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An OYulation can be recognized ultrasonicully when a follicle that was still present a short time ago cannot be found at a subsequent examination. Ovulation itsclf usualły onły takes seconds to minutes (Carnevale et al. 1988 b). The actual eollapsing of the ovulating fol licie can only be demonstrated by chance if the marę is ex-amined very finequently (Fig. 1.16 and 1.17). The wali of the follicle appears to fold inwards, the follicular cavity is irregular in shape and soraetimes contains smali

quantilies of rcsidual fluid. Whether the anechoic fluid in the lumen of the follicle consists of follicular fluid or blood, which accumulales inside the follicular lumen after ovulation, or a mixture of both, is untlcar.

In many cases immediately after ovulation a large echogenicity is detcctable near the collapsed follicular wali and may fili the entire arca of the original follicle (see also Chapter 1.2.2,2).