The effect of endometrial thickness and pattern on pregnancy outcome in IVF / ICSI cycles

The purpose of this study is to reveal the impact of endometrial thickness and endometrial pattern on pregnancy rates, in cases, at least, one grade 1 quality embryo transfer done from IVF and ICSI applied patients. We included the 440 cases into our studies in which at least one grade 1 quality embryo transfer done from IVF or ICSI applied patients in our in vitro fertilization clinic at our hospital between the years 2007 and 2010. The studies’s parameters consisted of the cases’ age, body mass index (BMI), indication, basal FSH levels, endometrial thickness measured on the hCG day and endometrial pattern, applied drug protocol, E2 values on the day of hCG. Pregnancy detection was confirmed 12 days after the transfer by βhCG measuring and ultrasonography of the embryonary sac. Our patients’ avarage age was 30.1± 5.5 (18-45) and pregnancy rate was %46.5. When the cases were classified as pregnant and non pregnant and evaluated, maximum E2 level in pregnants were observed as significantly higher on the day of hCG application (p=0.03<0.05). When we classified the cases according to their endometrial thickness, %10.3 case range between 1-7mm, %87.3 case range between 7.1-14mm and %2.4 is 14+. When we classified the cases according to their ages, 248 of them (%56.4) were 30 and below, 101 (%22.9) were between 31 and 35 and 91 of them (%20.7) were 36 and above. Statistically no significant distinction was observed when age and endometrial thickness comparison was done in subgroups’ pregnancy detection. When multiple logistic regression analysis (model R2=0.0263, p<0.001) was done, age’s effect on pregnancy detection was irrelevant (p=0.158). But, endometrial thickness’s effect was significant (p=0.01). Age and endometrial thickness, both had significant impact on pregnancy together (p=0.031). Endometrial pattern’s effect on pregnancy detection was insignificant. We observed that endometrial thickness as an important parameter affecting the success of IVF cycles. However, the same situation doesn’t apply to the endometrial pattern. Age is one of the most important factors that affecting to conceive. But when the quality of embryos given, age is not the primary factor to become pregnant.