Preliminary report of an ultrasonography and colour Doppler uterine score to predict uterine receptivity in an in-vitro fertilization programme

A total of 96 women undergoing in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment wereexamined by transvaginal ultrasonography with colour and pulsed Dopplerultrasound on the 22nd day of the menstrual cycle preceding IVF. Weassessed endometrial thickness, endometrial morphology, myometrialechogenicity, subendometrial vascularization, the uterine arterypulsatility index, protodiastolic notch and end diastolic blood flow inorder to define a uterine score which could be correlated with thepregnancy rate. The overall pregnancy rate was 30.2%, and there was nodifference between the pregnant and non-pregnant groups with regard to anyof the ultrasonographic and Doppler parameters when examined separately.However, the uterine score was significantly higher in the pregnant group(15.9 +/- 2.81 versus 12.7 +/- 5.3, P = 0.002; t-test). No pregnancyoccurred if the score was between 0 and 10. With a score of 11-15 there wasa 34.7% chance of pregnancy, and scores >16 had a 42% chance ofpregnancy. In conclusion, individual ultrasonographic and Dopplerparameters are not of sufficient accuracy to predict uterine receptivity.The uterine score calculated prior to IVF cycles appears to be a usefulpredictor of implantation.