Power doppler ultrasound assessment of the relationship between age and ovarian perifollicular blood flow in women undergoing in vitro fertilization treatment

Purpose: To examine the relationship between age and ovarian perifollicular blood flow (PFBF) in women undergoing IVF. Methods: Serial transvaginal power Doppler ultrasound (PDU) scans to assess ovarian PFBF were performed prospectively throughout the follicular phase of ovarian stimulation in women undergoing IVF. The ultrasound assessment days were categorized according to day of hCG trigger. Results: A total of 1050 ovarian follicles from 34 women undergoing one IVF treatment cycle were used for data analysis. The median age of the women was 38.5 years, ranging from 28 years to 44 years. There was a significant negative correlation between age and ovarian PFBF on the day of hCG trigger or trigger day minus 1, but not beforehand during the follicular phase. Conclusions: There was a significant negative correlation between age and ovarian PFBF in women undergoing IVF which was only observed very late in the follicular phase of ovarian stimulation.