Optimal Timing of Transvaginal Ultrasound to Diagnose Endometrial Polyps in Women with Abnormal Uterine Bleeding

Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) is the most common symptom of the endometrial polyps in fertile and postmenopausal women. This study aimed to determine the optimal time to perform a transvaginal ultrasound to diagnose endometrial polyps in the women with abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB).

This descriptive study from the category of a follow-up study was conducted on 350 a group of fertile women with AUB that referred to a women's clinic in Jahrom, Southern Iran. The women with abnormal uterine bleeding at the women's clinic underwent transvaginal sonography. The research included patients who had endometrial polyps discovered during the sonography. Transvaginal sonography was performed on each patient once in the luteal and once in the follicular phases. A hysteroscopy was then conducted in order to get an accurate diagnosis. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS software version 18. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to determine the optimal time to perform the ultrasound to diagnose endometrial polyps.

Among the women in the study, 88.8% (310 participants) were multiparous, and endometrial polyps were detected in 47.4% (166 patients) with the transvaginal sonography of the women. Finally, endometrial polyps were confirmed for 107 patients (64.45%) with hysteroscopy. ROC curve analysis showed that the optimal time to diagnose the endometrial polyps with transvaginal ultrasound was on days 11-13 of the menstrual cycle during the follicular phase, with a sensitivity of 82.5% and a specificity of 73%.

By designating days 11-13 of the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle as the ideal time to utilize transvaginal ultrasound for the purpose of diagnosing endometrial lesions, it is possible to reduce errors and enhance the accessibility of treatment and diagnosis. This study provides essential information for clinicians to identify the endometrial polyps in the women with AUB.