ADVERSE EFFECT OF A HOMOGENEOUS HYPERECHOGENIC ENDOMETRIAL SONOGRAPHIC PATTERN, DESPITE ADEQUATE ENDOMETRIAL THICKNESS ON PREGNANCY RATES FOLLOWING IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION
Jh. Check et al., ADVERSE EFFECT OF A HOMOGENEOUS HYPERECHOGENIC ENDOMETRIAL SONOGRAPHIC PATTERN, DESPITE ADEQUATE ENDOMETRIAL THICKNESS ON PREGNANCY RATES FOLLOWING IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION, Human reproduction, 8(8), 1993, pp. 1293-1296
We have previously presented data to show that in patients who had in-
vitro fertilization (IVF)-embryo transfer using ovarian stimulation in
volving the luteal phase leuprolide acetate-human menopausal gonadotro
phin (HMG) regimen, poor pregnancy results ensued if either the endome
trial thickness was <10 mm or a homogeneous hyperechogenic sonograpic
pattern was present immediately prior to taking a human chorionic gona
dotrophin (HCG) injection. There were only 15 cases with this hyperech
ogenic type endometrium (and no pregnancies). The purpose of the prese
nt study was to evaluate the influence of a hyperechogenic endometrium
when the endometrial thickess was greater-than-or-equal-to 10 mm, in
a more extensive series, in women having IVF-embryo transfer using the
same ovarian stimulation regimen. A total of 273 consecutive cycles,
where endometrial thickness was greater-than-or-equal-to 10 mm, were e
valuated (not including the 85 cycles previously reported). Of 22 pati
ents with the hyperechogenic pattern, one achieved a chemical pregnanc
y (beta-HCG >500 mIU/ml) and none achieved clinical pregnancies (ultra
sound confirmation). In contrast, 67 of 251 (26.7%) patients conceived
with other echo patterns (chi2 analysis = 5.9, df = 1, P = 0.01). The
se data thus confirm, in a larger series, the negative influence of th
is type of echo pattern on subsequent pregnancy rates following the lu
teal phase leuprolide acetate-HMG ovarian stimulation regimen.