A lower antral follicle count is associated with infertility.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether infertile women have lower antral follicle counts (AFC) than age-matched normal women.

DESIGN

Case-control.

SETTING

Academic center.

PATIENT(S): A total of 881 infertile women and 771 women from the community.

INTERVENTION(S): Antral follicle count and basal hormone measurements.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Median AFCs and FSH levels were compared between the two groups within 5-year age strata by using the median test. A subanalysis was performed by identifying women in the control group with a history of attempting conception without success (subfertile group) and with a spontaneous conception in fewer than 12 months resulting in a live birth (fertile group). Age-specific AFC percentiles were calculated and compared within strata determined by age at the time of attempted conception.

RESULT(S): AFCs were significantly lower in infertile women than in control women across age groups up to 40 years of age. Average FSH levels were significantly higher in the younger-age infertile group versus the community. AFC percentiles differ significantly between fertile and subfertile women within the community up to 40 years of age.

CONCLUSION(S): Decreased AFC in infertile women suggests that factors affecting the size of the remaining follicle pool in younger women also affect oocyte quality and the likelihood of conception.