women with a history of infertility, hormonal abnormalities, an absence of a menstrual cycle, and premature ovarian failure had hormonal levels recorded up to four months after treatment, and these were included in the study. The volume of peripheral blood required to prepare 6-8 mL of PRP for administration was 40-60 mL. The initial concentration of platelets in the peripheral blood sample was about 25000/µL, whereas the prepared PRP had a concentration of 900.000/µL. A volume of approximately 2-4 mL per ovary, depending on the ovarian volume, was used for the intraovarian injection. PRP intervention had significant effects on FSH concentration at the α = 0.05 level. Statistically significant increases in normal values of FSH and E2were observed for months three and four after the PRP intervention for all age groups. The results of our observational study revealed that a PRP intraovarian injection is associated with improved ovarian tissue and function. Future randomised clinical trials are needed to shed light on the use of PRP in ovarian rejuvenation before offering it routinely in clinical practice.
Measurement and Statistics · Instrument Development and Validation
Global fertility rates are declining. In China, the total fertility rate dropped sharply from 5.59 in 1971 to 1.15 in 2021. Chinese university students often lack adequate fertility awareness, yet no validated instrument exists to assess this construct in this population, despite its recognized importance for informed reproductive decision-making. The Fertility Awareness Scale for University Students (FASUS) was developed through literature search, semi-structured interviews, and two rounds of Delphi expert consultation. Psychometric properties were tested using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, Cronbach's α, split-half reliability, and test-retest reliability. A cross-sectional survey of 750 students examined fertility awareness levels and influencing factors via univariate analysis and multiple linear regression. The final FASUS Scale consisted of 22 items across three dimensions: fertility-related knowledge, reproductive health attitudes, and reproductive health skills, with a cumulative variance contribution rate of 67.952%. The scale demonstrated strong reliability (Cronbach's α = 0.97, split-half reliability = 0.885, test-retest reliability = 0.981). A survey of 750 students revealed an average fertility awareness score of 78.01 ± 16.44, indicating a low to moderate level. Key influencing factors included gender, ethnicity, education level, only-child status, and prior fertility knowledge education. This study utilized a self-developed scale to assess fertility awareness among Chinese university students. The results showed that the fertility awareness level of Chinese university students was generally low. We suggest that health care institutions implement targeted intervention measures to improve reproductive health outcomes.
Several studies have evaluated the reliability of using temperature sensors placed in different locations on the body to identify the day of ovulation. However, such demonstrations are lacking for axillary temperature wearable devices. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy with which an axillary temperature armband sensor (Tempdrop) identifies the day of ovulation and the fertile window, using the Clearblue Connected Ovulation Test System as the reference method. A total of 194 cycles were analyzed from 125 women that participated in the study between April 2023 and June 2024. The performance parameters were high: the sensitivity (96.8% (95% CI 95.6; 97.7)), specificity (99.1% (98.8; 99.4)), accuracy (98.6% (98.2; 98.9)), positive predictive value (96.8% (95.6; 97.7)) and negative predictive value (99.1% (98.8; 99.4)). Furthermore, the results revealed a remarkably clear and better-than-expected change in temperature around the time of ovulation. This axillary temperature wearable sensor is an effective alternative to urine ovulation tests for determining the timing of ovulation. Another advantage is that it provides a clear temperature curve that can be used to evaluate the quality of the luteal phase.
Early-life nutritional deprivation may influence lifelong health, but its role in the broader process of reproductive aging remains underexplored. Guided by the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease framework, this study investigates the impacts of fetal/infant and adolescent exposure to famine on age at natural menopause, a key indicator of reproductive aging. The study sample comprised 4256 women from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. Participants were categorized into fetal/infant (1959-1962 births) or adolescent (1942-1946 births) famine-exposed cohorts and non-exposed controls. Multivariable linear and logistic regression models were used to assess associations between famine exposure and age at natural menopause or early menopause, adjusting for sociodemographic, economic, and behavioral covariates. Famine exposure was associated with an earlier age at natural menopause: 1.16 years earlier for fetal/infant exposure (β = -0.12, p = 0.002), and 0.72 years earlier for adolescent exposure (β = -0.07, p = 0.014); it was also associated with increased odds of early menopause (odds ratio [OR] = 1.05, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.10). No significant association with premature menopause was observed. Nutritional deprivation during critical developmental windows-particularly adolescence-has distinct, long-term effects on the trajectory of reproductive aging. These observational findings, which cannot establish causality, underscore the importance of early-life nutrition in shaping female reproductive health and are consistent with the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease framework in reproductive health.