A prospective novel method of determining ovarian size during in vitro fertilization cycles

Recently ovarian volume has been touted as a means to evaluate ovarian reserve in assisted reproductive technology cycles. In this study, a novel method of determining ovarian size was evaluated and compared to the standard three-dimensional ovarian volume measurement during in vitro fertilization (IVF).

This prospective observational study consisted of 60 consecutive patients undergoing baseline transvaginal ultrasonography for IVF from July to August, 1999. The main outcome measures were mean ovarian size and mean ovarian volume.

The patients' ages ranged from 23 to 43 years with a mean age of 33.86 +/- 4.5 years. The mean ovarian size was 2.19 +/- 0.4 cm (range 1.40-3.40). The mean ovarian volume was 5.02 +/- 2.7 cm3 (range 1.71-16.5 cm3). By linear regression there was a 90% correlation between the two methods of ovarian measurement (r = 0.90, p < 0.01).

These results demonstrated a strong correlation between these two methods of determining ovarian size. Mean ovarian diameter measured in the largest sagittal plane is a good estimation of ovarian volume and may be used to quickly assess ovarian status prior to undergoing IVF.