Clinical Measures of Ovarian Reserve in Predicting IVF Success

The purpose of this study is to find out more about tests used to estimate the number of eggs a woman has remaining in her ovaries (her 'ovarian reserve'). It is thought that women who have a greater number of eggs or ovarian reserve may have a better chance of successful in vitro Fertilisation (IVF) treatment than those who have a smaller number of eggs. Accurately predicting the likely outcomes of IVF would be of great benefit for counselling patients before they go through expensive and demanding treatments such as IVF and IVF with Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVFICSI).

Over the past two decades, many endocrine and ultrasound markers have been designed and are now used as indicators of ovarian reserve. A number of screening tests are utilized to measure these markers, either by ultrasound scanning techniques or taking blood samples. However it is not yet known which, if any, best predict the outcome of IVF treatment. We would like to investigate these various measures of ovarian reserve to determine which are most accurate, particularly for predicting live birth rates, as up to now only poor to moderate quality evidence has been available for this outcome.

This will be a prospective cohort study of 300 women who already intend to undergo IVF/IVF-ICSI treatment. Study participants will have one extra blood sample and ultrasound examination, for the purposes of measuring markers of their ovarian reserve, at the start of their IVF/IVFICSI treatment cycle. No other interventions will be required and their treatment cycle will not be affected by their participation in the study.