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Human Reproduction, Vol. 15, No. 1, 107-112, January 2000
© 2000 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology

Ultrasound-guided soft catheter embryo transfers will improve pregnancy rates in in-vitro fertilization

Ellen G. Wood1, Frances R. Batzer, Kathryn J. Go, Jacqueline N. Gutmann and Stephen L. Corson

Thomas Jefferson University, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pennsylvania Reproductive Associates, Women's Institute for Fertility, Endocrinology and Menopause, 815 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA

Attempts to improve clinical pregnancy rates after in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer are constantly being made. Two changes in technique of embryo transfer of potential clinical importance were evaluated over two contiguous time periods in order to observe any corresponding change in clinical pregnancy (CP) rate per transfer: (i) embryo transfer catheter; (ii) ultrasound guidance. Catheter choices were hard: Tefcat, Tom Cat, or Norfolk; or soft: Frydman or Wallace. Ultrasound visualization was considered to be excellent/good when the catheter could be followed from the cervix to the fundus by transabdominal ultrasound with retention of the embryo-containing fluid droplet; fair/poor if visualization could not document the sequence of events. Embryo transfers were performed in 518 cycles. CP rates per transfer using soft and hard catheters was 36 and 17% (P < 0.000) respectively. CP rates per transfer for transfers performed with and without ultrasound guidance were 38 and 25% (P < 0.002) respectively. A statistically significant difference was also noted when visualization ranks were compared. CP rates per transfer in all excellent/good ultrasound-guided transfers was 41.5 versus 16.7% for fair/poor transfers (P < 0.038). In conclusion, performance of embryo transfer with a soft catheter under ultrasound guidance with good visualization resulted in a significant increase in clinical pregnancy rates.

Key words: embryo transfer/embryo transfer catheter/IVF/ultrasound guidance

1 To whom correspondence should be addressed at: 4000 Presidential Blvd, Monroe Building, Suite 100, Philadelphia, PA 19131, USA


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