Ultrasonic visualization of the endometrial cycle.

The dynamic morphological aspects of the uterine mucosa during the various phases of the endometrial cycle were examined, by using ultrasonographic methods, in 148 patients having regular menstrual cycles and a biphasic basal body temperature. During the proliferative phase, ultrasonographic examinations permitted a visualization of the mucosa in 33%-45% of the cases, respectively in the initial and in the later part of the phase. During the secretory phase, the endometrium was identifiable in 81.4% (initial part) to 90% of the cases (later part of phase). During the menstrual phase, on the other hand, the median echo of the endometrial cavity could never be clearly identified.