Research Article | | Peer-Reviewed

Evaluation of Endometrial Receptivity in Unexplained Infertility After Clomiphene Citrate by Shear Wave Elastography

Received: 10 October 2024     Accepted: 28 October 2024     Published: 22 November 2024
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Abstract

Objective: This study utilized shear wave elastography (SWE) to evaluate endometrial receptivity (ER) in cases of unexplained infertility (UI) following treatment with clomiphene citrate (CC). The aim was to establish a reliable imaging reference for clinical treatment. Methods: This investigation encompassed 68 patients with UI who attended our hospital from October 2023 to May 2024. Participants were allocated to either a CC group (28 participants) or a normal control (NC) group (40 participants) according to the treatment protocols they followed. During the LP phase (days 13-16) and the MP phase (6-9 days post-ovulation), both groups underwent transvaginal ultrasound and SWE assessments. The evaluated parameters included endometrial thickness (EMT), uterine artery parameters (UA-PI, UA-RI, UA-S/D), average endometrial elasticity (E-mean), and mean shear wave velocity (SWV-mean). Additionally, clinical pregnancy outcomes were tracked. Results: Significant variations were observed between the CC and NC groups in E-mean, SWV-mean, EMT, UA-PI, UA-RI, and UA-S/D during both evaluated phases, with statistical significance (P<0.05). Nevertheless, there were no significant variations found in clinical pregnancy rates among the groups (P>0.05). Significant statistical differences were observed in E- mean and SWV-mean between pregnant and non-pregnant patients within each group (P<0.05). Conclusions: After CC treatment, the endometrium in UI patients showed decreased thickness, increased hardness, reduced blood flow, and increased difficulty in implantation. Despite these effects, CC did not significantly impact clinical pregnancy rates. Future studies should expand the sample size to determine the threshold of endometrial hardness that optimally balances its effects.

Published in Clinical Medicine Research (Volume 13, Issue 6)
DOI 10.11648/j.cmr.20241306.11
Page(s) 68-76
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Clomiphene Citrate, Endometrial Receptivity, Shear Wave Elastography, Unexplained Infertility

References
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    He, M., Li, Z., Lu, C., Xie, T., Cui, L., et al. (2024). Evaluation of Endometrial Receptivity in Unexplained Infertility After Clomiphene Citrate by Shear Wave Elastography. Clinical Medicine Research, 13(6), 68-76. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cmr.20241306.11

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    ACS Style

    He, M.; Li, Z.; Lu, C.; Xie, T.; Cui, L., et al. Evaluation of Endometrial Receptivity in Unexplained Infertility After Clomiphene Citrate by Shear Wave Elastography. Clin. Med. Res. 2024, 13(6), 68-76. doi: 10.11648/j.cmr.20241306.11

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    AMA Style

    He M, Li Z, Lu C, Xie T, Cui L, et al. Evaluation of Endometrial Receptivity in Unexplained Infertility After Clomiphene Citrate by Shear Wave Elastography. Clin Med Res. 2024;13(6):68-76. doi: 10.11648/j.cmr.20241306.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.cmr.20241306.11,
      author = {Mei He and Zheng-ying Li and Cai Lu and Tao Xie and Li-qing Cui and Hui Wang},
      title = {Evaluation of Endometrial Receptivity in Unexplained Infertility After Clomiphene Citrate by Shear Wave Elastography
    },
      journal = {Clinical Medicine Research},
      volume = {13},
      number = {6},
      pages = {68-76},
      doi = {10.11648/j.cmr.20241306.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cmr.20241306.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.cmr.20241306.11},
      abstract = {Objective: This study utilized shear wave elastography (SWE) to evaluate endometrial receptivity (ER) in cases of unexplained infertility (UI) following treatment with clomiphene citrate (CC). The aim was to establish a reliable imaging reference for clinical treatment. Methods: This investigation encompassed 68 patients with UI who attended our hospital from October 2023 to May 2024. Participants were allocated to either a CC group (28 participants) or a normal control (NC) group (40 participants) according to the treatment protocols they followed. During the LP phase (days 13-16) and the MP phase (6-9 days post-ovulation), both groups underwent transvaginal ultrasound and SWE assessments. The evaluated parameters included endometrial thickness (EMT), uterine artery parameters (UA-PI, UA-RI, UA-S/D), average endometrial elasticity (E-mean), and mean shear wave velocity (SWV-mean). Additionally, clinical pregnancy outcomes were tracked. Results: Significant variations were observed between the CC and NC groups in E-mean, SWV-mean, EMT, UA-PI, UA-RI, and UA-S/D during both evaluated phases, with statistical significance (P0.05). Significant statistical differences were observed in E- mean and SWV-mean between pregnant and non-pregnant patients within each group (P<0.05). Conclusions: After CC treatment, the endometrium in UI patients showed decreased thickness, increased hardness, reduced blood flow, and increased difficulty in implantation. Despite these effects, CC did not significantly impact clinical pregnancy rates. Future studies should expand the sample size to determine the threshold of endometrial hardness that optimally balances its effects.
    },
     year = {2024}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Evaluation of Endometrial Receptivity in Unexplained Infertility After Clomiphene Citrate by Shear Wave Elastography
    
    AU  - Mei He
    AU  - Zheng-ying Li
    AU  - Cai Lu
    AU  - Tao Xie
    AU  - Li-qing Cui
    AU  - Hui Wang
    Y1  - 2024/11/22
    PY  - 2024
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cmr.20241306.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.cmr.20241306.11
    T2  - Clinical Medicine Research
    JF  - Clinical Medicine Research
    JO  - Clinical Medicine Research
    SP  - 68
    EP  - 76
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2326-9057
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cmr.20241306.11
    AB  - Objective: This study utilized shear wave elastography (SWE) to evaluate endometrial receptivity (ER) in cases of unexplained infertility (UI) following treatment with clomiphene citrate (CC). The aim was to establish a reliable imaging reference for clinical treatment. Methods: This investigation encompassed 68 patients with UI who attended our hospital from October 2023 to May 2024. Participants were allocated to either a CC group (28 participants) or a normal control (NC) group (40 participants) according to the treatment protocols they followed. During the LP phase (days 13-16) and the MP phase (6-9 days post-ovulation), both groups underwent transvaginal ultrasound and SWE assessments. The evaluated parameters included endometrial thickness (EMT), uterine artery parameters (UA-PI, UA-RI, UA-S/D), average endometrial elasticity (E-mean), and mean shear wave velocity (SWV-mean). Additionally, clinical pregnancy outcomes were tracked. Results: Significant variations were observed between the CC and NC groups in E-mean, SWV-mean, EMT, UA-PI, UA-RI, and UA-S/D during both evaluated phases, with statistical significance (P0.05). Significant statistical differences were observed in E- mean and SWV-mean between pregnant and non-pregnant patients within each group (P<0.05). Conclusions: After CC treatment, the endometrium in UI patients showed decreased thickness, increased hardness, reduced blood flow, and increased difficulty in implantation. Despite these effects, CC did not significantly impact clinical pregnancy rates. Future studies should expand the sample size to determine the threshold of endometrial hardness that optimally balances its effects.
    
    VL  - 13
    IS  - 6
    ER  - 

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