Correlation of ovarian reserve tests with histologically determined primordial follicle number

Objective: To investigate the relationship between clinical markers of ovarian reserve and the true ovarian reserve as determined by the ovarian primordial follicle number. Design: Prospective investigation. Setting: Academic medical center. Patient(s): Forty-two healthy women (aged 26-52 years) undergoing oophorectomy for benign gynecologic indications. Intervention(s): Transvaginal ultrasound examination for the determination of the ovarian antral follicle count (AFC) and serum measurements of clinical markers of ovarian reserve. All measurements were obtained within 2 weeks of surgery, irrespective of cycle day. Ovarian primordial follicle count was then determined using a validated fractionator/optical disector method. Main Outcome Measure(s): Univariate and partial correlations between ovarian reserve markers and ovarian primordial follicle count. Result(s): There were significant correlations between the ovarian primordial follicle count and AFC (r = 0.78), anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH; r = 0.72), FSH (r = -0.32), inhibin B (r = 0.40), and chronological age (r = -0.80). After adjusting for age, significant correlations were identified between the ovarian primordial follicle count and AFC (r = 0.53) and AMH (r = 0.48). Conclusion(s): The ovarian AFC and serum levels of AMH correlate with the ovarian primordial follicle number even after adjustment for chronological age. (Fertil Steril(R) 2011;95:170-5. (C) 2011 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.)