Evaluation of the effect of endometrial scratch by hysteroscopic scissors on frozen embryo transfer outcomes: A historical cohort study

 Endometrial scratch (ES) has been suggested to improve assisted reproductive techniques success rates by investigating implantation failure.

 In this study, we evaluated the effect of ES on the outcomes of frozen embryo transfer (FET) in women with at least 2 failed embryo transfer cycles.

 In this historical cohort study, medical data of 236 infertile women who underwent in-vitro fertilization-FET at Ebne-sina Infertility Center, Tehran, Iran, from January 2015-December 2021 was extracted from their medical records. Based on having ES before FET, they were assigned to either the scratch (n = 118) or the no-scratch group (n = 118). We compared these groups regarding pregnancy rates and outcomes.

 The demographic characteristics were similar in both groups regarding weight, body mass index, the number of previous embryo transfers, and the duration of infertility. However, the scratch group had a slightly higher mean age (32.31 vs. 29.96 yr, p < 0.001). No statistically significant difference was observed between groups regarding pregnancy rate (p = 0.89). No significant association was observed between scratch, infertility duration, the number of previous FET attempts, and the likelihood of pregnancy in a logistic regression model. No major complications were observed.

 Hysteroscopic endometrial scratching with scissors probably has no effect on FET outcomes, including pregnancy or live birth rates.