Should a patient's own IVF physician perform the embryo transfer?
OBJECTIVE
To compare pregnancy rates of embryo transfers performed by a patient's own IVF physician to pregnancy rates of embryo transfers performed by other physicians on the IVF team.


METHODS
Retrospective cohort study; University hospital.


RESULTS
A total of 3029 embryo transfers were included. 434 patients (14%) had an embryo transfer by their own IVF physician. There was no difference in pregnancy rates comparing patients who had embryos transferred by a different physician than their own IVF physician when all cycle attempts were analyzed [Odds ratio (OR) 1.1; Confidence interval (CI) 0.9-1.4]. There was no significant difference between the groups' population characteristics. A subset analysis of 1st cycle only embryo transfers (n=1416) also revealed no difference in pregnancy rates [OR 1.1; CI 0.8-1.5].


CONCLUSIONS
Patients can be reassured that their chances of pregnancy are the same whether their embryo transfer is performed by their own physician or another physician in the practice.
Estes
Stephanie J
SJ
Brigham and Women's Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Missmer
Stacey A
SA
Ginsburg
Elizabeth S
ES
D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D035502:Trust