Human Reproduction, Vol. 17, No. 2, 341-346,
February 2002
© 2002 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
The influence of the depth of embryo replacement into the uterine cavity on implantation rates after IVF: a controlled, ultrasound-guided study
1 Service of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Institut Universitari Dexeus, Barcelona and 2 Institut Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine–University of Barcelona, Hospital Clinic–Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
BACKGROUND: Traditionally, embryo transfer after IVF has been performed blindly and placing the embryos ~1 cm below the fundal endometrial surface. However, it has been suggested that transferring embryos rather lower in the uterine cavity or high in the uterus may improve implantation rates. Nevertheless, there has not yet been a controlled trial to prove this theory. This prospective randomized study investigates the influence of the depth of embryo replacement on the implantation rate after embryo transfer carried out under transabdominal ultrasound guidance. METHODS: A total of 180 consecutive patients undergoing ultrasound-guided embryo transfer were randomized to three study groups according to the distance between the tip of the catheter and the uterine fundus at the moment of the embryo deposition in the lumen of the endometrial cavity: group 1: 10 ± 1.5 mm; group 2: 15 ± 1.5 mm; group 3: 20 ± 1.5 mm. RESULTS: There was equal distribution between all three study groups regarding the main demographic and baseline characteristics of the patients, ovarian response, oocyte retrieval and IVF outcome, as well as the characteristics of embryo transfer and luteal phase support. The position of the catheter tip in relation to the fundal endometrial surface in groups 1 (10.2 ± 0.9 mm), 2 (14.6 ± 0.7 mm) and 3 (19.3 ± 0.8 mm) was significantly different. Implantation rate was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in groups 2 (31.3%) and 3 (33.3%) compared with group 1 (20.6%). CONCLUSIONS: The depth of the embryo replacement into the uterine cavity may influence implantation rates, and thus it should be considered as an additional procedure among factors recently proposed as associated with successful embryo transfer after IVF.
Key words: embryo transfer/implantation rates/IVF/ultrasound-guided embryo transfer
3 To whom correspondence should be addressed at: Institut Universitari Dexeus, Pso Bonanova 67, 08017 Barcelona, Spain. E-mail: vencor{at}iudexeus.uab.es
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  B. Luke and M. B. Brown Elevated risks of pregnancy complications and adverse outcomes with increasing maternal age Hum. Reprod., May 1, 2007; 22(5): 1264 - 1272. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
I.P. Kosmas, R. Janssens, L. De Munck, H. Al Turki, J. Van der Elst, H. Tournaye, and P. Devroey Ultrasound-guided embryo transfer does not offer any benefit in clinical outcome: a randomized controlled trial Hum. Reprod., May 1, 2007; 22(5): 1327 - 1334. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Dias, R. McNamee, and A. Vail Evidence of improving quality of reporting of randomized controlled trials in subfertility Hum. Reprod., October 1, 2006; 21(10): 2617 - 2627. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. B. Romundstad, P. R. Romundstad, A. Sunde, V. von During, R. Skjaerven, and L. J. Vatten Increased risk of placenta previa in pregnancies following IVF/ICSI; a comparison of ART and non-ART pregnancies in the same mother Hum. Reprod., September 1, 2006; 21(9): 2353 - 2358. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
B. Coroleu, P. N. Barri, O. Carreras, I. Belil, R. Buxaderas, A. Veiga, and J. Balasch Effect of using an echogenic catheter for ultrasound-guided embryo transfer in an IVF programme: a prospective, randomized, controlled study Hum. Reprod., July 1, 2006; 21(7): 1809 - 1815. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. I. Shamonki, G. L. Schattman, S. D. Spandorfer, P. H. Chung, and Z. Rosenwaks Ultrasound-guided trial transfer may be beneficial in preparation for an IVF cycle Hum. Reprod., October 1, 2005; 20(10): 2844 - 2849. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. I. Shamonki, S. D. Spandorfer, and Z. Rosenwaks Ultrasound-guided embryo transfer and the accuracy of trial embryo transfer Hum. Reprod., March 1, 2005; 20(3): 709 - 716. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. Matorras, R. Mendoza, A. Exposito, and F.J. Rodriguez-Escudero Influence of the time interval between embryo catheter loading and discharging on the success of IVF Hum. Reprod., September 1, 2004; 19(9): 2027 - 2030. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J.G. Franco Jr, A.M.V.C. Martins, R.L.R. Baruffi, A.L. Mauri, C.G. Petersen, V. Felipe, P. Contart, A. Pontes, and J.B.A. Oliveira Best site for embryo transfer: the upper or lower half of endometrial cavity? Hum. Reprod., August 1, 2004; 19(8): 1785 - 1790. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M.M.C. van de Pas, S. Weima, C.W.N. Looman, and F.J.M. Broekmans The use of fixed distance embryo transfer after IVF/ICSI equalizes the success rates among physicians Hum. Reprod., April 1, 2003; 18(4): 774 - 780. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. V. Mocanu The influence of the depth of embryo replacement into the uterine cavity on implantation rates after IVF: a controlled, ultrasound-guided study Hum. Reprod., April 1, 2003; 18(4): 889 - 889. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
B. Coroleu The influence of the depth of embryo replacement into the uterine cavity on implantation rates after IVF: a controlled, ultrasound-guided study Hum. Reprod., April 1, 2003; 18(4): 889 - 890. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
B. Coroleu, P. N. Barri, O. Carreras, F. Martinez, A. Veiga, and J. Balasch The usefulness of ultrasound guidance in frozen-thawed embryo transfer: a prospective randomized clinical trial Hum. Reprod., November 1, 2002; 17(11): 2885 - 2890. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|