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Endometrial ultrasound parameters predict pregnancy after frozen embryo transfer in infertile patientsUltrasound features may help predict pregnancy after frozen embryo transfer

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Key Takeaway
Consider this nomogram as a preliminary tool for predicting pregnancy after FET, but note it requires external validation.

This single-center cohort study developed a nomogram to predict clinical pregnancy following frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) in 218 infertile patients. The population was split into a training cohort (n=154) and a validation cohort (n=64). The model assessed endometrial ultrasound parameters before FET, including thickness, resistance index (RI), systolic/diastolic velocity (S/D), uterine peristalsis direction, and frequency.

Endometrial thickness (ET), RI, S/D, uterine peristalsis direction, and frequency were identified as independent predictors. The odds ratios were: ET OR = 1.315 (P = 0.037); RI OR = 0.014 (P = 0.027); S/D OR = 0.531 (P = 0.047); UP direction OR = 0.598 (P = 0.022); UP frequency OR = 0.653 (P = 0.039). The nomogram demonstrated good discrimination with an AUC of 0.828 and satisfactory calibration (Hosmer–Lemeshow P = 0.91).

No adverse events, serious adverse events, discontinuations, or tolerability data were reported. Key limitations include the single-center design, modest sample size, and uncertainty about whether the validation cohort was truly external or temporal. The practice relevance is that the nomogram provides a non-invasive tool for individualized decision-making to predict pregnancy possibility after FET.

This is a prediction model study identifying associations; it does not establish causation. The model requires further validation in larger, preferably external, cohorts before widespread clinical adoption.

Researchers developed a prediction model to estimate the likelihood of clinical pregnancy after frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET). The study included 218 infertile patients split into training and validation groups. They assessed common ultrasound measures before transfer, including endometrial thickness, blood flow resistance, and the direction and frequency of uterine contractions.

Several features were linked to pregnancy outcomes: thicker endometrium was associated with higher odds, while higher resistance and certain contraction patterns were linked to lower odds. The model showed good discrimination in the training set (AUC 0.828) and fit the data well, but these findings need confirmation in larger, independent groups.

This was a single-center study with a modest sample size, and it is unclear whether the validation was truly external or over time. The model has not been compared with existing approaches, and it does not prove that changing these ultrasound measures would alter pregnancy rates. For now, it suggests that routine ultrasound information may help personalize expectations after FET.

What this means for you:
A new ultrasound-based model may help estimate pregnancy chances after frozen embryo transfer, but it needs independent validation.

Study Details

Study typeCohort
EvidenceLevel 3
PublishedApr 2026
View Original Abstract ↓
ObjectiveTo develop and validate a multivariable logistic regression prediction model integrating ultrasound-based determinants influencing clinical pregnancy outcomes following frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) and to establish a clinically applicable prediction model integrating morphological and functional endometrial parameters.MethodsThis study conducted uterine endometrium ultrasound evaluations on 325 infertile patients before transplantation. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 107 infertile women were excluded, and 218 patients were included in the subsequent analysis. To ensure robust model evaluation and adhere to TRIPOD guidelines, the 218 participants were randomly split into a training cohort (n=154, ~70%) for model development and an validation cohort (n=64, ~30%) for performance assessment. Baseline characteristics, hormone levels, and ultrasound parameters were compared between the two groups. Univariate analysis, collinearity diagnosis, and multivariate logistic regression was utilized to determine independent predictors and construct a nomogram. A nomogram model was constructed in the training cohort and validated in the independent validation cohort, supplemented by1,000 bootstrap iterations. The performance of the model was assessed through discrimination, calibration, decision curve analysis (DCA), and clinical impact curves (CIC).ResultsMultivariate analysis identified endometrial thickness (ET; OR = 1.315, P = 0.037) on the day before transfer, resistance index (RI; OR = 0.014, P = 0.027), systolic velocity/diastolic velocity (S/D; OR = 0.531, P = 0.047), uterine peristalsis (UP) direction (OR = 0.598, P = 0.022), and UP frequency (OR = 0.653, P = 0.039) as independent predictors of pregnancy outcomes. The nomogram demonstrated good discrimination (AUC = 0.828) and satisfactory calibration (Hosmer–Lemeshow P = 0.91). DCA shows that the model has a net clinical benefit in the probability range of 10% to 80%, and the CIC plot confirmed excellent concordance between predicted and observed pregnancy probability.ConclusionThe developed nomogram exhibits strong performance and clinical utility in predicting the possibility of pregnancy following FET, providing a non-invasive and practical tool for individualized clinical decision-making.
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