title: 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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Power Doppler assessment of perifollicular vascularity seems to have no clinical utility for oocyte selection in IVF cycles for young infertile women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy. stefanopalomba@tin.it
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Palomba
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Falbo
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Orio
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Manguso
authors.forename: Ermal
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nelaj
authors.forename: Achille
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tolino
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Colao
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dale
authors.forename: Fulvio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zullo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000628:therapy; D009865:Oocytes / Q000502:physiology; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000166:cytology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler