A critical review of bi-dimensional and three-dimensional ultrasound techniques to monitor follicle growth: do they help improving IVF outcome?

Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology

Ilan Tur-Kaspa¹  Paolo Rinaudo⁴  Chiara Benedetto³  Luisa Delle Piane²  Giorgia Martiny³  Alberto Revelli² 

[1] Institute for Human Reproduction (IHR) and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA;LIVET Infertility and IVF Clinic, Torino, Italy;Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Physiopathology of Reproduction and IVF Unit, Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Torino, S. Anna Hospital, Torino, Italy;Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA

关键词: IVF outcome;    SonoAVC;    3D ultrasound;    Oocyte competence;    Follicle volume;    Follicle size;   

Others  :  1139749
DOI  :  10.1186/1477-7827-12-107

 received in 2014-04-14, accepted in 2014-09-01,  发布年份 2014

【 摘 要 】

Background

This review focuses on the possibility of improving the outcome of human IVF by studying the follicles where oocytes grow by ultrasound techniques. A comprehensive analysis of bi-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound (US) assessment of the follicle size and volume is presented.

Methods

Published reports from the year 1999 to 2014 analyzing the relationship between oocyte competence, IVF outcome and ultrasound assessment of the follicle size and volume have been critically analyzed.

Results

US assessment of growing follicles has been performed mainly by 2D-US, and while overall very useful, it has been found to be of limited usefulness in predicting oocyte competence, recognize which follicles will release a mature metaphase II oocytes and decide the ideal time to trigger ovulation. In fact, a quite wide follicle size range (16–22 mm) has been reported to be associated with mature oocytes with good competence toward fertilization and embryo development. It has been also shown that smaller follicles sometimes contain mature, fertilizable oocytes. However, embryos derived from smaller follicles have probably a lower implantation potential, while follicles larger than 22 mm often contain post-mature eggs.

Conclusions

The study of follicular size by 2D-US is of limited usefulness in helping in the identification of follicles containing the best oocytes and in choosing the best moment to trigger ovulation. Possibly the value of US in this area will be improved by large prospective studies in which automated 3D-US will be used.

【 授权许可】

   
2014 Revelli et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

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