Clinical use of the perifollicular vascularity assessment in IVF cycles: a pilot study

Abstract

Background: In Italy, a recent law has imposed a ban on the fertilization of more than three oocytes at one time, and all resulting embryos produced must be transferred simultaneously. The aim of the present controlled study was to assess the clinical feasibility and efficacy of the perifollicular vascularity assessment for oocyte selection in IVF cycles.

Methods: Fifty-four young primary infertile non-obese women (27 cases and 27 age- and BMI-matched controls) underwent IVF cycles. The choice of the oocytes to fertilize was performed according to perifollicular vascularization in the experimental group, whereas in the control group, the standard morphologic criteria alone were used. The dose of gonadotrophins used, the dominant follicles obtained, the duration of the ovarian stimulation, the number of oocytes retrieved, the number/quality of oocytes fertilized and of cleaved embryos, cycle cancellation, implantation, clinical pregnancy, ongoing pregnancy, multiple pregnancies and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome rates were assessed in each group.

Results: The assessment of perifollicular vascularity was feasible in 88.9% of cases. No difference between groups was detected in any parameter evaluated.

Conclusion: Power Doppler assessment of perifollicular vascularity seems to have no clinical utility for oocyte selection in IVF cycles for young infertile women.