Endometrial unresponsiveness: a novel approach to assessment and prognosis in in vitro fertilization cycles.
OBJECTIVE
To categorize endometrial responsiveness to orally administered estriol in natural cycles of patients with thin endometrium. The value of endometrial responsiveness in predicting the outcome of subsequent IVF-ET cycles was evaluated.


METHODS
Prospective clinical study.


METHODS
Miami IVF-ICSI Center, Alexandria, Egypt, a private center.


METHODS
Forty-two patients undergoing IVF-ET. All had endometrial thickness < or = 7 mm at the time of maximal follicular diameter in natural cycle.


METHODS
Estriol was orally administered in subsequent unstimulated cycle. Patients were categorized into responsive and unresponsive groups (those with improved and unimproved endometrial thickness, respectively). Lastly, controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) with or without estriol was started in the IVF-ET cycles.


METHODS
The endometrial thickness during COH with or without estriol, fertilization, pregnancy, and abortion rates.


RESULTS
The responsive group compared with the unresponsive group had a significantly higher rate of improved endometrial thickness, a similar number of oocytes retrieved, a similar fertilization rate, and a significantly higher pregnancy rate.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with endometrial unresponsiveness to estriol in their natural cycles rarely improve by COH and have a poor pregnancy rate in IVF cycles.
Hassan
H A
HA
Miami IVF-ICSI Center, Shatby Hospital for Women, Alexandria University, Egypt.
Saleh
H A
HA
D000328:Adult; D004717:Endometrium / Q000187:drug effects*; D004964:Estriol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies
D004964:Estriol