Relationship between endometrial thickness and embryo implantation, based on 1,294 cycles of in vitro fertilization with transfer of two blastocyst-stage embryos.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the relationship between endometrial thickness and clinical outcome of IVF and ET.


METHODS
Retrospective study.


METHODS
Private assisted reproductive technology center.


METHODS
One thousand two hundred and ninety-four infertility patients.


METHODS
IVF and fresh autologous ET of two blastocyst-stage embryos, including at least one good-quality blastocyst.


METHODS
Clinical pregnancy rate (PR) and spontaneous abortion rate.


RESULTS
Endometrial thickness was greater in cycles resulting in pregnancy than in cycles not resulting in pregnancy (11.9 vs. 11.3 mm, respectively). Clinical pregnancy rates increased gradually from 53% among patients with a lining of <9 mm, to 77% among patients with a lining of > or =16 mm. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated significant effects of age, embryo quality, and endometrial thickness on both clinical pregnancy rates and live-birth or ongoing pregnancy rates. There was also a marginally significant trend toward decreasing rates of spontaneous pregnancy loss with increasing endometrial thickness.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinical pregnancy and live-birth or ongoing pregnancy rates increase significantly with increasing endometrial thickness, independent of the effects of patient age and embryo quality.
Richter
Kevin S
KS
Shady Grove Fertility Reproductive Science Center, Rockville, Maryland 20850, USA. kevin.richter@integramed.com
Bugge
Kathleen R
KR
Bromer
Jason G
JG
Levy
Michael J
MJ
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology