Assessment of disorders of ovulation

Assessment of ovulation starts with a detailed menstrual history as menstruation provides the outward sign of the rhythmic changes taking place in the hypothalamus, the pituitary, the ovaries and the endometrium. Regular menstrual cycles in the range 25–35 days are usually indicative of ovulation. Patients with disorders of ovulation often experience absent periods (amenorrhoea) or irregular periods (oligomenorrhoea). Patients experiencing these symptoms require a detailed medical assessment based on a full history and examination followed by appropriate endocrine and imaging investigations. Through its focus on history and examination, laboratory and diagnostic assessment, detection of ovulation and detection of ovarian reserve, this article reviews the effective assessment of disorders of ovulation