Follicular and luteal phase endometrial thickness and echogenic pattern and pregnancy outcome in oocyte donation cycles

• Published in: Journal of assisted reproduction and genetics Vol. 26; no. 5; pp. 243 - 249
• Main Authors: Barker, Matthew A., Boehnlein, Lynn M., Kovacs, Peter, Lindheim, Steven R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer US 01-05-2009; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Assisted Reproduction; Blastocyst - pathology; Chorionic Gonadotropin - metabolism; Embryos; Endometrium; Endometrium - pathology; Estrogens - blood; Female; Follicular Phase; Gynecology; Human Genetics; Humans; In vitro fertilization; Luteal Phase; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Obstetrics; Oocyte Donation; Oocytes - cytology; Ovaries; Ovulation Induction; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome; Progesterone - blood; Reproductive Medicine; Sperm; United States > US; Embryo transfer; Oocyte donation; Blastocyst; Endometrial thickness and pattern
• ISSN: 1058-0468; 1573-7330
• DOI: 10.1007/s10815-009-9312-z

Purpose
To study the effect of endometrial thickness (ET) and echogenic pattern (EP) in oocyte donation cycles upon pregnancy outcomes.
Methods
Seventy-nine cycles resulting in blastocyst embryo transfer were evaluated. Donors underwent ovarian hyperstimulation using rFSH and GnRH-antagonist. Recipients were synchronized to donors using GnRH-agonist down-regulation followed by fixed dose of estrogen (E2) and progesterone (P4) following hCG. Transvaginal ultrasound (US) obtained ET and EP 10-11 days after initiation of E2 and on day of embryo transfer. Primary outcome was ET and EP in pregnant and non-pregnant cycles. Stimulation and embryology data was analyzed in donors to assess differences prior to transfer.
Results
Fifty-nine cycles resulted in clinical pregnancy. No differences were observed in pregnant vs. non-pregnant cycles in proliferative or secretory ET and EP. Similar baseline and stimulation characteristics were found in pregnant and non-pregnant cycles. Regression analysis showed end thickness were not predictive of pregnancy outcomes.
Conclusions
Endometrial characteristics in recipients prior to and following progesterone were not predictive of pregnancy outcomes.