title: The fertilization and cleavage rates of eggs recovered from the cul-de-sac.
abstract: Five hundred ninety-one oocytes were laparoscopically recovered in 93 consecutive stimulated cycles. Fifty-three of the 591 oocytes were collected from the cul-de-sac in 39 cycles. The cul-de-sac-originated oocytes had fertilization and cleavage rates of 72 and 79%, respectively; these rates were similar to those achieved in oocytes originating from follicles. A significant decrease in the fertilization rate of cul-de-sac-originated oocytes was noticed in oocytes collected from the cul-de-sac 60 minutes or more after the beginning of the procedure. Oocytes collected from the cul-de-sac yielded 21% of the embryos transferred in cycles where some of the oocytes were recovered from the cul-de-sac. These findings indicate that repeated aspirations of the cul-de-sac may increase the number of embryos transferred.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Carmel Hospital, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dirnfeld
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Weisman
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sorokin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sheinfeld
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lissak
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abramovici
mesh_terms: D001826:Body Fluids / Q000166:cytology; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods*; D004312:Douglas' Pouch / Q000166:cytology*; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000166:cytology; D011247:Pregnancy; D013396:Suction