TRANSVAGINAL ULTRASONOGRAPHY AND THE ASSESSMENT OF LUTEAL-PHASE ENDOMETRIUM

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to determine if ultrasonography of the endometrium could be used to identify in a noninvasive manner p atients with luteal phase defects. STUDY DESIGN: Patients underwent mi dluteal transvaginal ultrasonography with photographing of the endomet rial image, an endometrial biopsy, and two serum hormonal profiles. Th e ultrasonographic images were graded and compared with the histologic results and the serum hormonal profiles. RESULTS: There was a trend t oward a higher grade image being associated with normal histologic stu dies. There was no significant difference between the mean hormonal pr ofiles in patients with normal and those with abnormal biopsy specimen s. There was no significant difference between the hormonal values dra wn before and those drawn after the biopsies. CONCLUSIONS: Although th e endometrial appearance on ultrasonography appears to reflect secreto ry transformation, it cannot replace endometrial biopsy for full evalu ation of luteal endometrial development. Short-term variability in ser um concentrations of midluteal hormones was not demonstrated.