Embryology Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Embryology, including details on stem cells, reproduction, transplants, cloning.

Ultrasonographic-guided embryo transfer does not enhance pregnancy rates compared with embryo transfer based on previous uterine length measurement.

Lambers MJ, Dogan E, Kostelijk H, Lens JW, Schats R, Hompes PG

Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Free University Medical Center (VUmc), Amsterdam, The Netherlands. mj.lambers@vumc.nl

OBJECTIVE: To compare pregnancy rates (PRs) after ultrasound-guided embryo transfer and embryo transfer based on ultrasonographic length measurement. DESIGN: Prospective intervention group combined with retrospective control group. SETTING: University fertility clinic. PATIENT(S): Patients undergoing IVF and intracytoplasmic sperm injection. INTERVENTION(S): Transabdominal ultrasonographic guidance at embryo transfer. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Pregnancy and implantation rates. RESULT(S): In 367 ultrasound-guided embryo transfers clinical PR, ongoing PR, and implantation rate were 35.1%, 31.1%, and 24.3%, respectively. In 363 embryo transfers based on previous ultrasonographic length measurement, the rates were 33.9%, 29.5%, and 24.2%, respectively. There were no statistical significant differences between the groups. CONCLUSION(S): Ultrasonographic guidance does not show any benefit in terms of PR and implantation rate compared to previous ultrasonographic length measurement, an other precise and atraumatic transfer technique.

Published 9 October 2006 in Fertil Steril, 86(4): 867-72.
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