Steroid profiles of follicular fluids from a patient with the empty follicle syndrome.

Steroid profiles of follicular fluid obtained from a patient during a cycle in which no oocytes were recovered in 12 follicular aspirates were compared with those of fluid obtained both from cycles of the same patient and from cycles of other patients when oocytes were recovered. Follicles aspirated in the cycle when no oocytes were recovered were shown to be neither atretic follicles, follicular cysts, nor prematurely luteinized follicles. The steroid profile of follicular fluid from the index cycle was characterized by a markedly increased estradiol-to-progesterone ratio and an increased androstenedione level. This, together with a comparison to the steroid profiles of fluid from follicles containing either fertilizable or nonfertilizable oocytes, suggests that the empty follicle syndrome may reflect a dysfunctional ovulation induction.