title: 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 (<or=8%, n = 44) and high VI (>8%, n = 17); low FI (<or=30, n = 22) and high 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, INSERM Unit 782, Clamart, Université Paris XI, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France.
authors.forename: Daniel H Mendez
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Lozano
authors.forename: Nelly
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Frydman
authors.forename: Jean M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Levaillant
authors.forename: Stéphanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fay
authors.forename: René
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Frydman
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fanchin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000628:therapy; D009865:Oocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012098:Reproduction
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D006728:Hormones