Ultrasound guidance during embryo transfer: a prospective, single-operator, randomized, controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the implementation of ultrasound (US) guidance will improve the clinical outcomes of ET compared with the standard clinical touch method of embryo catheter placement.


METHODS
Prospective, single-operator, randomized, controlled trial.


METHODS
Saudi Center for Assisted Reproduction.


METHODS
Three hundred seventy-three women.


METHODS
Transcervical, intrauterine ET with or without US guidance.


METHODS
Primary outcomes were the live-birth/ongoing pregnancy and clinical pregnancy rates per randomized woman. Secondary outcomes were the incidences of difficult transfers, blood and/or mucus on the catheter tip, spontaneous miscarriages, and ectopic pregnancies.


RESULTS
Demographics and cycle characteristics were not different between the two groups. The live-birth/ongoing pregnancy rate was significantly higher in the US ET group (68 of 183, 40.98%) than in the clinical touch ET group (50 of 190, 28.42%) (odds ratio = 1.66, 95% confidence interval 1.07-2.57). In addition, there was a significantly higher number of clinical pregnancies in the US ET group (75 of 183, 40.98%) than in the clinical touch ET group (54 of 190, 28.42%) (odds ratio = 1.75, 95% confidence interval 1.14-2.69). Secondary outcomes were not significantly different between the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Ultrasound-guided ET significantly increases ongoing pregnancy/live-birth and clinical pregnancy rates compared with the clinical touch method.
Eskandar
Mamdoh
M
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia. maeskandar@kku.edu.sa
Abou-Setta
Ahmed M
AM
Almushait
Mona A
MA
El-Amin
Mohamed
M
Mohmad
Saria E Y
SE
D000328:Adult; D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D050498:Live Birth / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*