Endometrial thickness and IVF cycle outcomes: a meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Medicine
• In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
• Clinical Embryology

Background:

• Endometrial thickness (EMT) is a critical factor in successful embryo implantation.
• Understanding the association between EMT and IVF outcomes is crucial for patient counseling and treatment optimization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a meta-analysis evaluating the association between endometrial thickness (EMT) and various cycle outcomes following In Vitro Fertilization (IVF).
• To assess how study and individual characteristics modify the relationship between EMT and IVF success rates.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was performed across PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library up to December 2018.
• Included studies evaluated associations between EMT and pregnancy, implantation, miscarriage, live birth, ongoing pregnancy, and ectopic pregnancy rates after IVF.
• Pooled odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated using a random-effects model.

Main Results:

• The meta-analysis included 30 studies encompassing 88,056 IVF cycles.
• Lower EMT was significantly associated with lower pregnancy rates (OR 0.61) and implantation rates (OR 0.49).
• Reduced live birth or ongoing pregnancy rates were observed in women with lower EMT (OR 0.60), while no significant association was found with miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy rates.

Conclusions:

• Lower endometrial thickness is a significant predictor of reduced pregnancy, implantation, and live birth rates in IVF cycles.
• These findings underscore the importance of endometrial receptivity in the success of assisted reproductive technologies.