Ultrasound-Guided Assessment of Endometrial Receptivity
Summary
Endometrial receptivity refers to the transient state of the uterine lining during which it is optimally prepared for embryo implantation. Ultrasound‐guided assessment offers a non‐invasive, real‐time window into morphological and functional changes within the endometrium throughout the menstrual cycle or assisted reproduction protocols. Conventional two‐dimensional transvaginal ultrasound permits measurement of endometrial thickness and echo pattern, while three‐dimensional and Doppler modalities extend evaluation to endometrial volume, peristalsis and vascular supply. More recently, elastography techniques have been applied to gauge tissue stiffness as an indirect marker of stromal decidualisation and perfusion. By integrating multiple sonographic parameters into structured scoring systems or predictive models, clinicians can individualise timing of embryo transfer, adapt hormonal regimens and identify suboptimal endometrial conditions before implantation. This approach has led to improved clinical outcomes in hormone replacement therapy–frozen embryo transfer cycles, personalised fresh IVF transfers and investigations of unexplained infertility. Ultrasound‐based metrics continue to evolve alongside advancements in image processing, three‐dimensional reconstruction and quantitative Doppler indices, underscoring their global value in infertility management and reproductive research.
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Ultrasound-Guided Assessment of Endometrial Receptivity publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in ultrasound-guided assessment of endometrial receptivity across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Endometrial receptivity: The period during which the uterine lining is optimally primed for embryo attachment and invasion.
Transvaginal ultrasound: A sonographic technique placing the probe within the vagina to obtain high‐resolution images of pelvic organs.
Power Doppler ultrasonography: A Doppler mode sensitive to low‐velocity blood flow, used to visualise endometrial and subendometrial vascularity.
Shear wave elastography: An imaging method that quantifies tissue stiffness by measuring the velocity of induced shear waves.
Endometrial volume: Three‐dimensional measurement of the uterine lining, offering a volumetric index of endometrial development.
References
- Pregnancy prediction via ultrasound-detected endometrial blood for hormone replacement therapy-frozen embryo transfer: a prospective observational study. Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology (2023).
- Evaluation of endometrial receptivity in women with unexplained infertility by shear wave elastography. Insights into Imaging (2024).
- An endometrial receptivity scoring system basing on the endometrial thickness, volume, echo, peristalsis, and blood flow evaluated by ultrasonography. Frontiers in Endocrinology (2022).
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