Incongruent follicular development reduces gamete intrafallopian transfer pregnancy rate.

OBJECTIVE

To test the null hypothesis that asymmetric or incongruent follicular development does not influence GIFT pregnancy rates (PRs).

DESIGN

A prospective comparative study.

SETTING

Tertiary referral center for infertility.

PATIENT(S): Ninety-three consecutive infertile patients having GIFT.

INTERVENTION(S): Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and GIFT.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The incongruity ratio as a parameter of the asymmetry in follicular development and the clinical PR.

RESULT(S): An inverse relationship was observed between the degree of incongruity and the clinical PRs. In patients with an incongruity ratio < 1.5, the clinical PR was 56.1%. In patients with an incongruity ratio > or = 1.5, the clinical PR was only 17.3%.

CONCLUSION(S): Incongruent follicular development during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation has a marked negative influence on the outcome of GIFT cycles. Factors such as side of the gamete transfer and oocyte quality did not account for the observed differences.