Comparison of 2-dimensional, 3-dimensional, and vascular ultrasonographic parameters for endometrial receptivity between 2 consecutive stimulated in vitro fertilization cycles.
OBJECTIVE
We compared the ultrasonographic parameters for endometrial receptivity between 2 consecutive in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles in the same patients.


METHODS
Patients who had undergone 2 in vitro fertilization cycles between November 2002 and December 2004 were recruited. A 3-dimensional ultrasonographic examination with power Doppler imaging was performed on the day of oocyte retrieval to determine the endometrial thickness, endometrial pattern, pulsatility and resistive indices of uterine vessels, endometrial volume, vascularization index, flow index, and vascularization flow index of endometrial and subendometrial regions.


RESULTS
Of 662 patients, 95 (14.4%) underwent 2 consecutive cycles using the same stimulation regimen during the study period. There were no significant differences in these ultrasonographic parameters between the first and second cycles. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for endometrial volume was significantly higher than that of other ultrasonographic parameters. The ICC for the endometrial thickness, uterine pulsatility index, and endometrial 3-dimensional power Doppler flow indices were similar.


CONCLUSIONS
Ultrasonographic parameters for endometrial receptivity were comparable in the 2 consecutive stimulated cycles. The endometrial volume had the highest ICC among these ultrasonographic parameters and was most reproducible between 2 cycles.
Ng
Ernest Hung Yu
EH
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Hong Kong, 6/F, Professorial Block, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong. nghye@hkucc.hku.hk
Chan
Carina Chi Wai
CC
Tang
Oi Shan
OS
Ho
Pak Chung
PC
D000328:Adult; D001158:Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004717:Endometrium / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D009865:Oocytes; D009929:Organ Size; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011673:Pulsatile Flow / Q000502:physiology; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler / Q000379:methods*; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000502:physiology