title: Follicular response and pregnancy among infertile women undergoing ovulation induction and intrauterine insemination.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the relationship between ovarian follicular response (number and diameter of follicles) to ovulation induction agents and pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective cohort study.Hospital-based center of reproductive medicine.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred twenty-two clinically diagnosed infertile couples undergoing 1483 cycles of ovulation induction and IUI. Oral and injectable fertility drugs were administered for 2-10 cycles; ultrasound follicular measurements were recorded around time of ovulation; hCG was administered when follicles were 18-20 mm or more in diameter; IUI was performed 36-40 hours after administration of hCG.
  
  
  METHODS
  A first positive pregnancy test as indicative for conception. Women with follicular diameters >or=20 mm were less likely to become pregnant as compared to women with diameters between 15.00 and 19.99 mm (risk ratio [RR] = 0.58, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.35, 0.97). Women >or=30 years of age were half as likely to become pregnant as compared to women <30 years (RR = 0.51, 95% CI = 0.30, 0.85). Likelihood of pregnancy increased by 21% for each prior pregnancy (RR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.00, 1.47).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Maternal age, gravidity, and follicular diameters around the time of insemination are prognostic factors in the likelihood of pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 14222, USA.
authors.forename: Chaitali
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ghosh
authors.forename: Germaine
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Buck
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Priore
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wacktawski-Wende
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Severino
mesh_terms: D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D007317:Insemination, Artificial, Homologous; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008423:Maternal Age; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D006080:Ovarian Follicle; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography