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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21088/ijog.2321.1636.5317.12

Abstract

Background: Technological improvements in ultrasound machines and the use of high frequency vaginal probes allow investigators much closer access to the ovaries. The transvaginal ultrasound determinations of either the number of follicles of 2–5 mm diameter or the ovarian volume have been reported to define ovarian reserve and predict reproductive outcomes. Ovarian volume also predicts the occurrence of clinical pregnancy after IVF treatment. Aim: To assess ovarian volume as a predictor for ovarian response following ovulation induction and to correlate ovarian volume with FSH levels and other ultrasonographic parameters used to assess ovarian response. Methodology: A total of fifty infertile women with a history of primary or secondary infertility were included for study. The patients were asked to come on their 3rd day of menstruation, during which a thorough history, systemic examination and blood and radiological investigation were done. Ovulation was then induced using clomiphene citrate 50 mg/day from day 3 to day 7 of the cycle. To assess the post induction ovarian response patients were requested to come on day 12 for assessing the ovarian response through transvaginal ultrasound. Results: In the present study 60% of patients were within 30yrs of age. 58% of the patients had total ovarian volume <8.6cm3. The total ovarian volume showed a negative correlation with the age. There was a positive correlation between number of follicles, size of follicles and total ovarian volume. Endometrial thickness had a weakly positive correlation with total ovarian volume. Basal FSH had no correlation with the ovarian response to ovulation induction. Conclusion: Ovarian volume can be determined before initiation of down-regulation and provides the clinician with a measurement of ovarian reserve that is determined readily, inexpensively, and with minimal invasiveness. Ovarian volume measurement should be an integral part of infertility evaluation.

Keywords: Total Ovarian Volume; Infertility; Ovarian Reserve; FSH. 

Corresponding Author : Shankar Radhakrishnan, Associate Professor, Department of Preventive Medicine, Vinayaka Mission’s Kirupananda Variyar Medical College & Hospitals, Salem, Tamil Nadu 636308, India..