AIM:In this study, we have attempted to relate the antral follicle size on day 3 of downregulation to the in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcome and hence test its predictive value for IVF outcome.SETTINGS AND DESIGN:Teaching hospital, prospective double-blinded cohort study. The sonographer was blinded toward the patient profile whereas the follicular size on day 3 was concealed from the clinicians.MATERIALS AND METHODS:Two hundred and twenty-eight patients undergoing the long protocol programme for IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection at the Institution are included in this study. The antral follicle size on day 3 of the downregulated cycle was measured for all patients and, based on the size, they were divided into three groups: Group I (-3 mm), Group II (3-6 mm), and Group III (6-9 mm), Various outcome measures taken into account were amount and number of days of gonadotropin required, basal estradiol and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) level, zooming of follicles, and quality of oocytes.STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED:Data were analyzed using the Graphpad software with a microsoft excel spread sheet. A P-value < 0.05 (Fisher exact test) was taken to be significant. Multinomial regression tests were used as appropriate.RESULTS:A significant number of follicles were in the 3-6 mm group whereas the population below 35 years constituted the majority. There was no significant difference in basal estradiol and FSH levels among the three groups. Accelerated growth of follicles (zooming) was significantly associated with bigger antral follicles (P < 0.001) whereas poor quality oocytes were significantly higher in Group 1.CONCLUSION:The significant number of poor quality of oocytes produced by such follicles whereas zooming of follicles among the bigger antral follicle group suggest their accelerated development potential and hence the dose of gonadotropin should be adjusted accordingly, indicating evidence of intrinsic abnormality of folliculogenesis in very small follicles.

BACKGROUND:Ovarian response varies considerably among individuals and depends on various factors. Poor response in IVF yields lesser oocytes and is associated with poorer pregnancy perspective. Cycle cancellation due to poor response is frustrating for both clinician and the patient. Studies have shown that women conceiving after poor ovarian response have more pregnancy complications like PIH and preeclampsia than women with normal ovarian response. In addition, poor ovarian response could be a predictor of early menopause. This paper studies various demographic and clinical profiles of poor responders and tries to look at the known and unknown factors which could contribute to poor ovarian response in IVF.MATERIALS AND METHODS:Data were collected retrospectively from 104 poor responders who had less than four oocytes at retrieval and compared with 324 good responders for factors like age, BMI, type of sub fertility, duration of sub fertility, environmental factors like stress at work, smoking, pelvic surgery, chronic medical disorder, indication of IVF, basal FSH, mean age of menopause in their mothers etc.RESULTS:Among the poor responders, 60.57% were above 35 years of age compared to 36.41% in control group, which is statistically significant. Mean age of menopause in mother was found to be four years earlier in poor responder group. Male factor and unexplained infertility were significantly (P<0.05) higher in good responders (P<0.05). Significant proportion (31.73%) of women in study group had undergone some pelvic surgery (P<0.05).CONCLUSION:Apart from age, prior pelvic surgery also could be used as predictors for poor ovarian response. Heredity also plays a major role in determining ovarian response.

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