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. 2018 Dec;21(4):288-293.
doi: 10.1080/14647273.2017.1334130. Epub 2017 Jun 18.

Thicker endometrial linings are associated with better IVF outcomes: a cohort of 6331 women

Emily C Holden  1   2 , Laura E Dodge  1   2 , Rita Sneeringer  1   2   3 , Vasiliki A Moragianni  1   2   3 , Alan S Penzias  1   2   3 , Michele R Hacker  1   2
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Thicker endometrial linings are associated with better IVF outcomes: a cohort of 6331 women

Emily C Holden et al. Hum Fertil (Camb). 2018 Dec.

Abstract

Our objective was to determine if a correlation exists between endometrial thickness measured on the day of ovulation trigger during an in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle and pregnancy outcomes among non-cancelled cycles. We performed a retrospective cohort study looking at 6331 women undergoing their first, fresh autologous IVF cycle from 1 May 2004 to 31 December 2012 at Boston IVF (Waltham, MA). Our primary outcome was the risk ratio (RR) of live birth and positive β-hCG. We found that thicker endometrial linings were associated with positive β-hCG and live birth rates. For each additional millimetre of endometrial thickness, we found a statistically significant increased risk of positive β-hCG (adjusted RR: 1.14; 95% CI: 1.09-1.18) and live birth (RR: 1.08; 95% CI: 1.05-1.11). There was no association between endometrial thickness and miscarriage (RR: 0.99; 95% CI: 0.91-1.07). Similar results were seen when categorizing endometrial thickness. Compared with an endometrial thickness >7 to <11 mm, the likelihood of a live birth was significantly higher for an endometrial thickness ≥11 mm (adjusted RR: 1.23; 95% CI: 1.11-1.37) and significantly lower for the ≤7 mm group (adjusted RR: 0.64; 95% CI: 0.45-0.90). In conclusion, thicker endometrial linings were associated with increased pregnancy and live birth rates.

Keywords: Endometrium; in vitro fertilization (IVF); pregnancy.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

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