[A study on relationship between functional sterility and ultrasonographic endometrial images]

By means of vaginal ultrasonography 38 cases with functional sterility were investigated. Ultrasonographic endometrial thickness and texture, along with the maximum follicle diameter, serum estradiol and progesterone levels were measured in connection with the outcome of treatment for sterility. Endometrial texture was classified into 4 types: even-hypoechoic (P1) and mixed (P2) in late proliferative and even-echogenic (S1) and mixed (S2) in mid-secretory phases. Histological findings were also compared with ultrasonographic images and the following results were obtained. 1. Endometrial thickness and outcome of sterility. 1) Endometrial thickness in mid-proliferative and mid-secretory phases was 9.7 +/- 1.4 mm (mean +/- SD) and 13.9 +/- 1.7, respectively, in a group with good prognosis, while it was 6.7 +/- 1.8 and 10.1 +/- 2.2 in a poor prognosis group. The endometrium was significantly thinner in the latter group than in the former (p less than 0.05). 2) No. difference was found in estradiol, progesterone levels or the maximum diameter of the follicle. 2. Endometrial texture and outcome of sterility. 1) The outcome was identical in both groups whether the endometrium in late proliferative phase was of the even-hypoechoic or of the mixed type. 2) In the mid-secretory phase, comparison of patients where endometrium was of the even-echogenic type (S1) with those who had the mixed type (S2), revealed clearly poorer prognosis in the latter (p less than 0.05). 3) Serum estrogen and progesterone levels were not significantly different in any endometrial patterns and no connection was found between endometrial textures and the hormonal levels. 3. Histological findings in cases where mixed pattern endometrium was observed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)