Effect of Endometrial Thickness on IVF Outcome

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Although many studies have evaluated the relationship between endometrial thickness and IVF outcome, the results are still controversial. We notice that, during our daily work, for patients undergoing cleavage stage embryo transfer, endometrial thickness seems to have a huge impact on IVF outcome; however, for blastocyst stage embryo transfers, IVF outcome seems to have little association with endometrial thickness. Thus, the aim of this prospective observational study is to explore the relationship between endometrial thickness and IVF outcome in patients undergoing cleavage stage and blastocyst stage embryo transfers, respectively.

Official Title
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Effect of Endometrial Thickness on IVF Outcome: a Prospective Observational Study of Both Cleavage Stage and Blastocyst Stage Embryo Transfer Cycles

Conditions
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Infertility

Intervention / Treatment
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* Procedure: Embryo transfer


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: age between 22-38 years old; the first cycle of IVF treatment with standard long protocol; transfrred with at least two high quality cleavage stage embryos, or with at least one high quality blastocyst stage embryo. Exclusion Criteria: PGD cycles; gamete donation cycles

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 22 Years
Maximum Age: 38 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Cleavage stage-thin endometrial<br>Patients transferred with cleavage stage embryo, with endometrial thickness ≤7mm on the day of HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) administration for fresh cycles, or on the day starting to use progesterone for frozen thawed cycles. | Procedure: Embryo transfer<br>* For fresh cycles, embryos were transferred 3-5 days after oocyte retrieval; For frozen thawed cycles, embryos were transferred 3-5 days after starting to use progesterone based on the stage of cryopreservation.<br>|
| Cleavage stage-medium endometrial<br>Patients transferred with cleavage stage embryo, with endometrial thickness 8-13mm on the day of HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) administration for fresh cycles, or on the day starting to use progesterone for frozen thawed cycles. | Procedure: Embryo transfer<br>* For fresh cycles, embryos were transferred 3-5 days after oocyte retrieval; For frozen thawed cycles, embryos were transferred 3-5 days after starting to use progesterone based on the stage of cryopreservation.<br>|
| Cleavage stage-thick endometrial<br>Patients transferred with cleavage stage embryo, with endometrial thickness ≥14mm on the day of HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) administration for fresh cycles, or on the day starting to use progesterone for frozen thawed cycles. | Procedure: Embryo transfer<br>* For fresh cycles, embryos were transferred 3-5 days after oocyte retrieval; For frozen thawed cycles, embryos were transferred 3-5 days after starting to use progesterone based on the stage of cryopreservation.<br>|
| Blastocyst stage-thin endometrial<br>Patients transferred with blastocyst stage embryo, with endometrial thickness ≤7mm on the day of HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) administration for fresh cycles, or on the day starting to use progesterone for frozen thawed cycles. | Procedure: Embryo transfer<br>* For fresh cycles, embryos were transferred 3-5 days after oocyte retrieval; For frozen thawed cycles, embryos were transferred 3-5 days after starting to use progesterone based on the stage of cryopreservation.<br>|
| Blastocyst stage-medium endometrial<br>Patients transferred with blastocyst stage embryo, with endometrial thickness 8-13mm on the day of HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) administration for fresh cycles, or on the day starting to use progesterone for frozen thawed cycles. | Procedure: Embryo transfer<br>* For fresh cycles, embryos were transferred 3-5 days after oocyte retrieval; For frozen thawed cycles, embryos were transferred 3-5 days after starting to use progesterone based on the stage of cryopreservation.<br>|
| Blastocyst stage-thick endometrial<br>Patients transferred with blastocyst stage embryo, with endometrial thickness ≥14mm on the day of HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) administration for fresh cycles, or on the day starting to use progesterone for frozen thawed cycles. | Procedure: Embryo transfer<br>* For fresh cycles, embryos were transferred 3-5 days after oocyte retrieval; For frozen thawed cycles, embryos were transferred 3-5 days after starting to use progesterone based on the stage of cryopreservation.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ongoing pregnancy rate | An ongoing pregnancy was defined as a pregnancy with a positive heartbeat by ultrasound after 12 weeks gestation. | 12 weeks after embryo transfer | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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IVF, endometrial thickness, cleavage stage embryo, blastocyst stage embryo, Ongoing pregnancy rate