The predictive value of uterine artery blood flow measurements for uterine receptivity in an intracytoplasmic sperm injection program.
OBJECTIVE
To assess whether uterine artery blood flow impedance, measured as the pulsatility index on the day of ET in patients undergoing IVF-ET with microinjection, can predict the likelihood of pregnancy.


METHODS
Prospective clinical study.


METHODS
A tertiary referral center for assisted reproduction.


METHODS
Seventy patients undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) for andrologic indications.


METHODS
Transvaginal color Doppler examination performed on the day of ET.


METHODS
Mean (+/- SD) pulsatility index value of the left and right uterine arteries, serum E2 levels, implantation rates, and ongoing pregnancy rates (PRs).


RESULTS
The patients were divided into pregnant and nonpregnant groups and were separated according to whether the pulsatility index was low (1.00-1.99), medium (2.00-2.99), or high (> or = 3.00). The pulsatility index values did not change statistically in the pregnant and nonpregnant groups. The implantation rates were 19.5%, 15.4%, and 25% for the low-, medium-, and high-pulsatility index groups, respectively. The ongoing PRs for the same groups were 35.3%, 26.7%, and 37.5%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The study suggests that blood flow, measured as the pulsatility index on the day of ET, cannot predict the likelihood of pregnancy in stimulated cycles of ICSI.
Aytoz
A
A
Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Dutch-speaking Brussels Free University, Belgium.
Ubaldi
F
F
Tournaye
H
H
Nagy
Z P
ZP
Van Steirteghem
A
A
Devroey
P
P
D001158:Arteries / Q000502:physiology; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000502:physiology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008845:Microinjections; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011673:Pulsatile Flow; D012372:ROC Curve; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000502:physiology*
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D004958:Estradiol