The Impact of Endometrial Compaction on Assisted Reproductive Technology Outcome

April 8, 2024 updated by: Rana Nabil Mohamed Attia, Zagazig University
Absence of endometrial compaction on the day of ET has adverse effects on success of ART outcome.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Detailed Description

Implantation is a complex process which requires coordination and interaction between a blastocyst and the endometrium. Impaired embryo quality or impaired endometrial receptivity may negatively affect this interaction that in turn results in implantation failure (Diedrich et al., 2007). . Successful implantation entails a process of strict synchronization of endometrial and blastocyst development. (Maged et al., 2018).

Despite advancements made since the introduction of assisted reproductive technology (ART), fewer than 40% of ART treatment cycles result in a live birth. Endometrial receptivity remains a crucial rate-limiting step affecting the success of ART treatment. Embryos are thought to be responsible for one-third of implantation failures, whereas the remaining two-thirds result from sub-optimal endometrial receptivity or abnormal embryo-endometrium dialogue.(Craciunas et al., 2019).

There are 3 main methods used to assess endometrial receptivity: endometrial biopsy, hormone profile, and ultrasound imaging.(Lawrenz and Fatemi, 2017). Ultrasound has been established as an appreciated, simple, and non-invasive technique in evaluation of endometrial preparation before embryo transfer in IVF cycles. Several sonographic parameters have been assessed that include endometrial thickness (Ent), endometrial pattern (EnP) and sub-endometrial blood flow.(Kader et al., 2016).

Endometrial thickness (EMT) is the most used prognostic factor for endometrial receptivity during ART (Kasius et al., 2014). Both clinical pregnancy and live birth rates decreased significantly for each millimeter below 8 mm in fresh IVF-ET cycles and below 7 mm frozen ET cycles (Liu et al 2018). Regarding endometrial patterns (Yuan et al., 2016) and vascularization (Ng et al., 2007) data are still contradictory. Increased frequency of contractility prior to embryo transfer was inversely related to clinical pregnancy in fresh and frozen embryo transfer cycles. (Zhu et al., 2014).

Currently, there is an emphasis on a new endometrial parameter called endometrial compaction, which is the decrease in endometrial thickness on the day of ET. In a Study of 274 frozen embryo transfer cycles, patients whose endometrium compacted had a significantly higher ongoing pregnancy rate than patients whose endometrium became thicker or did not change.(Haas et al., 2019).

On the other hand, a large-scale cohort study revealed that an increased endometrium thickness after progesterone administration in FET was associated with better pregnancy outcome.(Bu et al., 2019). The role of endometrial compaction in fresh ART cycles is not yet studied. So, it's better to test its effect on fresh cycles ART outcome.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

356

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 37 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

N/A

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

It will be carried out in the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zagazig University and in a private center.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • All women should have the following:

Aged from 18 - 37 years old. Undergoing fresh ICSI cycles. A normal uterus with no anomalies or pathologies. At least one good-quality embryo/blastocyst available for transfer (3 BB and more according to Gardner and Schoolcraft grading system).

Easy mockup embryo transfer (i.e. the catheter is smoothly inserted without touching the fundus, no cervix tenaculum is used and the catheter is clean of blood).

Exclusion Criteria:

- Younger than 18 or older than 37 years old. Congenital uterine abnormality or pathology. Presence of a hydrosalpinx. Chronic diseases which are not suitable for pregnancy. ICSI cycles with fresh or frozen TESE samples.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Observational Models: Cohort
  • Time Perspectives: Prospective

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
356 case will be enrolled
Pituitary suppression will be achieved by long or antagonist protocol. For long protocol, GnRH agonist will be administered for 10-14 days starting from mid-luteal phase of preceding cycle. After confirmation of down regulation, gonadotropins will be given from second or third day of cycle in a daily dose of (150-300 IU). Gonadotropins therapy will be tailored according to age, BMI, antral follicle count, antimullerian hormone and previous response. In antagonist protocol, gonadotropins will be given from second or third day of cycle in a daily dose of (150-300 IU). GnRH antagonist will be adjusted according to patient response. On the 5th -6th day of stimulation, sonography will be performed and repeated every 1-3 days with regular estradiol assessment. When at least 3 follicles reach ≥ 17 mm in mean diameter, trigger will be given. Oocytes pick up will be performed 34-36 hour after triggering.

Blood sampling:

Serum P4 & estradiol will be performed on the day of triggering and on the day of embryo transfer. Progesterone/ Estradiol (P4/E2) ratio will be calculated Ultrasound: On triggering day, at time of ovum pick up and on ET day, we will measure

  1. Endometrial thickness
  2. Endometrial pattern
  3. Endometrial compaction: the difference in measurement of endometrial thickness between the day of embryo transfer and the day of triggering.
  4. Junctional zone thickness
  5. Uterine contraction (peristalsis).
  6. Blood flow of uterine vessels: PI of the uterine arteries will be calculated also Endometrial - sub endometrial blood flow

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
whether the occurrence of endometrial compaction on the day of embryo transfer has a role in optimizing ongoing pregnancy rate in ART cycles
Time Frame: 2 weeks
Percent of endometrial compaction will be calculated as the difference in measurement of endometrial thickness between the day of embryo transfer and the day of triggering.
2 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: rana nabil, Msc, Zagazig University Hospital

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

January 29, 2021

Primary Completion (Estimated)

May 20, 2024

Study Completion (Estimated)

June 1, 2024

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

January 20, 2021

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 21, 2021

First Posted (Actual)

January 22, 2021

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

April 10, 2024

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 8, 2024

Last Verified

April 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 6549

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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