Hysteroscopy Findings in Women with Thin Endometrium Scheduled for In Vitro fertilization in Niger Delta Region, Nigeria.

Abstract

The effect of endometrial thickness on in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcome is still a subject of debate. It is unclear why a thin endometrium reduces IVF success rates. Our objective was to analyze the hysteroscopic findings in women scheduled for IVF who had an endometrial thickness less than 7 mm. Relevant data of patients scheduled for IVF cycles and found to have an endometrial thickness (ET) of <7 mm on transvaginal ultrasound scan (TVS) between April 1, 2010 and March 31, 2017, at a private fertility and minimal access surgery unit in the Niger-Delta region of Nigeria, were retrieved and documented. A total of 41 patients had ET <7 mm during the study period. These patients accounted for 2.8% of the 1487 IVF cycles performed during the same period. All 41 patients had office hysteroscopies performed, constituting 4.1% of the 1,002 hysteroscopies performed during the study period. The age range of the patients was 23 - 50 years with a mean of 39.9 ± 6.9 years, and the duration of infertility ranged from 3 to 13 years with a mean of 7.2 ± 2.5 years. Most of the patients (32, 78.1%) had secondary infertility. Sixteen patients (39.0%) had intrauterine adhesions. A thin endometrium, though infrequent during IVF treatment cycles, might be associated with undiagnosed intrauterine adhesions.