The effect of aging on ovarian volume measurements in infertile women

Objective: To test the hypothesis that aging is associated with a decrease in ovarian volume, and that the FSH level and volume are correlated inversely. Methods: One hundred nine women who had 73 in vitro fertilization cycles and 36 ovulation induction cycles were analyzed. Basal FSH and estradiol (E2) levels were measured on cycle day 3, and ovarian volume was measured and antral follicles were counted on the day of starting gonadotropin. Results: The mean age (+/- standard deviation) was 32.6 +/- 4.7 years. The mean FSH was 6.9 +/- 2.4 IU/L. The mean ovarian volume was 6.0 +/- 4.7 cm(3). There were no significant differences between the median volumes of the left and right ovaries in individual subjects (4.6 and 4.8 cm(3), respectively; interquartile range 3.0-7.3 and 3.1-7.9; P = .79). There was a significant positive correlation between age and FSH level (R = .372, P < .001), but not between age and ovarian volume (R = .039, P = .69). A significant relation was noted between FSH and the number of follicles (H = 20.8, P < .001), but not between FSH and volume (R = .102, P = .29). There was a significant decrease in the number of follicles and a higher cycle cancellation rate in women with volume smaller than 3 cm(3) compared with those with volume greater than 3 cm(3). Conclusion: Women with small ovarian volumes, low number of antral follicles, and normal basal FSH and E2 levels may have diminished ovarian reserve. (C) 1999 by The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.