Are increased estradiol levels the only responsible factor of increased uterine perfusion in patients submitted to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation? The possible role of androgens

Abstract

Objective: Controversial studies are present in the literature about the role of estradiol on uterine perfusion during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH). As a matter of fact, while several authors found that during COH associated to IVF-ET the uterine perfusion was positively affected by estradiol (E2) secretion, other authors failed to find inverse correlation between uterine artery pulsatility index (PI)’s values and E2. The aim of this study was to explain these different results evaluating the changes in estradiol and androgen levels during COH and the possible correlation between uterine perfusion and hormonal pattern.