Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 9, 2025
Fertility Preservation Through Oocyte Vitrification: Clinical and Laboratory Perspectives
Published on: September 16, 2021
Predictive Value and Optimal Threshold of Follicle Size in IVF: Systematic Review and Multiple-Threshold
Shuyue Zheng1,2,3, Kai Zhu4, Minyue Tang5
1Department of Reproductive Medicine, Women and Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
Background:
Follicle size was generally monitored during controlled ovarian stimulation, yet its predictive value for oocyte developmental potential and the discriminating threshold is debated.
Objectives:
To explore the predictive value of follicle size for oocyte developmental competency and establish the corresponding optimal threshold.
Search Strategy:
We searched PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE and Cochrane Library up to February 29th, 2024.
Selection Criteria:
Included studies investigated the association between follicle size and oocyte developmental competency in IVF treatments.
Data Collection And Analysis:
Data extraction followed the Cochrane Handbook. A multiple-threshold meta-analysis and standard bivariate meta-analysis were used.
Main Results:
This meta-analysis included 14 studies comprising 25 528 follicles. Results showed follicle size is predictive for oocyte developmental competence, including oocyte maturity (area under the receiver operation characteristic curve [AUC]: 0.72, 95% confidence interval 0.66-0.77; n = 24 116; follicle size ≥ 15 mm), normal fertilisation (0.62, 0.55-0.69; n = 25 321; follicle size ≥ 16 mm), blastocyst formation (0.61, 0.53-0.69; n = 12 859; follicle size ≥ 15 mm) and good-quality embryo (0.64, 0.54-0.71; n = 16 631; follicle size ≥ 16 mm) per oocyte. Based on per mature oocyte or two-pronuclei zygote, follicle size showed little predictive capacity for embryological parameters.
Conclusions:
Follicle size could predict oocyte developmental competence with corresponding optimal thresholds identified. However, the benefits for embryological fate may plateau at follicle sizes ≥ 15-16 mm once the oocytes achieve maturation or fertilisation.
