ENDOMETRIAL VOLUME AND SUBENDOMETRIAL VASCULARITY BY THREE-DIMENSIONAL POWER DOPPLER AND ITS CORRELATION WITH PREGNANCY OUTCOME IN FRESH EMBRYO TRANSFER ICSI CYCLES

Abstract

Endometrial vascularity is essential in the early endometrial response to embryo implantation, and vascular changes can affect the uterine receptivity. The study aims to evaluate the role of endometrial volume and subendometrial blood flow measured by 3D power Doppler (3DPD) as predictors of pregnancy in fresh embryo transfer ICSI cycles. A prospective cohort study included 122 women undergoing their first ICSI cycles was performed between October 2018 and April 2020. On the day of maximum follicular growth; endometrial thickness, endometrial volume and subendometrial blood flow was assessed using 3DPD, and vascularization index (VI), flow index (FI) and vascularization flow index (VFI) were obtained and compared between the pregnant and the non-pregnant group. Primary outcome was the clinical pregnancy rate. Out of 122 women, 41 (33.6 %) became pregnant, while 82 (66.4%) failed to become pregnant. The endometrial volume was comparable between the two groups (4.02 ± 1.08 vs. 4.50 ± 1.49, p=0.117). Similarly, the endometrial thickness was not different between both groups (9.48 ± 1.42 vs. 9.71 ± 1.53, p=0.197). Additionally, no significant differences in subendometrial VI, FI and VFI between both groups (p= 0.761, 0.265, 0.728 respectively). Evaluation of endometrial volume and subendometrial vascularity by 3DPD are not useful predictors of pregnancy in fresh embryo transfer ICSI cycles