Ultrasonographic endometrial changes after intrauterine insemination: a comparison of two catheters.
OBJECTIVE
To determine and compare the transvaginal ultrasonographic (US) endometrial changes immediately after IUI using the Edwards Wallace (H.G. Wallace, Limited, Colchester, Essex, UK) and Tom-Cat (Sherwood Medical, St. Louis, MO) catheters.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
IVF unit.


METHODS
Eighty-two infertile patients underwent 112 cycles of ovulation induction with IUI. Either the Edwards Wallace catheter (group 1, n = 32) or the Tom-Cat catheter (group 2, n = 80) was used for sperm insemination. The presence of an endometrial three-layer pattern before IUI was a prerequisite for inclusion in the study. After each IUI, the endometrium was reassessed by transvaginal US.


METHODS
Ultrasonographic endometrial changes, clinical pregnancy rates (PRs), complications, and patients' complaints were compared between the two groups.


RESULTS
Total destruction of the endometrial three-layer pattern was observed in 12.5% of the cycles in group 1, compared with 50% of the cycles in group 2. Clinical pregnancies occurred in 14 (12.5%) of the 112 IUI cycles. A higher PR was achieved when the endometrial three-layer pattern was preserved after IUI. The patients in group 2 had more complaints of bleeding and pain during the procedure.


CONCLUSIONS
Ultrasonographic changes after IUI suggest that the Edwards Wallace catheter is significantly less traumatic to the endometrium than the Tom-Cat catheter. Although both catheters yielded the same overall PR, there was a trend indicating that sparing the endometrial three-layer pattern from damage increases the chance of conception.
Lavie
O
O
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
Margalioth
E J
EJ
Geva-Eldar
T
T
Ben-Chetrit
A
A
D002404:Catheterization; D004717:Endometrium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007315:Insemination, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014592:Uterine Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology