Effect of endometrial cavity fluid on clinical pregnancy rate in tubal embryo transfer (TET).
OBJECTIVE
In this study, we assess whether the endometrial cavity fluid (ECF) generated physiologically by the genital tract have negative effect on the pregnancy rate during tubal embryo transfer (TET) in patients who do not have hydrosalpinx or bilateral tubal obstruction.


METHODS
We retrospectively collected samples from 176 women with 195 cycles receiving TET due to male factor, unexplained infertility or endometriosis from June 1999 to Dec. 2003, and divided them into two groups (group I: patient with fluid accumulation >1 mm in the anterior-posterior diameter in the uterine cavity; group II: patient without fluid accumulation in the uterine cavity). Endometrium thickness was measured as a maximal distance between anterior and posterior myometrium-endometrium interface under the long-axis view. The A-P diameter of ECF was measured via vaginal sonar on the day of ovum pick-up (OPU).


RESULTS
From a total of 195 ART cycles involving 176 patients, the accumulation of ECF was detected in 10 cycles (5.1%). Seven of ten cycles (70%) with the accumulation of ECF were proved to be pregnant clinically. However, in the rest 185 cycles (group II), 98 of them (53%) were proved to be pregnant. At the mean time, the implantation rate was 29.03% and 25.71% in the groups I and II, respectively. No significant difference of the clinical pregnancy rate and the implantation rate was found between the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
According to our study, if the ECF was generated physiologically by the genital tract during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH), the clinical pregnancy rate is not worse and no influence of embryo implantation was found.
Lee
Robert Kuo-Kuang
RK
Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Yu
San-Li
SL
Chih
Yu-Fen
YF
Tsai
Yi-Chun
YC
Lin
Ming-Huei
MH
Hwu
Yuh-Ming
YM
Huang
Wen-Yu
WY
Su
Jin-Tsung
JT
D000328:Adult; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D004717:Endometrium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography