title: Speculum retention during embryo transfer does not improve pregnancy rates following embryo transfer--a randomized study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To corroborate or refute two previous studies that suggested that a technique using prolonged speculum retention may improve pregnancy rates per embryo transfer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women undergoing day 3 embryo transfer were randomly assigned to the conventional transfer technique vs the speculum retention technique. The speculum retention technique involves following the embryo transfer not to withdraw the speculum but to loosen the screw in order to exert gentle pressure on the portiovaginalis of the cervix and leave it in for seven minutes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Clinical and viable pregnancy rates following the standard technique were 48.9% and 44.4%, respectively, vs 43.8% and 37.5% with the speculum retention technique. The implantation rates were also similar - 37.6% vs 37.5%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study was unable to corroborate the benefit of speculum retention in order to improve pregnancy rates per transfer.
authors.affiliation: The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Camden Cooper Hospital/University Medical Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility, Camden, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Amui
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Check
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brasile
mesh_terms: D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D013525:Surgical Instruments; D016896:Treatment Outcome