Korean J Obstet Gynecol.  1999 Jan;42(1):109-118.

Transvaginal Doppler Ultrasonography of Uterine Intraendometrial and Intramyometrial Arteries as a Predictor of Pregnancy after In Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer

• Moon SY
• Choi YM
• Kim SH
• Suh CS
• Lee JY
• Kim JG
• Kwon JH
• Jee BC

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
This study was performed to assess whether uterine intraendometrial or intramyometrial arterial blood flow impedance in Doppler sonography is related to the outcomes of IVF-ET cycles.
METHODS
A total of 24 patients undergoing IVF-ET was recruited for the study. All patients received controlled ovarian hyperstimulation(COH) with GnRH agonist and gonadotropins. Doppler sonographic examinations were performed by using Combison 530(Medison) with 5.5 MHz transvaginal probe. Pulsatility index(PI) was evaluated for uterine, radial, and spiral arteries on the days of hCG administration, oocyte retrieval, and embryo transfer(ET). Serum E2 level was assayed on the hCG day.
RESULTS
The overall pregnancy rate after IVF-ET was 29.2%(7/24). There was no significant difference in PI of uterine artery between pregnant and nonpregnant groups, No pregnancy occurred in 4(16.7%) patients without intraendometrial or subendometrial blood flow. Compared with nonpregnant group, PI of radial artery on the hCG day and PI of spiral artery on the hCG and oocyte retrieval days were significantly lower in pregnant group. There were no significant correlations between Serum E level on the hCG day and Pl of any three arteries.
CONCLUSION
This study suggests that the Doppler sonographic parameter, PI, of intraendometrial and intramyometrial arteries are more useful than that of uterine artery not only in predicting the success of IVF-ET, but also in assessing the endometrial receptivity.

Keyword

IVF-ET; Doppler sonography; Intraendometrial artery; Intramyometrial artery; PI(pulsatility index); Pregnancy

MeSH Terms

Arteries*
Electric Impedance
Embryo Transfer*
Embryonic Structures*
Fertilization in Vitro*
Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone
Gonadotropins
Humans
Oocyte Retrieval
Pregnancy Rate
Pregnancy*
Radial Artery
Serum
Ultrasonography
Ultrasonography, Doppler*
Uterine Artery
Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone
Gonadotropins