Oocyte retrieval under the guidance of a vaginal transducer: evaluation of patient acceptance.
Follicle puncture under the guidance of ultrasound has now been used for some years. The most important advantage of the ultrasound-guided technique compared with the laparoscopic technique is that the former can be performed under local anaesthesia. However, both the trans-vesical and the perurethral ultrasound-guided puncturing routes may be quite painful for the patient. For that reason we have developed a trans-vaginal follicle puncture technique using a vaginal transducer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the patients' experience of pain with this new technique. Scanning of follicles was performed using a specially designed vaginal transducer that makes the patients having a full bladder unnecessary. Local anaesthesia was applied as a paracervical block. Follicles were then punctured through the vagina with a needle inserted through a needle guide attached to the transducer. Fifty-one patients answered a questionnaire about their experience of the puncture procedure. Only 10% of the patients found the puncture painful. Ninety-eight per cent of the patients felt no anxiety about going through the procedure again. We therefore conclude that trans-vaginal oocyte pick-up using a vaginal transducer is very well accepted by most women.
Hammarberg
K
K
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Göteborg, Sahlgren's Hospital, Sweden.
Enk
L
L
Nilsson
L
L
Wikland
M
M
D000772:Anesthesia, Local; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D009865:Oocytes; D006080:Ovarian Follicle; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011677:Punctures; D014159:Transducers; D014621:Vagina