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 (510 mm) and small (24 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 (510mm) 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 (510mm) 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.