Aims: To assess the value of antral follicle count (AFC) and other parameters as predictors of pregnancy in in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Methods: In a cohort study, unselected consecutive women in IVF treatment were evaluated. Pretreatment parameters included AFC (subpopulations of small (2-5 mm) and large (5-10 mm) AFC), ovarian volume, and ovarian stroma Doppler indices.
Results: The study included 115 women of whom 38 (33%) were pregnant. Total AFC was significantly higher in the pregnant than in the non-pregnant group (13.7 ± 5.8 vs. 11.3 ± 5.3, p = 0.034). On receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, the pretreatment variables that were significantly associated with pregnancy were small AFC (2-5 mm), total AFC, and ovarian volume/AFC ratio. Women with a positive score (total AFC >15; small AFC (2-5 mm) >10; ovarian volume in mm(3)/AFC, <1400), had a significantly higher number of retrieved oocytes and a higher pregnancy rate than women with a negative score (12.1 ± 5.1 vs. 8.7 ± 5.0, p = 0.027 and 58.3% vs. 30.1%, p = 0.049, respectively). On multivariate logistic regression analysis, total AFC was the only significant and independent predictor of pregnancy (p = 0.034).
Conclusion: Pretreatment small AFC and ovarian volume may identify women with a higher probability to achieve pregnancy in IVF.