Mean Endometrial Thickness and Size of Dominant Follicle on Transvaginal Sonography after Letrozole-Stimulated Cycles of Infertile Women

Abstract

Objective: To find both the mean and dominant follicle size in transvaginal sonography and mean endometrial thickness following the letrozole stimulated cycles in infertile women.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study done in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of a tertiary care hospital in a period of more than 6 months. A sample of 144 infertile women who underwent ovulation induction using letrozole by non-probability consecutive sampling into the age range of 20-40 years. Women those having uterine anomaly, ovarian cysts, endometriosis, hyperprolactinemia, thyroid problems, male-factor infertility or those with prior surgery on the ovaries were excluded. Letrozole was administered orally on the 2nd to 6th day of the menstrual cycle. Serially starting at day 10, transvaginal sonography was done to determine follicular growth, and endometrial thickness. The largest follicle with a minimum of 18 mm in the midsagittal plane was considered to be the dominant follicle and the maximum double-layer thickness of the endometrium was measured. Data Analysis SPSS 25 was used to analyze data.

Results: The average age was 29.1+-4.8. The 91 women who had primary infertility (63.2%). The average endometrial thickness measured after the stimulation with letrozole was 8.6+-1.5mm and the average largest follicle size was 20.3+-2.1mm. It was observed that a trilaminar pattern of the endometria is present in 101 women (70.1%). Sufficient follicular reaction was realized in 118 women (81.9%).

Conclusion: Letrozole-stimulated cycles showed good endometrial thickness and dominant follicle sizes in infertile women. Transvaginal sonography continued to play a vital role in the monitoring of follicular maturity and endometrial response.