A method to prevent arrest of embryo development by ultrasound coupling gels after transvaginal ultrasound-guided oocyte retrieval.
Two commonly used sterile ultrasound coupling gels were found to affect development in vitro of 8-cell mouse embryos adversely. Suggestions made previously by other investigators to prevent these deleterious effects in percutaneous aspiration of human ovaries under ultrasound guidance, appeared not to be applicable in transvaginal ultrasound-guided oocyte retrieval, especially in nulliparous patients. We report a new method, developed in our IVF programme, which allows optimal visualization of the pelvic organs without the risk of impairing embryo development after ultrasound-guided vaginal oocyte retrieval.
Carver-Ward
J A
JA
Infertility and In-Vitro Fertilization Laboratory, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
DeVol
E B
EB
Evers
J L
JL
D000818:Animals; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D005782:Gels / Q000009:adverse effects*; D051379:Mice; D009865:Oocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014621:Vagina
D005782:Gels