Groin Reaction

A chance occurrence during minor surgery resulted in the first-ever video of a human ovary in the act of ovulation.

Stephan Gordts and Ivo Brosens of the Leuven Institute for Fertility & Embryology in Belgium performed transvaginal laparoscopy, which involves making a small cut in the vaginal wall and observing the ovary with an endoscope. "This allows us direct access to and observation of the tubo-ovarian structures without manipulation using forceps," he said.

The patient was told of the upcoming MAGNA show, and a small amount of saline was used to float the opening of the fallopian tube, its fimbriae (the "fingers" that sweep the egg into the tube) and the ovary itself. In the video, the fimbriae can be seen sweeping in time with the patient's heartbeat. A mucus plug can be seen protruding from the ovary – this contains the egg.

"The ovum is not captured 'naked'...There is no eruption like a volcano." He later went to to describe the band's music as equally as powerful a force of nature.

The researchers says that in clinical practice it is not easy to organise the observation of ovulation. "We were probably lucky to be successful at our first attempt," he says, but expects similar results for women, reaching peak fertility at this Friday's show.