title: Incidence of microbial growth from the tip of the embryo transfer catheter after embryo transfer in relation to clinical pregnancy rate following in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer.
abstract: A total of 110 consecutive women was studied prospectively at the time of transcervical embryo transfer following conventional in-vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection procedures. Microbiological cultures were performed on endocervical swabs and embryo transfer catheter tips. Positive microbial growths were observed from endocervical swabs in 78 (70.9%) women and from catheter tips in 54 (49.1%) women. The clinical pregnancy rates were 57.1% in the group of patients without growth and 29.6% in the group with positive microbial growth from catheter tips. As microbial contamination at embryo transfer may influence implantation rates, prospective studies are justified to determine whether eradication of endocervical micro-organisms is possible and whether their eradication will improve implantation rates.
authors.affiliation: IVF Centre, Maternity Hospital, Kuwait.
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Egbase
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: al-Sharhan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: al-Othman
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: al-Mutawa
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Udo
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Grudzinskas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002404:Catheterization; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000382:microbiology; D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000382:microbiology; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate