title: The effect of endometrial polyps on outcomes of in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our purpose was to investigate the effect of endometrial polyps on pregnancy outcome in an in vitro fertilization (IVF) program.
  
  
  METHODS
  Endometrial polyps less than 2 cm in diameter were suspected by transvaginal ultrasound before oocyte recovery in 83 patients. Forty-nine women (Group I) had standard IVF-embryo transfer, while in 34 women (Group II) hysteroscopy and polypectomy were performed immediately following oocyte retrieval, the suitable embryos were all frozen, and the replacement cycle took place a few months later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 32 hysteroscopies, a polyp was diagnosed in 24 cases (75%) and polypoid endometrium in another 5 patients (15.6%). An endometrial polyp was confirmed by histopathological examination in 14 women (58.3%). The pregnancy rate in group I was similar to the general pregnancy rate of our unit over the same period (22.4 vs 23.4%) but the miscarriage rate was higher (27.3 vs 10.7%, P = 0.08). In Group II, the pregnancy and miscarriage rates were similar to those of the frozen embryo cycles at Bourn Hall (30.4 and 14.3 vs 22.3 and 12.1%, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Small endometrial polyps, less than 2 cm, do not decrease the pregnancy rate, but there is a trend toward increased pregnancy loss. A policy of oocyte retrieval, polypectomy, freezing the embryos, and replacing them in the future might increase the "take-home baby" rate.
authors.affiliation: Bourn Hall Clinic, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lass
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Abusheikha
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brinsden
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D015907:Hysteroscopy; D013513:Obstetric Surgical Procedures; D011127:Polyps / Q000601:surgery; D011247:Pregnancy; D011252:Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic / Q000601:surgery; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D012189:Retrospective Studies