OC072: Assessment of endometrial and ovarian characteristics using 3‐D power Doppler ultrasound to predict response in frozen embryo transfer cycles

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate whether endometrial or ovarian parameters as measured using 3-D power Doppler ultrasound can predict the outcome in frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles. Methods: 30 women with no known gynecological pathology (e.g. endometriosis, fibroids, any operation to gynecological organs) undergoing FET were recruited. FET was carried out in natural menstrual cycle 3–4 days after the first positive LH test result. A transvaginal 3-D ultrasound examination (Voluson Expert 730, Kretz Zipf, Austria) was performed on the day of FET and repeated about one week later, at the time of expected implantation. The outcome measures were endometrial pattern, thickness, volume, vascularization index (VI), subendometrial volume and VI, dominant and non-dominant ovarian volume and VI. The subendometrial region was considered to be 5 mm beneath the border between endometrium and myometrium. At the second visit no power Doppler was used to examine the endometrium. Results: The demographic, clinical and embryological characteristic were similar between pregnant (15/30) and nonpregnant groups (15/30) (Table). There were no differences between the groups in endometrial/subendometrial thickness, volume or VI. The endometrial triple line pattern was more often present in the pregnant group on the day of FET (93.3% vs. 40.0%, 95% CI 25.5–81.2%). No differences in the ovaries were observed on the day of FET (Table). At the second visit the triple line pattern was also more often present in those patients who conceived (91.7% vs. 42.9%, 95% CI 18.5–79.1%), but still no differences were observed in the dominant ovarian vasculature (Table). Conclusions: According to our results, measurement of power Doppler indices using 3-D ultrasound on the day of FET does not provide us any additional information concerning the outcome of the cycle. The existence of triple line pattern on the day of FET seems to be prognostic sign of a prosperous outcome after FET.