role of endometrial-subendometrial blood flow distribution assessed by power doppler in the prediction of pregnancy in women with unexplained infertility undergoing intrauterine insemination

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of endometrial-subendometrial blood flow assessed by power Doppler in the prediction of pregnancy in patients with unexplained infertility undergoing intrauterine insemination in clomiphene citrate induced cycles. Prospective clinical study. University teaching hospital. One hundred thirty five patients with unexplained infertility undergoing intrauterine insemination in clomiphene citrate induced cycles were recruited. Transvaginal ultrasound was performed on the day of Human chorionic gonadotrophin [HCG] administration to determine the uterine artery resistance index [RI] and pulsatility index [PI] by pulsed Doppler and to detect the blood flow in endometrial-subendometrial area by power Doppler. Pregnancy occurred in twenty one patients [21/129] [16%]. The [RI] and [PI] were similar in pregnant group and non pregnant group. Pregnancy occurred in 31% of patients with endometrial and subendometrial flow [7/22], in 19% of patients with subendometrial flow only [13/68] and in 2.5% of patients with absent endometrial and subendometrial flow [1/39]. The detection of the blood flow in the endometrial-subendometrial area by power Doppler may be a useful marker in prediction of pregnancy in patients with unexplained infertility undergoing intrauterine insemination