Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Meta-Analysis
. 2018 Oct 12;10(10):CD010001.
doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD010001.pub3.

Vasodilators for women undergoing fertility treatment

Rosa B Gutarra-Vilchez  1 , Xavier Bonfill Cosp, Demián Glujovsky, Andres Viteri-García, Fernando M Runzer-Colmenares, Maria José Martinez-Zapata
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Vasodilators for women undergoing fertility treatment

Rosa B Gutarra-Vilchez et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. .

Update in

  • Vasodilators for women undergoing fertility treatment.
    Gutarra-Vilchez RB, Vazquez JC, Glujovsky D, Lizaraso F, Viteri-García A, Martinez-Zapata MJ. Gutarra-Vilchez RB, et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2025 Mar 6;3(3):CD010001. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD010001.pub4. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2025. PMID: 40047216

Abstract

Background: The rate of successful pregnancies brought to term has barely increased since the first assisted reproductive technology (ART) technique became available. Vasodilators have been proposed to increase endometrial receptivity, thicken the endometrium, and favour uterine relaxation, all of which could improve uterine receptivity and enhance the chances for successful assisted pregnancy.

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of vasodilators in women undergoing fertility treatment.

Search methods: We searched the following electronic databases, trial registers, and websites: the Cochrane Gynaecology and Fertility Group (CGF) Specialised Register of controlled trials, the Cochrane Central Register of of Controlled Trials, via the Cochrane Register of Studies Online (CRSO), MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Web of Knowledge, the Open System for Information on Grey Literature in Europe (OpenSIGLE), the Latin American and Caribbean Health Science Information Database (LILACS), clinical trial registries, and the reference lists of relevant articles. We conducted the search in October 2017 and applied no language restrictions.

Selection criteria: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing vasodilators alone or in combination with other treatments versus placebo or no treatment or versus other agents in women undergoing fertility treatment.

Data collection and analysis: Four review authors independently selected studies, assessed risk of bias, extracted data, and calculated risk ratios (RRs). We combined study data using a fixed-effect model and assessed evidence quality using Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation Working Group (GRADE) methods. Our primary outcomes were live birth or ongoing pregnancy and vasodilator side effects. Secondary outcomes included clinical pregnancy, endometrial thickness, multiple pregnancy, miscarriage, and ectopic pregnancy.

Main results: We included 15 studies with a total of 1326 women. All included studies compared a vasodilator versus placebo or no treatment. We judged most of these studies as having unclear risk of bias. Overall, the quality of evidence was low to moderate for most outcomes. The main limitations were imprecision due to low numbers of events and participants and risk of bias due to unclear methods of randomisation.Vasodilators probably make little or no difference in rates of live birth compared with placebo or no treatment (RR 1.18, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.83 to 1.69; three RCTs; N = 350; I² = 0%; moderate-quality evidence) but probably increase overall rates of side effects including headache and tachycardia (RR 2.35, 95% CI 1.51 to 3.66; four RCTs; N = 418; I² = 0%; moderate-quality evidence). Evidence suggests that if 236 per 1000 women achieve live birth with placebo or no treatment, then between 196 and 398 per 1000 will do so with the use of vasodilators.Compared with placebo or no treatment, vasodilators may slightly improve clinical pregnancy rates (RR 1.45, 95% CI 1.19 to 1.77; 11 RCTs; N = 1054; I² = 6%; low-quality evidence). Vasodilators probably make little or no difference in rates of multiple gestation (RR 1.15, 95% CI 0.55 to 2.42; three RCTs; N = 370; I² = 0%; low-quality evidence), miscarriage (RR 0.83, 95% CI 0.37 to 1.86; three RCTs; N = 350; I² = 0%; low-quality evidence), or ectopic pregnancy (RR 1.48, 95% CI 0.25 to 8.69; two RCTs; N = 250; I² = 5%; low-quality evidence). All studies found benefit for endometrial thickening, but reported effects varied (I² = 92%) and ranged from a mean difference of 0.80 higher (95% CI 0.18 to 1.42) to 3.57 higher (95% CI 3.01 to 4.13) with very low-quality evidence, so we are uncertain how to interpret these results.

Authors' conclusions: Evidence was insufficient to show whether vasodilators increase the live birth rate in women undergoing fertility treatment. However, low-quality evidence suggests that vasodilators may slightly increase clinical pregnancy rates. Moderate-quality evidence shows that vasodilators increase overall side effects in comparison with placebo or no treatment. Adequately powered studies are needed so that each treatment can be evaluated more accurately.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The review authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest to report.

Figures

1
1
Flow of information through different phases of the systematic review.
2
2
Risk of bias graph: review authors' judgements about each risk of bias item presented as percentages across all included studies.
3
3
Risk of bias summary: review authors' judgements about each risk of bias item for each included study.
4
4
Forest plot of comparison: 1 Vasodilator vs placebo or no treatment, outcome: 1.1 Live birth.
5
5
Forest plot of comparison: 1 Vasodilator vs placebo or no treatment, outcome: 1.2 Vasodilator side effects.
6
6
Forest plot of comparison: 1 Vasodilator vs placebo or no treatment, outcome: 1.4 Clinical pregnancy.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Update of

References

References to studies included in this review

Abdel 2017 {published data only}
    1. Abdel Razik M, El‐Berry S, El‐Nezamy A, Saad A, Abdel Wahab A. Nitric oxide donors increase the pregnancy rate in patients with unexplained infertility undergoing clomiphene citrate stimulation and intrauterine insemination: a randomized controlled pilot study. Gynecological Endocrinology 2017;33(3):199‐202. - PubMed
Aleyasin 2009 {published data only}
    1. Aleyasin A, Aghahosseini M, Mohseni M, Mahdavi A. Effects of pentoxifylline and vitamin E on pregnancy rate in infertile women treated by ZIFT: a randomized clinical trial. Iranian Journal of Reproductive Medicine 2009;7(4):175‐9.
Alieva 2012 {published and unpublished data}
    1. Alieva K, Kulakova E, Ipatova M, Smolnikova S, Kalinina E. Efficiency of recovery physiotherapy and sildenafil citrate in complex preparation of endometrium in women with disorders in uterine hemodynamics undergoing IVF. Human Reproduction 2012;27(Suppl 2):P‐276.
Azmy 2016 {published data only}
    1. Azmy O, Faham D, Taha T, Bibars M, Salama S, Abbassy A. Amlodipine effect on pre‐ovulatory follicle blood flow among women with polycystic ovarian syndrome: randomised controlled trial. British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 2016;123(Suppl 2):227.
Das 2009 {published data only}
    1. Das V, Agarwal A, Pandey A, Jain V, Agarwal S, Ara A. Evaluation of role of sildenafil in improving IUI success rates. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics. 2009; Vol. 107S2 S413‐S729, issue Poster presentations.
Dehghani Firouzabadi 2013 {published data only}
    1. Dehghani Firouzabadi R, Davar R, Hojjat F, Mahdavi M. Effect of sildenafil citrate on endometrial preparation and outcome of frozen‐thawed embryo transfer cycles: a randomized clinical trial. Iranian Journal of Reproductive Medicine 2013;11(2):151‐8. - PMC - PubMed
El‐Berry 2010 {published data only}
    1. El‐Berry S, Razik MA. Nitric oxide donors increase pregnancy rate in clomiphene citrate treated polycystic ovary infertile patients. Middle East Fertility Society Journal 2010;15:106‐9.
Fahmy 2015 {published data only}
    1. Fahmy AA, Sokkary M, Sayed S. The value of oral sildenafil in the treatment of female infertility: a randomized clinical trial. Life Science Journal 2015;12(4):78‐82.
Farzi 2005 {published data only}
    1. Farzi F, Mehrafza M, Mirmansouri A, Oudi M, Hoseeini A. Administration of NTG before embryo transfer does not increase pregnancy rate. Iranian Journal of Reproductive Medicine 2005;3(2):95‐100.
Kim 2010 {published data only}
    1. Kim KR, Lee HS, Ryu HE, Park CY, Min SH, Park C, et al. Efficacy of luteal supplementation of vaginal sildenafil and oral estrogen on pregnancy rate following IVF‐ET in women with a history of thin endometria: a pilot study. Journal of Women’s Medicine 2010;3(4):155‐8.
Magdi Ammar 2017 {published data only}
    1. Magdi Ammar I, Ahmed Salem M. Effect of oral tadalafil on endometrial thickness in patients receiving clomiphene citrate for ovulation induction. Middle East Fertility Society Journal 2017;https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mefs.2017.09.001:1‐5.
Mahran 2016 {published data only}
    1. Mahran A, Abdelmeged A, Shawki A, Moheyelden A, Mohamed A. Nitric oxide donors improve the ovulation and pregnancy rates in anovulatory women with polycystic ovary syndrome treated with clomiphene citrate: an RCT. International Journal of Reproductive Biomedicine 2016;14(1):9‐14. - PMC - PubMed
Mostafa 2003 {published and unpublished data}
    1. Mostafa R, Motawe B. Nitric oxide donors and uterine artery Doppler blood flow: a step for optimizing uterine receptivity and implantation in ICSI. Abstracts of the 19th Annual Meeting of the ESHRE, Madrid, Spain of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. 2003; Vol. 1:138.
Ohl 2002 {published data only}
    1. Ohl J, Bettahar Lebugle K, Rongieres C, Avril C. Nitric oxide donors and in‐vitro fertilization. Human Reproduction 2001;16(Suppl 1):22.
    1. Ohl J, Lefebvre‐Maunoury C, Wittemer C, Nisand G, Laurent MC, Hoffmann P. Nitric oxide donors for patients undergoing IVF. A prospective, double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled trial. Human Reproduction 2002;17(10):2615‐30. - PubMed
Shaker 1993 {published data only}
    1. Shaker A, Fleming R, Jamieson ME, Yates RWS, Coutts JRT. Assessments of embryo transfer after in‐vitro fertilization: effects of glyceryl trinitrate. Human Reproduction 1993;8(9):1426‐8. - PubMed

References to studies excluded from this review

Alborzi 2007 {published data only}
    1. Alborzi S, Ghotbi S, Parsanezhad ME, Dehbashi S, Alborzi S, Alborzi M. Pentoxifylline therapy after laparoscopic surgery for different stages of endometriosis: a prospective, double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled study. Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology 2007; Vol. 14, issue 1:54‐8. - PubMed
Ataalla 2016 {published data only}
    1. Ataalla WM, Elhamid T, Elhalwagy AE. Adjuvant sildenafil therapy in poor responders undergoing in vitro fertilization: a prospective, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial. Middle East Fertility Society Journal 2016;21(3):175‐9.
Balasch 1997 {published data only}
    1. Balasch J, Creus M, Fabregues F, Carmona F, Martinez‐Roman S, Manau D, et al. Pentoxifylline versus placebo in the treatment of infertility associated with minimal or mild endometriosis: a pilot randomized clinical trial. Human Reproduction 1997; Vol. 12, issue 9:2046‐50. - PubMed
Check 2004 {published data only}
    1. Check JH, Graziano V, Lee G, Nazari A, Choe JK, Dietterich C. Neither sildenafil nor vaginal estradiol improves endometrial thickness in women with thin endometria after taking oral estradiol in graduating dosages. Clinical & Experimental Obstetrics & Gynecology 2004; Vol. 31, issue 2:99‐102. - PubMed
Creus 2008 {published data only}
    1. Creus M, Fabregues F, Carmona F, Pino M, Manau D, Balasch J. Combined laparoscopic surgery and pentoxifylline therapy for treatment of endometriosis‐associated infertility: a preliminary trial. Human Reproduction 2008; Vol. 23, issue 8:1910‐6. - PubMed
Kamencic 2008 {published data only}
    1. Kamencic H, Thiel JA. Pentoxifylline after conservative surgery for endometriosis: a randomized, controlled trial. Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology 2008;15(1):62‐6. [PUBMED: 18262146] - PubMed
Malinova 2013 {published data only}
    1. Malinova M, Abouyta T, Krasteva M. [The effect of vaginal sildenafil citrate on uterine blood flow and endometrium in the infertile women]. Akusherstvo Ginekologiia 2013;52(Suppl 1):26‐30. - PubMed
Raine‐Fenning 2009 {published data only}
    1. Raine‐Fenning NJ, Campbell BK, Clewes JS, Kendall NR, Johnson IR. Viagra increases endometrial and sub‐endometrial blood flow but not endometrial volume or thickness. Human Reproduction 2009; Vol. 24(Suppl 1):i201, Abstract No P‐505; Poster.
Rosen 1987 {published data only}
    1. Rosen MA, Roizen MF, Eger EI 2d, Glass RH, Martin M, Dandekar PV, et al. The effect of nitrous oxide on in vitro fertilization success rate. Anesthesiology 1987; Vol. 67, issue 1:42‐4. - PubMed
Sher 2000 {published data only}
    1. Sher G, Fisch JD. Vaginal sildenafil (Viagra): a preliminary report of a novel method to improve uterine artery blood flow and endometrial development in patients undergoing IVF. Human Reproduction 2000;15(4):806‐9. - PubMed
Shin 2002 {published data only}
    1. Hwang J, Chang H, Lee J, Choi H, Cho P, Cho P, et al. Use of vaginal sildenafil and estradiol valerate to improve endometrial receptivity for the patients with thin endometrium in IVF‐ET. 17th World Congress of Fertility and Sterility, Melbourme, 25‐30 November. 2001.
    1. Shin SY, Kim DW, Shin JH, Hong SY, Park W, Cho BG, et al. Effectiveness of estradiol and sildenafil supplement therapy in IVF. ET patients with thin endometrium. Korean Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2002;45:642‐50.

References to studies awaiting assessment

Casper 2013 {published and unpublished data}
    1. Casper R, Bentov Y. Use of a calcium channel blocker to prevent premature luteinizing hormone surges in infertility patients (nimodipine). US National Institutes of Health. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01551368.
Penzias 2012 {published and unpublished data}
    1. Penzias AS, Nguyen KH. Nimodipine to prevent LH surge during ovulation induction: blinded placebo‐controlled RCT (NIMO) [Using nimodipine, a calcium channel blocker, to prevent LH surge in women undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation and intrauterine insemination: a double‐blinded, randomized controlled study]. US National Institutes of Health. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01672801.

References to ongoing studies

NCT02072291 {published and unpublished data}
    1. NCT02072291. The influence of nifedipine treatment on uterine contractility during frozen embryo transfer. [Nifedipine treatment on uterine contractility in IVF]. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02072291 (first received 26 February 2014).

Additional references

Acharya 2009
    1. Acharya S, Yasmin E, Balen AH. The use of a combination of pentoxifylline and tocopherol in women with a thin endometrium undergoing assisted conception therapies ‐ a report of 20 cases. Human Fertility 2009;12(4):198‐203. [PUBMED: 19938908] - PubMed
Aguilar 2010
    1. Aguilar HN, Mitchell BF. Physiological pathways and molecular mechanisms regulating uterine contractility. Human Reproduction 2010;16(6):725‐44. [PUBMED: 20551073] - PubMed
Baradwan 2018
    1. Baradwan S, Shafi D, Baradwan A, Bashir MS, Al‐Jaroudi D. The effect of endometrial thickness on pregnancy outcome in patients with Asherman's syndrome post‐hysteroscopic adhesiolysis. International Journal of Women's Health 2018;10:77‐82. - PMC - PubMed
Biyiksiz 2011
    1. Biyiksiz PC, Filiz S, Vural B. Is sildenafil citrate affect endometrial receptivity? An immunohistochemical study. Gynecological Endocrinology 2011;27(10):767‐74. [PUBMED: 21190420] - PubMed
Bouillon 2013
    1. Bouillon C, Fauque P. [Follow‐up of children conceived by assisted reproductive technologies] [Devenir des enfants issus des techniques d'assistance medicale a la procreation.]. Archives of Pediatrics (Organe Officiel de la Societe Francaise de Pediatrie) 2013;20(5):575‐9. [PUBMED: 23545282] - PubMed
Bulletti 2006
    1. Bulletti C, Ziegler D. Uterine contractility and embryo implantation. Current Opinion in Obstetrics & Gynecology 2006;18(4):473‐84. [PUBMED: 16794431] - PubMed
Cai 2017
    1. Cai J, Liu L, Zhang J, Qiu H, Jiang X, Li P, et al. Low body mass index compromises live birth rate in fresh transfer in vitro fertilization cycles: a retrospective study in a Chinese population. Fertility and Sterility 2017;107(2):422‐9.e2. - PubMed
Casper 2011
    1. Casper RF. It's time to pay attention to the endometrium. Fertility and Sterility 2011;96(3):519‐21. [PUBMED: 21880272] - PubMed
Check 2011
    1. Check JH. The importance of sonographic endometrial parameters in influencing success following embryo transfer in the modern era and therapeutic options ‐ part 1: the importance of late proliferative phase endometrial thickness. Clinical and Experimental Obstetrics and Gynecology 2011; Vol. 38, issue 3:197‐200. [PUBMED: 21995142] - PubMed
Chen 2005
    1. Chen Z, Foster MW, Zhang J, Mao L, Rockman HA, Kawamoto T, et al. An essential role for mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase in nitroglycerin bioactivation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2005;102(34):12159‐64. [PUBMED: 16103363] - PMC - PubMed
Chen 2008
    1. Chen QJ, Sun XX, Li L, Gao XH, Gemzell‐Danielsson K, Cheng LN. Effects of ovarian stimulation on endometrial integrin beta3 and leukemia inhibitory factor expression in the peri‐implantation phase. Fertility and Sterility 2008;89(Suppl 5):1357‐63. [PUBMED: 17681328] - PubMed
Chung 2016
    1. Chung CH, Wong AW, Chan CP, Saravelos SH, Kong GW, Cheung LP, et al. The changing pattern of uterine contractions before and after fresh embryo transfer and its relation to clinical outcome. Reprod Biomed Online 2017;34(3):240‐247. - PubMed
Chung 2017
    1. Chung CH, Wong AW, Chan CP, Saravelos SH, Kong GW, Cheung LP, et al. The changing pattern of uterine contractions before and after fresh embryo transfer and its relation to clinical outcome. Reproductive BioMedicine Online 2017;34(3):240‐7. - PubMed
de Mouzon 2012
    1. Mouzon J, Goossens V, Bhattacharya S, Castilla JA, Ferraretti AP, Korsak V, et al. Assisted reproductive technology in Europe, 2007: results generated from European registers by ESHRE. Human Reproduction 2012;27(4):954‐66. [PUBMED: 22343707] - PMC - PubMed
Dix 2010
    1. Dix E, Check JH. Successful pregnancies following embryo transfer despite very thin late proliferative endometrium. Clinical and Experimental Obstetrics and Gynecology 2010;37(1):15‐6. [PUBMED: 20420271] - PubMed
Dyer 2016
    1. Dyer S, Chambers GM, Mouzon J, Nygren KG, Zegers‐Hochschild F, Mansour R, et al. International Committee for Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technologies World Report: Assisted Reproductive Technology 2008, 2009 and 2010. Human Reproduction 2016;31(7):1588‐609. - PubMed
Eftekhar 2017
    1. Eftekhar M, Tabibnejad N, Alsadat Tabatabaie A. The thin endometrium in assisted reproductive technology: an ongoing challenge. Middle East Fertility Society Journal 2017;https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mefs.2017.12.006:1‐7.
ESHIRE 2016
    1. European IVF‐Monitoring Consortium (EIM), European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE), Kupka MS, D'Hooghe T, Ferraretti AP, Mouzon J, Erb K, Castilla JA, et al. Assisted reproductive technology in Europe, 2011: results generated from European registers by ESHRE. Human Reproduction 2016;31(2):233‐48. - PubMed
European IVF‐Monitoring Consortium (EIM) 2017
    1. European IVF‐Monitoring Consortium (EIM), European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE), Calhaz‐Jorge C, Geyter C, Kupka MS, Mouzon J, et al. Assisted reproductive technology in Europe, 2013: results generated from European registers by ESHRE. Human Reproduction 2017;32(10):1957‐73. - PubMed
Evans 2012
    1. Evans J, Hannan NJ, Hincks C, Rombauts LJ, Salamonsen LA. Defective soil for a fertile seed? Altered endometrial development is detrimental to pregnancy success. Public Library of Science One 2012;7(12):e53098. [PUBMED: 23300868] - PMC - PubMed
Fanchin 2001
    1. Fanchin R. Assessing uterine receptivity in 2001: ultrasonographic glances at the new millennium. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 2001;943:185‐202. [PUBMED: 11594540] - PubMed
Fanchin 2009
    1. Fanchin R, Ayoubi JM. Uterine dynamics: impact on the human reproduction process. Reproductive BioMedicine Online 2009;18(Suppl 2):57‐62. [PUBMED: 19406033] - PubMed
Ferraretti 2012
    1. Ferraretti AP, Goossens V, Mouzon J, Bhattacharya S, Castilla JA, Korsak V, et al. Assisted reproductive technology in Europe, 2008: results generated from European registers by ESHRE. Human Reproduction 2012;27(9):2571‐84. [PUBMED: 22786779] - PubMed
Ferraretti 2013
    1. Ferraretti AP, Goossens V, Kupka M, Bhattacharya S, Mouzon J, Castilla JA, et al. Assisted reproductive technology in Europe, 2009: results generated from European registers by ESHRE. Human Reproduction 2013;28(9):2318‐31. [PUBMED: 23842560] - PubMed
Fetih 2017
    1. Fetih AN, Habib DM, Abdelaal II, Hussein M, Fetih GN, Othman ER. Adding sildenafil vaginal gel to clomiphene citrate in infertile women with prior clomiphene citrate failure due to thin endometrium: a prospective self‐controlled clinical trial. Facts, Views & Vision in ObGyn 2017;9(1):21‐27. - PMC - PubMed
Gelbaya 2005
    1. Gelbaya TA, Kyrgiou M, Li TC, Stern C, Nardo LG. Low‐dose aspirin for in vitro fertilization: a systematic review and meta‐analysis. Human Reproduction 2007;13(4):357‐64. - PubMed
Glujovsky 2010
    1. Glujovsky D, Pesce R, Fiszbajn G, Sueldo C, Hart RJ, Ciapponi A. Endometrial preparation for women undergoing embryo transfer with frozen embryos or embryos derived from donor oocytes. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2010;1:CD006359. [PUBMED: 20091592] - PubMed
GRADEpro GDT 2014
    1. GRADEpro GDT. GRADE software for Summary of Findings tables, Health Technology Assessment and Guidelines. https://gradepro.org/.
Higgins 2003
    1. Higgins JP, Thompson SG, Deeks JJ, Altman DG. Measuring inconsistency in meta‐analyses. BMJ 2003;327(7414):557‐60. [PUBMED: 12958120] - PMC - PubMed
Higgins 2011
    1. Higgins JPT, Deeks JJ. Chapter 7. Selecting studies and collecting data. Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Version 5.1.0 (updated March 2011). http://www.cochrane‐handbook.org.
Kasius 2014
    1. Kasius A, Smit JG, Torrance HL, Eijkemans MJ, Mol BW, Opmeer BC, et al. Endometrial thickness and pregnancy rates after IVF: a systematic review and meta‐analysis. Human Reproduction 2014;20(4):530‐41. - PubMed
Kawwass 2016
    1. Kawwass JF, Kulkarni AD, Hipp HS, Crawford S, Kissin DM, Jamieson DJ. Extremities of body mass index and their association with pregnancy outcomes in women undergoing in vitro fertilization in the United States. Fertility and Sterility. 2016;106(7):1742‐50. - PMC - PubMed
Kushnir 2017
    1. Kushnir VA, Barad DH, Albertini DF, Darmon SK, Gleicher N. Systematic review of worldwide trends in assisted reproductive technology 2004‐2013. Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology 2017;15(1):6. - PMC - PubMed
Lensen 2016
    1. Lensen SF, Manders M, Nastri CO, Gibreel A, Martins WP, Templer GE, et al. Endometrial injury for pregnancy following sexual intercourse or intrauterine insemination. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2016;14(6):CD011424. - PubMed
Lesny 1998
    1. Lesny P, Killick SR, Tetlow RL, Robinson J, Maguiness SD. Uterine junctional zone contractions during assisted reproduction cycles. Human Reproduction Update 1998;4(4):440‐5. [PUBMED: 9825859] - PubMed
Letur‐Konirsch 2003
    1. Letur‐Konirsch H, Delanian S. Successful pregnancies after combined pentoxifylline‐tocopherol treatment in women with premature ovarian failure who are resistant to hormone replacement therapy. Fertility and Sterility 2003;9:439‐41. - PubMed
Letur‐Könirsch 2002
    1. Letur‐Könirsch H, Guis F, Delanian S. Uterine restoration by radiation sequelae regression with combined pentoxifylline‐tocopherol: a phase II study. Fertility and Sterility 2002;77:1219‐26. - PubMed
Lédée‐Bataille 2002
    1. Lédée‐Bataille N, Olivennes F, Lefaix J‐L, Chaouat G, Frydman R, Delanian S. Combined treatment by pentoxifylline and tocopherol for recipient women with a thin endometrium enrolled in an oocyte donation programme. Human Reproduction 2002;17:1249‐53. - PubMed
Maheshwari 2011
    1. Maheshwari A, Gibreel A, Siristatidis CS, Bhattacharya S. Gonadotrophin‐releasing hormone agonist protocols for pituitary suppression in assisted reproduction. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (online) 2011;8:CD006919. [PUBMED: 21833958] - PubMed
Marinakis 2011
    1. Marinakis G, Nikolaou D. What is the role of assisted reproduction technology in the management of age‐related infertility?. Human Fertility 2011;14(1):8‐15. [PUBMED: 21329469] - PubMed
Martin 2017
    1. Martin AS, Chang J, Zhang Y, Kawwass JF, Boulet SL, McKane P, et al. Perinatal outcomes among singletons after assisted reproductive technology with single‐embryo or double‐embryo transfer versus no assisted reproductive technology. Fertility and Sterility 2017;107(4):954‐60. - PMC - PubMed
McLernon 2010
    1. McLernon DJ, Harrild K, Bergh C, Davies MJ, Neubourg D, Dumoulin JC, et al. Clinical effectiveness of elective single versus double embryo transfer: meta‐analysis of individual patient data from randomised trials. BMJ 2010;341:c6945. [PUBMED: 21177530] - PMC - PubMed
Mochtar 2017
    1. Mochtar MH, Danhof NA, Ayeleke RO, Veen F, Wely M. Recombinant luteinizing hormone (rLH) and recombinant follicle stimulating hormone (rFSH) for ovarian stimulation in IVF/ICSI cycles. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2017;5:CD005070:doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD005070.pub3. - PMC - PubMed
Ng 2014
    1. Ng EH, Li RH, Chen L, Lan VT, Tuong HM, Quan S. A randomized double blind comparison of atosiban in patients undergoing IVF treatment. Human Reproduction 2014;29(12):2687‐94. - PubMed
Oron 2018
    1. Oron G, Hiersch L, Rona S, Prag‐Rosenberg R, Sapir O, Tuttnauer‐Hamburger M, et al. Endometrial thickness of less than 7.5 mm is associated with obstetric complications in fresh IVF cycles: a retrospective cohort study. reproductive biomedicine online journal 2018;6483:30314‐6. - PubMed
Orth 2011
    1. Orth TA, Shi SQ, Williamson K, Shi L, Chambliss L, Coonrod DV, et al. Additive inhibitory effects of progesterone and sodium nitroprusside on uterine contractility during pregnancy. Reproductive Sciences 2011;18(9):868‐75. [PUBMED: 21421898] - PubMed
Pinborg 2011
    1. Pinborg A, Gaarslev C, Hougaard CO, Nyboe Andersen A, Andersen PK, Boivin J, et al. Influence of female bodyweight on IVF outcome: a longitudinal multicentre cohort study of 487 infertile couples. Reproductive BioMedicine Online 2011;23(4):490‐9. [PUBMED: 21856228] - PubMed
Pouwer 2015
    1. Pouwer AW, Farquhar C, Kremer JA. Long‐acting FSH versus daily FSH for women undergoing assisted reproduction. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2015;(7):CD009577:doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD009577.pub3. - PMC - PubMed
Raine‐Fenning 2004
    1. Raine‐Fenning NJ, Campbell BK, Kendall NR, Clewes JS, Johnson IR. Endometrial and subendometrial perfusion are impaired in women with unexplained subfertility. Human Reproduction 2004;19(11):2605‐14. [PUBMED: 15465835] - PubMed
Revel 2012
    1. Revel A. Defective endometrial receptivity. Fertility and Sterility 2012;97(5):1028‐32. [PUBMED: 22542142] - PubMed
Schmidt 2012
    1. Schmidt L, Sobotka T, Bentzen JG, Nyboe Andersen A. Demographic and medical consequences of the postponement of parenthood. Human Reproduction Update 2012;18(1):29‐43. [PUBMED: 21989171] - PubMed
Senturk 2008
    1. Senturk LM, Erel CT. Thin endometrium in assisted reproductive technology. Current Opinion in Obstetrics & Gynecology 2008;20(3):221‐8. [PUBMED: 18460935] - PubMed
Sher 2002
    1. Sher G, Fisch JD. Effect of vaginal sildenafil on the outcome of in vitro fertilization (IVF) after multiple IVF failures attributed to poor endometrial development. Fertility and Sterility 2002;78(5):1073‐6. [PUBMED: 12413996] - PubMed
Sullivan 2013
    1. Sullivan EA, Zegers‐Hochschild F, Mansour R, Ishihara O, Mouzon J, Nygren KG, et al. International Committee for Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ICMART) world report: assisted reproductive technology 2004. Human Reproduction 2013;28(5):1375‐90. [PUBMED: 23442757] - PubMed
Sunderam 2012
    1. Sunderam S, Kissin DM, Flowers L, Anderson JE, Folger SG, Jamieson DJ, et al. Assisted reproductive technology surveillance ‐ United States, 2009. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report Surveillance Summaries/CDC 2012;61(7):1‐23. [PUBMED: 23114281] - PubMed
Sunderam 2017
    1. Sunderam S, Kissin DM, Crawford SB, Folger SG, Jamieson DJ, Warner L, et al. Assisted reproductive technology surveillance ‐ United States, 2014. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report Surveillance Summaries 2017;66(6):1‐24. - PMC - PubMed
Takasaki 2010
    1. Takasaki A, Tamura H, Miwa I, Taketani T, Shimamura K, Sugino N. Endometrial growth and uterine blood flow: a pilot study for improving endometrial thickness in the patients with a thin endometrium. Fertility and Sterility 2010;93(6):1851‐8. [PUBMED: 19200982] - PubMed
Torres 2005
    1. Torres RF, Habana AE, Tansengco LG. The effect of estrogen supplementation on the endometrium and pregnancy rate among infertile women treated with clomifene citrate: a meta‐analysis. Fertility and Sterility 2005;84:S162‐3.
Weiss 2017
    1. Weiss NS, Vliet MN, Limpens J, Hompes PGA, Lambalk CB, Mochtar MH, et al. Endometrial thickness in women undergoing IUI with ovarian stimulation. How thick is too thin? A systematic review and meta‐analysis. Human Reproduction 2017;32(5):1009‐18. - PubMed
Wetzka 2001
    1. Wetzka B, Schafer WR, Stehmans A, Zahradnik HP. Effects of nitric oxide donors on the contractility and prostaglandin synthesis of myometrial strips from pregnant and non‐pregnant women. Gynecological Endocrinology 2001;15(1):34‐42. [PUBMED: 11293922] - PubMed
Wilson 1990
    1. Wilson AG, Kirby JD. Successful pregnancy in a woman with systemic sclerosis while taking nifedipine. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases 1990;49(1):51‐2. [PUBMED: 2310228] - PMC - PubMed
Yavas 2017
    1. Yavas Y. Curvilinear relationship between age and assisted reproduction technique success: retrospective analyses of US National ART Surveillance System data from 2010‐2014. Reproductive BioMedicine Online 2017;35(6):657‐68. - PubMed
Zegers‐Hochschild 2009
    1. Zegers‐Hochschild F, Adamson GD, Mouzon J, Ishihara O, Mansour R, Nygren K, et al. International Committee for Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technology (ICMART) and the World Health Organization (WHO) revised glossary of ART terminology, 2009. Fertility and Sterility 2009; Vol. 92, issue 5:1520‐4. [PUBMED: 19828144] - PubMed
Zegers‐Hochschild 2017
    1. Zegers‐Hochschild F, Adamson GD, Dyer S, Racowsky C, Mouzon J, Sokol R, et al. The International Glossary on Infertility and Fertility Care, 2017. Fertility and Sterility 2017;108(3):393‐406. - PubMed
Zhang 2004
    1. Zhang X, Sharma RK, Agarwal A, Falcone T. Antioxidant effect of pentoxifylline in reducing oxidative stress induced embryotoxicity. Fertility and Sterility 2004;82:324‐5. - PMC - PubMed
Zinger 2006
    1. Zinger M, Liu JH, Thomas MA. Successful use of vaginal sildenafil citrate in two infertility patients with Asherman's syndrome. Journal of Women's Health 2006;15(4):442‐4. [PUBMED: 16724891] - PubMed

References to other published versions of this review

Gutarra‐Vilchez 2012
    1. Gutarra Vilchez RB, Bonfill Cosp X, Glujovsky D, Urrútia G. Vasodilators for women undergoing assisted reproduction. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2012, Issue 7. [DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD010001] - DOI - PubMed
Gutarra‐Vilchez 2014
    1. Gutarra‐Vilchez RB, Urrútia G, Glujovsky D, Coscia A, Bonfill Cosp X. Vasodilators for women undergoing fertility treatment. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2014, Issue 10. [DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD010001.pub2] - DOI - PubMed

Publication types

Substances