Ultrasonographic predictors of implantation after assisted reproduction

Abstract

Objective: To assess the utility of endometrial thickness, echogenic endometrial pattern, and uterine artery impedance measured as pulsativity index in predicting implantation.

Design: Prospective case-controlled study of infertile patients undergoing assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs).

Patients: Four hundred five women undergoing ARTs were studied: 100 women after ET of thawed embryos in natural cycles (frozen ET), 107 women after standardized IVF-ET, 99 women receiving donor oocytes after controlled endometrial development with estrogen and P, and 99 women undergoing IUI with various ovarian stimulation regimens (none, 16; GnRH, 7; clomiphene citrate [CC], 29; hMG, 47).

Interventions: Transvaginal ultrasonographic examination performed on the day of hCG administration during stimulated cycles; on E2 day 15 during controlled endometrial cycles; and on the day of ovulation during natural, CC, and GnRH pump cycles.

Main outcome measure: The endometrial thickness, echogenic pattern, and pulsativity index results in 170 conception cycles were compared with 235 nonconception cycles.

Results: When conception and nonconception cycles were compared, no difference in mean endometrial thickness and significant differences in the frequency of nonmultilayered pattern and pulsativity index > 3.3 were observed. Forty-seven percent of nonconception and 9% of conception cycles were associated with at least one of these factors.

Conclusion: Ultrasonic measurements of pulsativity index, resistance index, and echogenic pattern are useful in predicting implantation after assisted reproduction.