The prognostic value of perifollicular blood flow in the outcome after assisted reproduction: a systematic review.

BackgroundThe overall final outcome of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) is still more often a failure than a success. Assessing perifollicular blood flow (PFBF) is one technique to predict and possibly improve this outcome. The aim was to provide a structured review of studies concerning PFBF and its prognostic value in patients undergoing ART, including IUI (intrauterine insemination).MethodsPUBMED, EMBASE and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were searched for relevant studies published until December 2016. As key words 'Perifollicular blood flow', 'IUI', 'IVF' and 'ICSI' were used.ResultsA total of 14 articles were included in the current review. The results are very heterogeneous, though there is evidence that measuring PFBF could be a good prognostic marker for oocyte and embryo quality, but even more for pregnancy rate after IVF/ICSI. This finding is not observed in studies concerning IUI.ConclusionsOur results highlight an urgent need to investigate the role for PFBF assessment by Power Doppler in ART in randomised controlled trials.