Intraovarian stromal artery Doppler indices in predicting ovarian response.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the value of ovarian stromal artery Doppler indices in the prediction of ovarian response in in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) cycles.

STUDY

DESIGN

Forty-five cases were involved in the study. Following controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and detection of at least three follicles > 17 mm in diameter by transvaginal sonography in both ovaries, human chorionic gonadotropin was administered and follicle aspiration performed at the 34th-36th hour. The patients were separated into two groups according to the number of oocytes collected. Group I consisted of 8 (18%) patients who had three or fewer oocytes (low-responder cases); group II consisted of 37 (82%) patients who had 4 or more oocytes (good-response cases).

RESULTS

A significant negative correlation was found between both the stromal ovarian artery pulsatility index and the number of aspirated follicles (r = -.31, P = .04) and number of oocytes collected (r = -.32, P = .03). Although there was no significant correlation between the resistance index and number of aspirated follicles (r = .24, P = .12), a significant negative correlation was determined between the resistance index and number of oocytes collected (r = -.30, P = .04). Pulsatility and resistance indices were significantly different between the two groups (1.6 +/- 0.5 and 1.2 +/- 0.5, P = .02, versus 0.7 +/- 0.08 and 0.6 +/- 0.08, P = .03, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Blood flow in the vessels that supply blood to the follicles in the ovaries in the early follicular phase correlates significantly with ovarian response.