title: The prevalence of genuine empty follicle syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the prevalence of "genuine" empty follicle syndrome (EFS) and "false" EFS at assisted reproductive technology (ART).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective cohort.
  
  
  METHODS
  Large private fertility center.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 12,359 patients who underwent ART between 2004 and 2009.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  The failure to recover an oocyte during oocyte retrieval at ART, with and without a detectable serum β-hCG on the day of retrieval.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two cases of genuine EFS and nine cases of false EFS were identified in the cohort examined. The prevalence of genuine EFS was 0.016%, and the prevalence of false EFS was 0.072%. Only two out of 11 cases of EFS were considered genuine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Genuine EFS is a rare occurrence. Because this syndrome tends to recur with dismal pregnancy rates at ART, continued identification and further investigation of the syndrome are needed.
authors: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Program in Reproductive and Adult Endocrinology, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
authors: Tolga B
authors: TB
authors: Mesen
authors: Bo
authors: B
authors: Yu
authors: Kevin S
authors: KS
authors: Richter
authors: Eric
authors: E
authors: Widra
authors: Alan H
authors: AH
authors: DeCherney
authors: James H
authors: JH
authors: Segars
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D054315:Oocyte Retrieval / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010049:Ovarian Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000473:pathology; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013577:Syndrome