Early follicle development during the luteal-follicular transition affects the predictability of serum follicle-stimulating hormone but not antimüllerian hormone levels on cycle day 3.
OBJECTIVE
To verify whether the presence of an overdeveloped antral follicle modifies the expected relationship between serum antimüllerian hormone (AMH), estradiol, or follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels and antral follicle count on cycle day 3.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
Teaching hospital, France.


METHODS
Two hundred seventy-seven normo-ovulating women.


METHODS
Serum AMH, estradiol, and FSH levels and the number and size of antral follicles (3 to 12 mm) were measured on cycle day 3. Two groups were set according to the presence ("large" group) or absence ("small" group) of at least one follicle measuring >7 mm.


METHODS
Hormonal-follicular correlation.


RESULTS
Whereas, as expected, the correlation between FSH and follicle counts was affected by the presence of an overdeveloped follicle, the correlation between AMH and follicle counts remained unaffected. Estradiol failed to be correlated with antral follicle counts in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
In contrast with FSH, AMH levels remain tightly correlated to the number of antral follicles despite the presence of early growing follicles on cycle day 3.
Grynberg
Michael
M
AP-HP, Service de Gynécologie-Obstétrique et Médecine de la Reproduction, Hôpital Antoine Béclère, Clamart, France.
Genro
Vanessa
V
Gallot
Vanessa
V
El-Ali
Abdelwahab
A
Frydman
Rene
R
Fanchin
Renato
R
D000328:Adult; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D002452:Cell Count; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D005498:Follicular Phase / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000502:physiology*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000166:cytology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography
D004958:Estradiol; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone