ABSTRACT
Introduction: Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is the first line of treatment in assisted reproductive technology. Oocyte quality and endometrial thickness are the main predictors of IUI pregnancy outcomes. Materials and Methods: thirty-one infertile polycystic ovarian syndrome women were enrolled in this study. All study cases were subjected to either administration of clomiphene citrate only or combination of clomiphene citrate and injectable follicle-stimulating hormone protocols. Pre-ovulatory estradiol2 (E2) levels, pre-ovulatory endometrial thickness, and number of dominant follicles were measured. Results: Significant relationship was between age and number of dominant follicles (p=0.0001). Significant relationship was between number of dominant follicles and pre-ovulatory endometrial thickness (p=0.0001). No significant increase was in mean pre-ovulatory E2levels in age group women (≤32 years) compared to age group women (>32 years) (p=0.384). Significant effect of pre-ovulatory E2 levels were on endometrial thickness and number of dominant follicles (p=0.0382, p=0.0377, respectively). Significant correlation was between the three factors age, pre-ovulatory E2, and number of dominant follicles (p=0.0297). No significant correlation was between the three factors age, pre-ovulatory E2 levels, and endometrial thickness (p=0.081). Conclusions: age and pre-ovulatory E2 levels had considerable impacts on number of dominant follicles and endometrial thickness and consequently affected IUI outcomes.