Abstract
ObjectiveTo evaluate whether endometrial thickness (EMT) change in response to progesterone has an effect on pregnancy outcomes in frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) cycles.DesignRetrospective observational study.SettingTertiary-care academic medical center.Participants4465 infertile women undergoing their first FET between January 2010 and December 2015 in our center.MethodsThis observational study included 4465 patients undergoing their first FET cycles between January 2010 and December 2015. EMT was measured by transvaginal ultrasound one day before progesterone administration and on the day of FET to observe EMT change.Main outcome measuresClinical pregnancy rate (CPR) and the live birthrate (LBR) was discussed.ResultsRegardless of the endometrial preparation protocols such as artificial cycle, estrogen-progesterone replacement therapy (EP) or natural cycle (NC), EMT may increase, decrease or remain stable on the day of FET compared with that of one day before progesterone administration. CPR in EMT increase, decrease and stable groups were 48.4%, 51.3% and 50.7% in EP cycle versus 49.2%, 52.0% and 48.9% in NC cycle, showing no significant difference between the three groups in both cycles (P= 0.48, P= 0.49). LBR was 40.9%, 45.9% and 42.6% in EP cycle versus 44.2%, 44.8% and 42.1% in NC cycle, also showing no significant difference between the three groups in both cycles (P= 0.16, P= 0.66). In addition, CPR and LBR were not significantly associated with EMT increase.ConcludesEMT may increase, decrease or remain stable on the day of FET as compared with that of one day before progesterone administration. Whatever change in EMT that occurs after progesterone administration has no significant effect on CPR and LBR in FET cycles.
Highlights
The breakthrough in assisted reproductive technology (ART) has allowed couples previously unable to conceive to get pregnant
Regardless of the endometrial preparation protocol, maternal age and body mass index (BMI), etiology of infertility treatment, the infertility duration, previous In vitro fertilization (IVF) tries and the number of embryos transferred were comparable in the three groups
We demonstrated that endometrial thickness (EMT) change in response to progesterone administration had no significant impact on the pregnancy outcome in FET cycles
Summary
The breakthrough in assisted reproductive technology (ART) has allowed couples previously unable to conceive to get pregnant. For a pregnancy to be made, the embryo must implant in a receptive endometrium during the window of implantation, which is around 7 days after ovulation of a menstrual cycle [1]. In vitro fertilization (IVF) has allowed security of the embryonic development. The focus of the debate has been placed on endometrial receptivity and IVF outcomes. Sonography is a noninvasive method which has been used to evaluate endometrial receptivity. Several sonographic parameters include endometrial thickness (EMT) [2, 3], endometrial pattern [4, 5], and endometrial blood flow [6,7,8], have been evaluated during the embryo transfer cycle
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
