The effect of endometrial scratch on natural-cycle cryopreserved embryo transfer outcomes: a randomized controlled study

Abstract

The benefit of endometrial scratch (ES) prior to embryo transfer is controversial. Systemic analysis has confirmed its potential benefit, especially in women with repeated IVF failures, yet most studies have focused on fresh embryo transfer, and its effect on vitrified-warmed embryo transfer (FET) cycles is yet to be explored. We hereby present our prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled study on the evaluation of the implantation and pregnancy rate after ES prior to natural-cycle FET. A total of 299 patients underwent natural-cycle FET and were randomized to receive ES (n = 115) or endocervical manipulation as control (n = 114) prior to FET cycle, and a total of 196 patients had embryo transfer (93 patients in each group). Our study showed no significant difference in the implantation and pregnancy rate, as well as the clinical and ongoing pregnancy or live birth rates between the two groups. It appears that ES does not have any beneficial effect on an unselected group of women undergoing FET in natural cycles. Further studies on its effect in women with recurrent implantation failure after IVF are warranted.

Effect of endometrial injury during menstruation on clinical outcomes in frozen–thawed embryo transfer cycles: A randomized control trial

“…It has been known that EI can remove irregular hyperplasia of endometrial tissue, promote epithelial cells, stromal cells proliferation and differentiation, and enrich the endometrial blood flow . Up to now, there were six trials focusing on the effect of EI in luteal phase prior to frozen–thawed ET cycle . The results of these trials seem contradictive to each other and no firm conclusion can be made whether performing EI in luteal phase of the subsequent frozen–thawed ET cycle is beneficial.…”

“…8 Up to now, there were six trials focusing on the effect of EI in luteal phase prior to frozen-thawed ET cycle. [17][18][19][28][29][30] The results of these trials seem contradictive to each other and no firm conclusion can be made whether performing EI in luteal phase of the subsequent frozenthawed ET cycle is beneficial. Among the studies, only one study focused on the effect of EI in luteal phase before a frozen-thawed ET cycle on live birth rate.…”

“…The effect of EI before using frozen–thawed ET cycles has not been well explored. With limited proceeding studies, it seems like EI did not have any beneficial effects on an unselected group of women undergoing frozen–thawed ET . However, Kanazawa et al .…”

“…With limited proceeding studies, it seems like EI did not have any beneficial effects on an unselected group of women undergoing frozen-thawed ET. 18,19 However, Kanazawa et al suggested that EI had a positive effect on pregnancy rate prior to frozen-thawed ET cycles in patients suffered repeated implantation failures (RIF). 20 Current studies in the field mainly focused on performing EI in luteal phase prior to frozen-thawed ET.…”

The Analysis of Fertility Quality of Life and the Influencing Factors of Patients with Repeated Implantation Failure

“…Recurrent implantation failure (RIF) refers to failure to conceive after three or more in vitro fertilisation (IVF), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles embryo transfer cycles, frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles or four or more highquality embryos transplantation [2] . The incidence of RIF reaches 5% -10% during IVF/ICSI assisted pregnancy treatment [3] . RIF causes heavy nancial burden and mental stress on patients and families and affects the quality of their lives [4] .…”