Serum oxytocin concentration during embryo transfer procedure.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of the embryo transfer (ET) procedure on serum concentration of oxytocin.


METHODS
Prospective clinical study of 10 women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment with ET in the Section of Reproductive Medicine and Endocrinology at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Bonn, Germany. Serial blood samples were collected in time intervals of 20 s during embryo transfer procedure and serum oxytocin concentration was measured.


RESULTS
In the absence of tenaculum placement, none of the procedures associated with ET led to an increase in serum oxytocin concentration. When tenaculum placement was used, it was temporally (four out of five patients) associated with an elevation in oxytocin level, which remained elevated until of the end of ET procedure.


CONCLUSIONS
Application of a cervical tenaculum during ET or possibly also during intra uterine insemination (IUI) procedure can stimulate the release of oxytocin in some patients.
Dorn
C
C
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Bonn, Germany.
Reinsberg
J
J
Schlebusch
H
H
Prietl
G
G
van der Ven
H
H
Krebs
D
D
D000328:Adult; D002404:Catheterization; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013525:Surgical Instruments
D010121:Oxytocin