The effect of hysteroscopy and conventional curretage versus no hysteroscopy on live birth rates in recurrent in vitro fertilisation failure: a retrospective cohort study from a single referral centre experience

Abstract

This retrospective cohort study aimed to evaluate the effect of hysteroscopy and endometrial scratching (ES) in patients with recurrent implantation failure (RIF) who do not have an intracavity pathology. The authors retrospectively collected data of patients between 2014 and 2019 from a single centre. The study analysed 350 unexplained RIF patients, of whom, 225 underwent hysteroscopy and endometrial scratching, and 125 did not have a hysteroscopy prior to an IVF cycle. Pregnancy rates among post endometrial scratching and no endometrial scratching cycles were 35.6% versus 27.2%, (p = .048), clinical pregnancy rates were 32.9% versus 21.6% (p = .026) and live birth rates were 26.2% versus 19.2% (p = .039). Although it is not possible to distinguish whether hysteroscopy or injury is effective in improving live birth results, the authors thought that endometrial injury with gentle conventional curettage is effective in patients with recurrent implantation failure.

IMPACT STATEMENT

• What is already known on this subject? Hysteroscopy and endometrial injury improve pregnancy outcomes in IVF cycles, but definitive conclusions have been uncertain.

• What do the results of this study add? The study showed that endometrial injury with gentle conventional curettage during hysteroscopy significantly improved the pregnancy rates of RIF patients compared to the non-hysteroscopy group.

• What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? In cases of recurrent implantation failure, even if hysteroscopy findings are normal, endometrial scratching in the follicular phase increases pregnancy rates compared to the non-hysteroscopy group.

Keywords:

• Hysteroscopy
• IVF
• recurrent implantation failure
• endometrial scratching

Author contributions

Acet F, Sahin G, and Tavmergen Goker EN: designed the study; Acet F wrote the manuscript and collected the data; Tavmergen E: revised manuscript critically and supervision. All authors approved the final version of the work to be published and are in agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).