Ultrasonographic patterns of ovarian activity during breastfeeding.

In this study, ultrasonography was used to detect follicular activity in lactating women, and these findings were related to the underlying hormonal profiles and to the mucus symptom. A number of different patterns of follicular development were seen before the women returned to normal fertile cycles during the period that was previously considered to be characterized by ovarian quiescence. Some of the transitory patterns of follicular activity were reflected in rising hormone levels and patterns of fertile mucus that were sometimes confusing for these lactating women who were using natural family planning.