title: Performance of different embryo transfer catheters in a human in vitro fertilization program.
abstract: In a prospective and randomized study on 400 consecutive embryo transfers (ETs), the performance of three different transfer catheters was evaluated. In cases of difficult ET, the TDT catheter (Prodimed, Neuilly-en-Thelle, France) performed the best. However, the pregnancy rate with this catheter was the lowest (9.2%/ET). A better pregnancy rate (19.4%/ET) can be achieved when TDT catheter was used under ultrasound guidance. The Frydman catheter (Prodimed, Neuilly-en-Thelle, France) yielded the highest pregnancy rate (32.3%/ET) but also the highest frequency of difficult transfer procedures. The Wallace catheter (H.G. Wallace Limited, Colchester, England) showed similar performance, but the pregnancy rate was lower (19.2%/ET) compared with the Frydman catheter. Therefore, the Frydman catheter is used as the first choice, and for difficult transfers the TDT catheter under ultrasound guidance can be recommended.
authors.affiliation: Center for Reproductive Medicine, Academic Hospital Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wisanto
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Janssens
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Deschacht
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Camus
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Devroey
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Van Steirteghem
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002404:Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation; D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D051379:Mice; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011897:Random Allocation