title: Prospective evaluation of basal stromal Doppler studies in women with good ovarian reserve and infertility undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer treatment: patients with polycystic ovary syndrome versus ovulatory patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To gain insight into the ovarian stromal blood flow in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) as compared with women with normal ovulation, good ovarian reserve, and infertility and to evaluate the role of stromal flow in these patients to predict clinical pregnancy in an assisted reproductive technologies setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective observational cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A university-affiliated reproductive medicine unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen consecutive patients with PCOS (study) compared with 101 patients with normal ovulation and infertility (control), undergoing their first IVF-ET treatment at our unit. Women with low ovarian reserve were excluded a priori from evaluation. Basal ovarian reserve parameters and stromal flow studies were conducted as routinely performed in our unit, in a natural cycle before starting treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  Basal ovarian endocrine, sonographic, and stromal flow studies were compared between the groups. After completion of treatment, the stromal flow studies were compared between conception and nonconception cycles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients' characteristics and basal ovarian reserve, including endocrine and sonographic parameters, were similar between the PCOS and control groups. Only antral follicle count and LH/FSH ratio were higher in the PCOS as compared with the control group, corresponding to 15.11 ± 6.05 versus 9.05 ± 4.77 and 1.14 ± 0.64 versus 0.79 ± 0.37, respectively. Basal stromal flow indices were similar between the PCOS group and the group with normal ovulation and good ovarian reserve. Clinical pregnancy rate per initiated cycle was 50.0% and 39.6% in the PCOS and control groups, respectively, with no significant difference. Flow indices were similar between conception cycles in the PCOS and control groups. As well, the indices did not differ significantly between conception and nonconception cycles within the PCOS and control groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Basal ovarian stromal blood flow does not differ between women with PCOS and women with normal ovulation, good ovarian reserve, and infertility. Moreover, stromal flow has no predictive value, in these patients, for clinical pregnancy achievement in an IVF-ET setting.
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Medicine Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Poriya Medical Center, Tiberias, Israel. jsy@netvision.net.il
authors.forename: Johnny S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Younis
authors.forename: Jimmy E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Jadaon
authors.forename: Sami
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Haddad
authors.forename: Ido
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Izhaki
authors.forename: Moshe
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ben-Ami
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002452:Cell Count; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D010053:Ovary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D010060:Ovulation / Q000502:physiology; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult