PRELIMINARY-REPORT OF AN ULTRASONOGRAPHY AND COLOR DOPPLER UTERINE SCORE TO PREDICT UTERINE RECEPTIVITY IN AN IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION PROGRAM

A total of 96 women undergoing in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment were examined by transvaginal ultrasonography with colour and pulsed D oppler ultrasound on the 22nd day of the menstrual cycle preceding IVF , We assessed endometrial thickness, endometrial morphology, myometria l echogenicity, subendometrial vascularization, the uterine artery pul satility index, protodiastolic notch and end diastolic blood flow in o rder to define a uterine score which could be correlated with the preg nancy rate. The overall pregnancy rate was 30.2%, and there was no dif ference between the pregnant and non-pregnant groups with regard to an y of the ultrasonographic and Doppler parameters when examined separat ely. However, the uterine score was significantly higher in the pregna nt group (15.9 +/- 2.81 versus 12.7 +/- 5.3, P = 0.002; t-test), No pr egnancy occurred if the score was between 0 and 10, With a score of 11 -15 there was a 34.7% chance of pregnancy, and scores >16 had a 42% ch ance of pregnancy. In conclusion, individual ultrasonographic and Dopp ler parameters are not of sufficient accuracy to predict uterine recep tivity, The uterine score calculated prior to IVF cycles appears to be a useful predictor of implantation.