Transabdominal Follicular Aspiration in IVF Treatment Cycle, an Unusual but Necessary Intervention: Experience from a Resource Limited Setting

Abstract

Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation is one of the major steps in in-vitro fertilization. Inaccessibility or non visualization of developing follicles on transvaginal sonography (preferred method) may be mis-judged for poor response resulting in cycle cancellation. The need for scrupulous appraisal of proxy indicators for ovarian response viz: estradiol levels, endometrial thickness and other individual clinical characteristics are emphasized. This would prompt meticulous and assiduous trans-abdominal ultrasound follicular monitoring and oocyte retrieval as a necessary intervention to avert cycle cancellation and enhance treatment outcome.

Keywords: infertility, IVF-ET, ovarian stimulation, ultrasound folliculometry, cycle cancellation