The usefulness of endometrial thickness, morphology and vasculature by 2D Doppler ultrasound in prediction of pregnancy in IVF/ICSI cycles

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the predictive value of endometrial thickness, morphology and vasculature using two-dimensional (2D) Doppler ultrasound on the IVF/ICSI cycle outcome. Subjects and methods: Endometrial thickness, morphology and subendometrial blood flow were assessed using transvaginal ultrasound on the day of hCG in 100 patients undergoing IVF/ICSI treatment in the period between June 2013 and January 2015. Statistical analysis was done. Results: There was no difference in the demographic features or details of ovarian stimulation between pregnant and non-pregnant women. Overall, 40 patients conceived; 23 (57.5%) of them had blood flow in zone III and 15 (37.5%) in zone II. All patients achieved pregnancy had endometrial thickness >8 mm. Using the ROC curve, the cutoff endometrial thickness for non-achieving pregnancy was 7 mm with a sensitivity and specificity of 100%. There was no significant difference in Doppler indices between pregnant and non-pregnant women. Conclusion: When the endometrial thickness is <8 mm, and if there are non-triple endometrial line and non-favorable blood flow zone on day of hCG in IVF/ICSI cycles, pregnancy is unlikely and embryo transfer should be canceled with freezing of all embryos for future transfer to increase the success rate.

Keywords

• Doppler
• Endometrial thickness
• Morphology
• Vasculature
• IVF/ICSI