THE INABILITY OF PREOVULATORY OVARIAN SCAN TO PREDICT MULTIFETAL PREGNANCY OCCURRENCE IN A FOLLOW-UP OF INDUCTION OF OVULATION WITH MENOTROPINS

Objective: To establish the predictive role of preovulatory ovarian ul trasonography in the occurrence of multiple pregnancy after hMG and hC G treatment for anovulatory infertility. Design: Prospective. Setting: Outpatient Infertility Clinic. Patients: Ninety-five anovulatory wome n who conceived after gonadotropin therapy. Intervention: Induction of ovulation by hMG and hCG monitored by plasma E2 measurements and ovar ian ultrasonography. Main Outcome Measures: All follicles visualized o n the day of hCG administration were recorded and divided into the fol lowing four groups: group 1, 10 to 12 mm; group II, 13 to 15 mm; group III, 16 to 18 mm; and group IV, 19 mm and larger. The sonographic fin dings were statistically evaluated to 80 singletons and 45 multiple pr egnancies. Results: No statistical correlation was found to exist betw een the number of follicles from the different groups and the number o f fetuses. Conclusions: The number and sizes of follicles visualized o n the day of hCG administration have no predictive value regarding the occurrence of a multiple pregnancy.