title: Characterization of endometrial growth in proliferative and early luteal phase in IVF cycles.
abstract: Human endometrium has a definite role in implantation, although knowledge about its modifications in the course of IVF cycles is still limited. This study was performed to characterize endometrial growth throughout stimulation treatment in women undergoing IVF cycles, regardless of clinical outcomes. Endometrial growth was longitudinally evaluated by ultrasonography in the first induced ovarian stimulation cycle (717 patients). Acceleration and length of significant growth were used to assess the slope of the growth curve mathematically. Endometrial growth showed a parabolic trend and final thickness was significantly affected by age (P < 0.01). Endometria that tended to overgrowth had a more rapid and longer growth during the whole phase. A similar stimulation treatment was repeated within 6 months of the first one and a second evaluation was carried out to verify whether similar growth occurred. Similar growth was observed in 76% of the patients, with an absolute difference between the two cycles of <4 mm in 84% of cases. The endometrium seems to have an individual intrinsic potential that can be expressed regardless of the stimulation protocol. This supports the hypothesis that individual factors (intrinsic properties of the endometrium) significantly affect endometrial growth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology, Obstetrics and Neonatology, University of Medical Science of Bari, Bari, Italy. marcoscioscia@gmail.com
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scioscia
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lamanna
authors.forename: Filomenamila
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lorusso
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Serrati
authors.forename: Luigi E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Selvaggi
authors.forename: Raffaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Depalo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D004717:Endometrium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000379:methods; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin