Impact Of FET Preparation Protocol On Endometrial Peristalsis: A Prospective Cohort Study

Summary

The uterus is a dynamic muscular organ that undergoes rhythmic, wave-like contractions known as endometrial peristalsis or endometrial waves. This muscular activity, which is an essential component of natural fertility, presents a nuanced and sometimes contradictory role in the context of assisted reproductive treatments. Endometrial peristalsis refers to the frequency, amplitude, and pattern of myometrial contractions occurring in different reproductive phases. These peristalsis play vital roles in sperm transport, embryo migration, and implantation. Clinical and imaging studies suggest that abnormal patterns or excessive contractility at the time of embryo transfer may disrupt endometrial-embryo synchrony, impair implantation, and increase miscarriage risk. However, most evidence on endometrial peristalsis pertains to fresh embryo transfer cycles, natural conceptions, or pathological contexts, such as adenomyosis or fibroids, with limited insights regarding its effects on different endometrial preparation protocols in frozen embryo transfer (FET). Understanding the dynamics of endometrial peristalsis in this context is clinically important, as inappropriate contractile activity could physically expel the embryo or create a non-receptive environment, ultimately reducing the chances of live birth. Despite its theoretical significance, there is a paucity of robust, prospective data correlating endometrial peristalsis patterns measured around the time of FET with different endometrial preparation protocols with subsequent pregnancy outcomes.

Conditions

• Infertility
• Endometrial Peristalsis
• Uterine Contraction
• Endometrial Waves
• Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET)
• Uterine Peristalsis

Interventions

OTHER

Endometrial peristalsis and hormone measurements

Time point for measurement Endometrial peristalsis will be assessed at three specific time points: * On the second day to the fourth day of the menstrual cycle in the FET cycles. * The day of progesterone initiation or LH surge/hCG trigger, (before progesterone exposure) * On the day of embryo transfer, immediately prior to the procedure Hormone measurements Serum levels of estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) will be assessed three times, on the same days as the endometrial peristalsis measurements, using electrochemiluminescence immunoassays. (Elecsys® Estradiol III and Elecsys® Progesterone III, Cobas® e 411, Roche Diagnostics, Germany): * On the second day to the fourth day of the menstrual cycle in the FET cycles * The day of progesterone initiation or LH surge/hCG trigger * On the transfer day prior to the procedure.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• My Duc Phu Nhuan Hospital HCMC, Vietnam

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Mỹ Đức Hospital

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Lan N Vuong, MD, PhD · IVFMD and HOPE Research Center, My Duc Hospital

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

42 Years

Sex

FEMALE

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-02-22

Primary Completion

2026-12-01

Completion

2027-12-01

Countries

• Vietnam

Study Locations