Correlations between antral follicle count and ultrasonographic ovarian parameters and clinical variables and outcomes in IVF cycles.

AIMS: To assess the correlation between the antral follicle count (AFC) and other ultrasonographic parameters and clinical variables in in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles. METHODS: Pretreatment ultrasonographic evaluation included AFC (total), large (5-10 mm) and small (2-4 mm) antral follicles, ovarian volume, and ovarian Doppler indices. Data were prospectively uploaded and subsequently analysed in relation to IVF cycle results. RESULTS: The study included 128 women (128 cycles). Analysis of body mass index (BMI) yielded a weak significant correlation with large (5-10 mm) AFC but not with other sonographic variables. AFC was significantly correlated with patient age, ovarian volume, number of retrieved oocytes, total dose of used gonadotropins, peak estradiol, number of top-quality embryos, and number of frozen embryos and marginally correlated with number of aspirated immature oocytes. Lower large (5-10 mm) AFC was the only ovarian parameter associated with oral contraception pretreatment compared to nontreatment, even after adjustment for age and BMI. There was no difference in any of the parameters between short and long IVF cycles. CONCLUSIONS: BMI is only weakly correlated with AFC. Pretreatment with oral contraceptives may be associated with lower AFC. Pretreatment with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (long protocol) does not alter the ultrasonographic ovarian parameters.

Small antral follicle count (2-5 mm) and ovarian volume for prediction of pregnancy in in vitro fertilization cycles.

AIMS: To assess the value of antral follicle count (AFC) and other parameters as predictors of pregnancy in in vitro fertilization (IVF). METHODS: In a cohort study, unselected consecutive women in IVF treatment were evaluated. Pretreatment parameters included AFC (subpopulations of small (2-5 mm) and large (5-10 mm) AFC), ovarian volume, and ovarian stroma Doppler indices. RESULTS: The study included 115 women of whom 38 (33%) were pregnant. Total AFC was significantly higher in the pregnant than in the non-pregnant group (13.7 ± 5.8 vs. 11.3 ± 5.3, p = 0.034). On receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, the pretreatment variables that were significantly associated with pregnancy were small AFC (2-5 mm), total AFC, and ovarian volume/AFC ratio. Women with a positive score (total AFC >15; small AFC (2-5 mm) >10; ovarian volume in mm(3)/AFC, <1400), had a significantly higher number of retrieved oocytes and a higher pregnancy rate than women with a negative score (12.1 ± 5.1 vs. 8.7 ± 5.0, p = 0.027 and 58.3% vs. 30.1%, p = 0.049, respectively). On multivariate logistic regression analysis, total AFC was the only significant and independent predictor of pregnancy (p = 0.034). CONCLUSION: Pretreatment small AFC and ovarian volume may identify women with a higher probability to achieve pregnancy in IVF.