Skip Navigation


Hum. Reprod. Advance Access first published online on July 22, 2005
This version published online on July 29, 2005
Human Reproduction, doi:10.1093/humrep/dei198
This Article
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF ) Freely available
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
20/11/3114    most recent
dei198v2
dei198v1
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Abou-Setta, A. M.
Right arrow Articles by Aboulghar, M. A.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Abou-Setta, A. M.
Right arrow Articles by Aboulghar, M. A.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

© The Author 2005. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. All rights reserved.
Received April 21, 2005
Revised June 12, 2005
Accepted June 16, 2005

Article

Soft versus firm embryo transfer catheters for assisted reproduction: a systematic review and meta-analysis*

Ahmed M. Abou-Setta 1*, Hesham G. Al-Inany 2, Ragaa T. Mansour 1, Gamal I. Serour 3, and Mohamed A. Aboulghar 3

1 The Egyptian IVF-ET Center, 3, Street 161, Hadayek El Maadi, Cairo 11431
2 The Egyptian IVF-ET Center, 3, Street 161, Hadayek El Maadi, Cairo 11431 and The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
3 The Egyptian IVF-ET Center, 3, Street 161, Hadayek El Maadi, Cairo 11431 and

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Ahmed M. Abou-Setta, E-mail: abousetta_md{at}hotmail.com;ivf@link.net


  Abstract

BACKGROUND: The true impact of the embryo transfer catheter choice on an IVF programme has not been fully examined. We therefore decided to systematically review the evidence provided in the literature so that we may evaluate a single variable in relation to a successful transfer, the firmness of the embryo transfer catheter. METHODS: An extensive computerized search was conducted for all relevant articles published as full text, or abstracts, and critically appraised. In addition, a hand search was undertaken to locate any further trials. RESULTS: A total of 23 randomized controlled trials (RCT) evaluating the types of embryo transfer catheters were identified. Only ten of these trials, including 4141 embryo transfers, compared soft versus firm embryo catheters. Pooling of the results demonstrated a statistically significantly increased chance of clinical pregnancy following embryo transfer using the soft (643/2109) versus firm (488/2032) catheters [P=0.01; odds ratio (OR)=1.39, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.08-1.79]. When only the truly RCT were analysed, the results were again still in favour of using the soft embryo transfer catheters [soft (432/1403) versus firm (330/1402)], but with a greater significance (P < 0.00001; OR=1.49, 95% CI = 1.26-1.77). CONCLUSION: Using soft embryo transfer catheters for embryo transfer results in a significantly higher pregnancy rate as compared to firm catheters.

Keywords: catheter/embryo transfer/ICSI/IVF/meta-analysis/randomized controlled trial.
*Part of this manuscript was presented orally during the European Society of Human Reproduction and Endocrinology’s 2005 Annual Meeting (Copenhagen, Denmark).
Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Hum ReprodHome page
Z. Yao, S. Vansteelandt, J. Van der Elst, T. Coetsier, M. Dhont, and P. De Sutter
The efficacy of the embryo transfer catheter in IVF and ICSI is operator-dependent: a randomized clinical trial
Hum. Reprod., April 1, 2009; 24(4): 880 - 887.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Hum ReprodHome page
A. M. Abou-Setta, R. T. Mansour, H. G. Al-Inany, M. A. Aboulghar, A. Kamal, M. A. Aboulghar, and G. I. Serour
Intrauterine insemination catheters for assisted reproduction: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Hum. Reprod., August 1, 2006; 21(8): 1961 - 1967.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Hum ReprodHome page
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]


Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.