The transfer point is a novel measure of embryo placement.
OBJECTIVE
To study the relationship between IVF-ET pregnancy outcomes and measures of embryo placement.


METHODS
Case-control study.


METHODS
Tertiary care center.


METHODS
Twenty-three patients who underwent two ultrasonography-guided ETs, of which one resulted in a clinical pregnancy and the other did not.


METHODS
Point of embryo placement normalized to the endometrial cavity length (the transfer point), distance from the point of embryo placement to the uterine fundus, time required for ET, contact with the uterine fundus, and evidence of trauma. Videotaped ETs were quantitatively analyzed.


RESULTS
From February 1, 2000, to March 31, 2001, videotaped ETs from 23 pairs of pregnant and nonpregnant cycles were identified. Embryo placement was more shallow in pregnancy cycles than in nonpregnancy cycles. The groups did not differ in the absolute distance of embryo placement to the fundus, ovarian stimulation, or other features of the ET.


CONCLUSIONS
The transfer point may serve as a better marker of embryo position than does the absolute distance to the uterine fundus.
Frankfurter
David
D
Women and Infants' Hospital of Rhode Island, Brown Medical School Division of Biology and Medicine, Providence, Rhode Island 02905, USA. dfrankfu@wihri.org
Silva
Celso P
CP
Mota
Francisco
F
Trimarchi
James B
JB
Keefe
David L
DL
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies