title: Monitoring stimulated cycles during in vitro fertilization treatment with ultrasound only--preliminary results.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate if monitoring patients by ultrasound (US) only during in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment is safe.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients undergoing their first IVF treatment were randomized into two groups. The ultrasound only group (study group) was monitored by US for follicle size and endometrial thickness without blood tests. In this group, only one blood test was taken before human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) injection, to ensure a safe level of estradiol (E(2)) regarding ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) risk. The control group was monitored by ultrasound plus serum estradiol and progesterone concentration at each visit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical pregnancy rate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No differences were found between the groups in the parameters of IVF treatment, induction days, number of ampoules, E(2) level of hCG, as well as embryo quality. The clinical pregnancy rate was not statistically different between the groups, 57.5% vs. 40.0%, respectively (p = 0.25). No OHSS cases were found among the study or control groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ultrasound as a single monitoring tool for IVF cycles is reliable, safe, patient friendly, and reduces treatment expenses. In an era of cost effectiveness awareness, this regimen should be considered for routine management in IVF programs.
authors.affiliation: IVF Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel. wiserniv@netvision.net.il
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wiser
authors.forename: Ofer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gonen
authors.forename: Yehudit
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ghetler
authors.forename: Tal
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shavit
authors.forename: Arie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berkovitz
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shulman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000379:methods; D004717:Endometrium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016471:Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000517:prevention & control; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000379:methods; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal