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Article| Volume 43, ISSUE 3, P553-560, September 2021

Endometrial thickness in the prediction of neonatal adverse outcomes in frozen cycles for singleton pregnancies

  • Author Footnotes
    # Contributed equally.
    Kai-Lun Hu
    Footnotes
    # Contributed equally.
    Affiliations
    Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Ministry of Education) and Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou Zhejiang 310006, PR China

    Key Laboratory of Women's Reproductive Health of Zhejiang Province
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  • Author Footnotes
    # Contributed equally.
    Andrew Kawai
    Footnotes
    # Contributed equally.
    Affiliations
    Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Clayton Victoria, Australia
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  • Sarah Hunt
    Affiliations
    Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Clayton Victoria, Australia
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  • Wentao Li
    Affiliations
    Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Clayton Victoria, Australia
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  • Xiaohong Li
    Affiliations
    Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, West China Second University Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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  • Runjv Zhang
    Affiliations
    Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Ministry of Education) and Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou Zhejiang 310006, PR China
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  • Yanjun Hu
    Affiliations
    Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Ministry of Education) and Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou Zhejiang 310006, PR China
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  • Huijuan Gao
    Affiliations
    Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Ministry of Education) and Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou Zhejiang 310006, PR China
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  • Yimin Zhu
    Affiliations
    Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Ministry of Education) and Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou Zhejiang 310006, PR China
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  • Lanfeng Xing
    Affiliations
    Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Ministry of Education) and Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou Zhejiang 310006, PR China
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  • Ben W. Mol
    Affiliations
    Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Clayton Victoria, Australia
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  • Dan Zhang
    Correspondence
    Corresponding author.
    Affiliations
    Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Ministry of Education) and Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou Zhejiang 310006, PR China

    Key Laboratory of Women's Reproductive Health of Zhejiang Province
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  • Daniel L. Rolnik
    Affiliations
    Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Clayton Victoria, Australia
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  • Author Footnotes
    # Contributed equally.
Published:April 24, 2021DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rbmo.2021.04.014

      Abstract

      Research question

      Does endometrial thickness (EMT) predict adverse neonatal outcomes in singleton pregnancies after in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) frozen embryo transfer (FET)?

      Design

      This retrospective study involved 13,383 women undergoing IVF/ICSI FET cycles between January 2010 and December 2018 in Women's Hospital of Zhejiang University. The primary outcome was preterm delivery (PTD). The secondary outcomes were small for gestational age (SGA), large for gestational age (LGA) and low birthweight (LBW).

      Results

      A total of 13,383 FET cycles resulting in 5220 singleton live births and 8163 failed cycles were included. Multiple spline regression visualization showed an increasing risk of PTD and LBW for a thin EMT. By comparing multiple cut-off points using area under the curve, a cut-off point of 8 mm was identified, which was used to categorize EMT. A reference point of EMT greater than 8 mm was used; after adjusting for covariates, individuals with EMT less than 8 mm had an adjusted odds ratio of 1.75 (95% CI 1.30 to 2.34) for PTD, 1.57 (95% CI 1.09 to 2.26) for LBW, 0.97 (95% CI 0.63 to 1.50) for SGA and 1.04 (95% CI 0.79 to 1.37) for LGA. Additional analyses showed similar increasing risk with a thin endometrium for both PTD with and without caesarean section, and PTD with low and normal birthweight percentiles.

      Conclusion

      A clinical cut-off point of 8 mm has been identified, below which risk of PTD and LBW increases in women undergoing IVF/ICSI.

      KEYWORDS

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      Biography

      Andrew Kawai is a medical student at Monash University and has an interest in applying machine learning and statistical methodology to obstetrics and gynaecology. He is a strong believer in evidence-based practice.
      Key message
      A clinical cut-off point of 8 mm of endometrial thickness has been identified, below which the risk of preterm delivery and low birthweight increases in women undergoing IVF and intracytoplasmic sperm injection.