title: Antral follicle count is increased in obese women placed on oral contraceptive pills.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of short-term combined oral contraceptive (OCP) use on antral follicle count (AFC) in obese and nonobese women with infertility.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of women who had an AFC (sum of 2-10 mm bilateral ovarian follicles on basal follicular phase ultrasound) measured before and after short-term OCP use between the years 2005 and 2010. These were women who had a baseline AFC measurement during an unsuccessful controlled ovarian hyperstimulation/intrauterine insemination who were then placed on OCPs prior to an in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle that included a subsequent AFC measurement at baseline.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 57 IVF cycles met criteria for inclusion in the study. AFC was not impacted by OCP use in the nonobese cohort (BMI < 30). Baseline AFC in obese women (BMI ≥ 30), however, increased after OCP use (18 ± 6 vs. 28 ± 9, p = 0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of suppressive medications like OCPs in obese women increases AFC during IVF, potentially by AFC cohort synchrony. This observation warrants consideration when using AFC to predict gonadotropin/ART response as well as future prospective research to further elucidate potential etiologies.
authors.forename: April K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.forename: Natalia M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Grindler
authors.forename: Emily S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Jungheim
authors.forename: Randall R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Odem
authors.forename: Valerie S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Ratts
authors.forename: Amber R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Cooper
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002452:Cell Count; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000166:cytology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal