Objective: To describe endometrial wavelike: activity. endometrial thicknes
s and texture in IVF cycles, and to relate them to IVF outcome. To evaluate
wave patterns on the day of hCG administration as a predictor of IVF outco
me.
Design: Ultrasound study.
Setting: University hospital-based infertility clinic.
Patient(s): Twenty-eight women undergoing IVF.
Intervention(s): Ultrasound examinations were performed at live fixed momen
ts (start ovarian stimulation, hCG administration, ovum pickup (OPU), ET, a
nd 7 days after hCG administration) and at three variable moments in the st
imulation period in the cycle. The OPU was performed 2 days after hCG admin
istration; FT was performed 2 or 3 days after that.
Main Outcome Measure(s): Endometrial wave pattern, thickness, texture, IVF
outcome.
Result(s): Embryo transfer was performed in 22 cycles. In 73% of the cycles
a wave direction switch (WDS) from fundus to cervix (FC) to cervix to fund
us (CF) occurred before OPU. Eleven (50%) patients became pregnant. Signifi
cantly more FC waves persisted until hCG administration in the cycles in wh
ich the patients conceived. Endometrial thickness and texture were unrelate
d to IVF outcome.
Conclusion(s): Endometrial wave pattern is associated with pregnancy in IVF
. The persisting presence of FC waves until hCG administration (a late WDS)
predicts a favorable IVF outcome. (Fertil Steril(R) 1999;71:476-81. (C)199
9 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.).