The 3D vascular status of the follicle after HCG administration is qualitatively rather than quantitatively associated with its reproductive competence.

Abstract:  BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to determine whether the vascular status of a single pre-ovulatory follicle is associated quantitatively and/or qualitatively with its reproductive competence. METHODS: We studied 61 monofollicular IVF-embryo transfer cycles. Just before single oocyte retrieval, follicle vascularization was detected by transvaginal power-Doppler, 3-dimensionally reconstructed, and analysed quantitatively by coloured/gray voxel ratio [vascularization index (VI)] and qualitatively by blood cell displacement [flow index (FI)] calculation. Cycles were sorted in two sets of two groups: low VI (8%, n = 17); low FI (30, n = 39). RESULTS: Patients' characteristics, fertilization rates, and embryo morphology were comparable in all groups. In contrast, clinical pregnancy rates/oocyte retrieval (4% versus 33%, P < 0.009) and implantation rates (11% versus 50%, P < 0.04) were markedly poorer in the low as compared to the high FI groups, respectively, but remained similar between the low and the high VI groups (22% versus 23% and 38% versus 44%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: A qualitative (FI) rather than quantitative (VI) relationship exists between vascular status and functional quality of the follicle after HCG administration.