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Influence of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation on uterine peristalsis in infertile women
Human Reproduction, 07/17/2012
Zhu L et al. – Uterine peristalsis was much higher in the COH cycle than in the natural cycle. The endometrial movements did not weaken to the natural level before embryo transfer, even with high levels of progesterone. The wave frequency was positively correlated with serum E2 level and negatively correlated with that of progesterone within the physiological range. No correlation was found between the wave frequency and supraphysiological concentrations of E2 and progesterone.
Methods- Sixty–four infertile women with regular, ovulatory menstrual cycles underwent follicular tracking in one natural cycle and after ovarian stimulation (GnRH–agonist down–regulation) in the subsequent cycle (COH).
- Three time points were studied in both cycles: at LH surge/HCG plus 1 day, ovulation/oocyte retrieval and 2 days after ovulation/retrieval.
- The study was performed in an IVF center of the university–affiliated Xiangya hospital.
- Uterine peristaltic wave frequency was 1.31 times higher in the COH than in the natural cycle (P< 0.01).
- At all three time points in the COH cycle, waves moving from the cervix to fundus dominated, comprising 80–90% of the wave types observed, while ‘no activity’ was more frequently observed in the natural cycle.
- The wave frequency was positively correlated with the level of serum estradiol (E2) (r= 0.30; P< 0.01) and negatively correlated with the progesterone level (r= –0.48; P< 0.01) for the physiological range of steroid levels.
- No correlation was found between the wave frequency and supraphysiological concentrations of E2 or progesterone.