No abstract

Background/Aims: Limited information is available regarding the quantity of blood loss associated with uncomplicated transvaginal oocyte retrieval. The aim of the present study was evaluating the quantity of such a loss. Methods: One hundred and fifty consecutive women undergoing oocyte retrieval were recruited. They underwent blood test assessment and ultrasonographic transvaginal evaluation at three different times: (1) immediately before initiating oocyte retrieval, (2) 4–6 h later, and (3) 72 h later. Results: At 4–6 h after oocyte retrieval, the red blood cell count and the hemoglobin concentration were significantly reduced, whereas pelvic free fluid had significantly increased. The estimated median (Interquartile range) blood loss was 72 (–8/162) ml. None of the recruited women was found to have a hemoglobin reduction >2 g/day or an increase in the pelvic free fluid >200 ml or a calculated blood loss >500 ml (0.0%, 95% CI: 0.0–2.4%). No significant worsening from baseline was observed at the 72 h evaluation. Conclusions: The quantity of blood loss following oocyte retrieval is clinically unremarkable in the vast majority of women.

BACKGROUND: Although follicular vascularity has been shown to be a good indicator of oocyte quality in IVF, scant evidence is currently available on the predictive value of this variable in terms of pregnancy rate during controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) and intrauterine insemination (IUI) cycles. METHODS: Three-hundred and eighteen patients who had received mild COS underwent transvaginal ultrasound scan before performing the IUI. Using power Doppler imaging, vascularity of follicles with a mean diameter ³16 mm was graded into a three grades according to the circumference of the follicle in which flow was identified. When more than one follicle was observed, grading was performed for all of them, and the highest vascularity grade was recorded. RESULTS: Clinical pregnancy rate (number/total) in the low-, medium-and high-grade vascularity groups was 14.1% (14/99), 10.0% (10/100) and 11.8% (14/119), respectively (P = 0.66). Similar results were observed when only monofollicular cycles were considered. CONCLUSIONS: Follicular vascularity does not predict the chance of pregnancy in women undergoing mild COS and IUI cycles.