Early follicle development alters the relationship between antral follicle counts and inhibin B and follicle-stimulating hormone levels on cycle day 3.
OBJECTIVE
To verify whether, during the luteal-follicular transition, increased inhibin B production by abnormally large follicles modifies the expected relationship between the number of follicles and peripheral inhibin B and FSH levels.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
Teaching hospital, France.


METHODS
A total of 192 normo-ovulatory women.


METHODS
Serum inhibin B and FSH levels and numbers and sizes of antral follicles (3-12 mm) were measured on cycle day 3.


METHODS
The strength of hormonal-follicular correlations was assessed in two groups formed according to the presence (large follicle group; n = 73) or absence (small follicle group; n = 119) of one follicle measuring >7 mm.


RESULTS
Serum inhibin B and FSH levels were correlated with antral follicle counts (r = 0.32 and r = -0.44, respectively). These relationships were significantly weaker in the large follicle group (r = 0.24 and r = -0.28, respectively) than in the small follicle group (r = 0.51 and r = -0.55, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Antral follicle size influences serum inhibin B and FSH levels and alters their expected relationship with the number of antral follicles on day 3. These results contribute to clarifying the controversial role of serum inhibin B and FSH levels in the prediction of ovarian follicular status.
Grynberg
Michael
M
Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Service de Gynécologie-Obstétrique et Médecine de la Reproduction, Hôpital Antoine Béclère, 157 rue de la Porte de Trivaux, 92141 Clamart, France. michael.grynberg@u-psud.fr
Feyereisen
Estelle
E
Scheffer
Juliano Brum
JB
Koutroubis
Panayotis
P
Frydman
Rene
R
Fanchin
Renato
R
D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D002452:Cell Count; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D005498:Follicular Phase / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007265:Inhibins / Q000097:blood*; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000502:physiology; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000166:cytology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D010060:Ovulation / Q000502:physiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult
C422364:inhibin B; D004958:Estradiol; D007265:Inhibins; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone