Transabdominal ultrasound-guided embryo transfer does not increase pregnancy rates in oocyte recipients.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether transabdominal ultrasound guidance during embryo transfer (ET) is a useful tool for increasing pregnancy rates in patients undergoing oocyte donation.


METHODS
Prospective, randomized, controlled trial.


METHODS
In vitro fertilization academic center.


METHODS
Three hundred seventy-four infertile patients undergoing oocyte donation.


METHODS
Transabdominal ultrasound-guided ET.


METHODS
We measured the pregnancy rate and implantation rate after transabdominal ultrasound-guided ET versus the rates in a control group who did not receive transabdominal ultrasound-guided ET.


RESULTS
Clear visualization at ultrasound during ET was achieved in 90.8% of the patients who had ultrasound-guided ET. A similar number of easy transfers were performed in both the ultrasound-guided and the control groups (84.5% vs. 86.6%). The pregnancy rate was comparable between the groups (59.9% ultrasound vs. 55.1% control), as was the implantation rate (30.6% ultrasound vs. 26.3% control). No differences were found in the miscarriage rate (10.7% ultrasound vs. 9.1% control) or in the multiple pregnancy rate (21.4% ultrasound vs. 22.5% control). Although all ectopic pregnancies occurred in the group that did not receive ultrasound guidance, the differences were not statistically significant (0 vs. 2.7%).


CONCLUSIONS
We could not show any benefit in terms of pregnancy rate in oocyte recipients for whom ET was performed under direct transabdominal ultrasound visualization of the endometrial cavity. There was a lower ectopic pregnancy rate when ultrasound guidance was used, but this rate was not statistically significant in comparison with the pregnancy rate without ultrasound guidance.
García-Velasco
Juan A
JA
IVI-Madrid, Spain. jgvelasco@ivi.es
Isaza
Verónica
V
Martinez-Salazar
Javier
J
Landazábal
Adriana
A
Requena
Antonio
A
Remohí
José
J
Simón
Carlos
C
D000005:Abdomen; D000328:Adult; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods