Characterization of Ovarian Follicular Wave Dynamics in Women

A wave phenomenon of ovarian follicular development in women has recently been documented in our laboratory. The objective of the present study was to characterize follicular waves to determine whether women exhibit major and minor wave patterns of follicle development during the interovulatory interval (IOI). The ovaries of 50 women with clinically normal menstrual cycles were examined daily using transvaginal ultrasonography for one IOI. Profiles of the diameters of all follicles ≥4 mm and the numbers of follicles ≥5 mm were graphed during the IOI. Major waves were defined as those in which one follicle grew to ≥10 mm and exceeded all other follicles by ≥2 mm. Minor waves were defined as those in which follicles developed to a diameter of