The impact of the depth of embryo replacement on IVF outcome.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of the depth of embryo transfer replacement on clinical pregnancy rate.


METHODS
Data from a total of 104 consecutive embryo transfers performed on 104 women aged 26-37 years were prospectively collected for this study. All patients underwent a standard down regulation protocol for ovarian stimulation. Oocytes retrieval were performed at 36 h after hCG administration. Embryo transfer took place at 48 h after insemination. The patients were matched in two groups according to the distance between the tip of the catheter and the uterine fundus at transfer (group A > 10 < 15 mm and group B < or = 10 mm). The same method of loading embryos into the embryo transfer catheter was used.


RESULTS
Clinical pregnancy rates varied significantly (p < or = 0.05) between the two groups: 27.7% in group A and 14% in group B. The number and quality of embryos transferred did not differ between the groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that the depth of embryo replacement may be an important variable in embryo transfer technique.
Pacchiarotti
Arianna
A
Dipartimento di Scienze Ginecologiche, Perinatologia e Puericultura Policlinico Umberto I Università di Roma, La Sapienza Viale Regina Elena, Rome, Italy. arypac@aliceposta.it
Mohamed
Mohamed A
MA
Micara
Giulietta
G
Tranquilli
Daniela
D
Linari
Antonella
A
Espinola
Salomè M B
SM
Aragona
Cesare
C
D000328:Adult; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000502:physiology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000145:classification; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome
D004958:Estradiol; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone