Objective: The knowledge of factors that influence the outcome of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) has increased significantly over time, yet remains insufficient. This prospective study was designed to evaluate whether uterine sonoelastography could be a tool to predict the outcome.
Materials and Methods: Patients who were to undergo the first cycle of IVF treatment were enrolled for 3 months. So-noelastography using acoustic radiation force impulse technology was performed just before the embryo transfer in patients without a uterine abnormality. The association between the sonoelastography measurements and outcomes was evaluated.
Results: This study included 110 patients, with a pregnancy rate of 33.6%. None of the elastography measurements alone had a significant effect on the outcome, however the ratio between the measurements obtained from each half of the poste-rior uterine wall was significantly higher in the women who conceived compared with those who did not (controls) (1.18 vs. 0.96; p=0.01). Multivariate analysis indicated that the ratio was associated with the outcome.
Conclusion: The preliminary results of the study suggest a possible relationship between the posterior uterine wall elasticity index and the outcome of IVF treatment. Further larger studies are needed to confirm this result and to develop an exami-nation protocol.