Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics logoLink to Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics
. 2004 Dec;21(12):421–425. doi: 10.1007/s10815-004-8757-3

Ultrasound Guidance Is Not Necessary During Easy Embryo Transfers

Anice Maria Vieira de Camargo Martins 2, Ricardo L R Baruffi 1, Ana L Mauri 1, Claudia Petersen 1, João Batista Alcantara Oliveira 1, Paula Contart 1, Anagloria Pontes 2, José G Franco Junior 1,✉
PMCID: PMC3455614  PMID: 15704516

Abstract

Purpose: To determine whether the use of ultrasound (US) to guide embryo transfer (ET) in a population previously defined as likely to have easy transfer would change the implantation and pregnancy rates in an ICSI program.

Methods: A total of 100 patients identified as likely to have easy transfer after mock transfer were divided into two groups: Group I, US-guided ET (N=50) and Group II, ET without the aid of US (N=50).

Results: Implantation and pregnancy rates were similar (p=0.51, p=0.29) for Group I (19.6%, 42%) and Group II (16.3%, 30%), as also was the abortion rate (p=0.55) (Group I: 1/21; Group II: 2/15).

Conclusion: As long as previous mock transfers are routinely performed during a cycle preceding assisted reproduction and the clinician considers transfer to be easy, ultrasound does not benefit the process of embryo transfer.

Keywords: Embryo transfer, ICSI, implantation, pregnancy, ultrasound

Full Text

The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (73.1 KB).

References

  1. Mansour R, Aboulghar M, Serour G. Dummy embryo transfer: A technique that minimizes the problems of embryo transfer and improves the pregnancy rate in human in vitro fertilization. Fertil Steril. 1990;54:678–681. doi: 10.1016/s0015-0282(16)53829-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Knutzen V, Stratton CJ, Sher G, McNamee PI, Huang TT, Soto-Albors C. Mock embryo transfer in early luteal phase, the cycle before in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer: A descriptive study. Fertil Steril. 1992;57:156–162. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Sharif K, Afnan M, Lenton W. Mock embryo transfer with a full bladder immediately before the real transfer for in vitro fertilization treatment: The Birmingham experience of 113 cases. Hum Reprod. 1995;10:1715–1718. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.humrep.a136161. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Strickler R, Christianson C, Crane J. Ultrasound guidance for human embryo transfer. Fertil Steril. 1985;43:54–56. doi: 10.1016/s0015-0282(16)48317-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Woolcott R, Stanger J. Potentially important variables identified by transvaginal ultrasound-guided embryo transfer. Hum Reprod. 1997;12:963–966. doi: 10.1093/humrep/12.5.963. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Kan A, Abadalla H, Gafar A. Embryo transfer: Ultrasound-guided versus clinical touch. Hum Reprod. 1999;14:1259–1261. doi: 10.1093/humrep/14.5.1259. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Franco JG, Jr, Baruffi RL, Mauri AL, Petersen CG, Chufallo JE, Felipe V, Garbellini E. Prospective randomized comparison of ovarian blockade with nafarelin versus leuprolid during ovarian stimulation with recombinant FSH in an ICSI program. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2001;18:593–597. doi: 10.1023/A:1013108921427. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Svalander P, Forsberg A, Jakobsson A, Wikland M. Factors of importance for the establishment of a successful program of intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment for male infertility. Fertil Steril. 1995;63:828–837. doi: 10.1016/s0015-0282(16)57489-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Mauri AL, Petersen CG, Baruffi RL, Franco JG., Jr A prospective, randomized comparison of two commercial media for ICSI and embryo culture. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2001;18:378–381. doi: 10.1023/A:1016670422408. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Wisanto A, Janssens R, Deschacht J. Performance of different embryo transfer catheters in human in vitro fertilization process. Fertil Steril. 1989;52:79–84. doi: 10.1016/s0015-0282(16)60793-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Gonen Y, Dirnfeld M, Goldman S. Does the choice of catheter for embryo transfer influence the success rate of in-vitro fertilization? Hum Reprod. 1991;6:1092–1094. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.humrep.a137490. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Goudas V, Hammitt D, Damario M. Blood on the embryo transfer catheter is associated with decreased rates of embryo implantation and clinical pregnancy with the use of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer. Fertil Steril. 1998;70:878–882. doi: 10.1016/S0015-0282(98)00315-X. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Sharif K, Afinan M, Lashen H. Is bed rest following embryo transfer necessary? Fertil Steril. 1998;69:478–481. doi: 10.1016/S0015-0282(97)00534-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. de Crespigni LJ, O’Herlihy C, Hoult IJ, Robinson HP. Ultrasound in an in vitro fertilization program. Hum Reprod. 1981;35:25–28. doi: 10.1016/s0015-0282(16)45253-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Lenz S, Lauritsen JG. Ultrasonically guided percutaneous aspiration of human follicles under local anesthesia: A new method of collecting oocytes for in vitro fertilization. Fertil Steril. 1982;38:673–677. doi: 10.1016/s0015-0282(16)46692-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Strickler RC, Christianson C, Crane JP, Curato A, Knight AB, Yang V. Ultrasound guidance for human embryo transfer. Fertil Steril. 1985;43:54–61. doi: 10.1016/s0015-0282(16)48317-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Leong M, Leung C, Tucker M, Wong C, Chan H. Ultrasound-assisted embryo transfer. J In Vitro Fert Embryo Transf. 1986;3:383–385. doi: 10.1007/BF01133254. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Lindheim SR, Cohen MA, Sauer MV. Ultrasound guided embryo transfer significantly improves pregnancy rates in women undergoing oocyte donation. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 1999;66:281–284. doi: 10.1016/S0020-7292(99)00077-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Wood EG, Batzer FR, Go KJ, Gutmann JN, Corson SL. Ultrasound-guided soft catheter embryo transfers will improve pregnancy rates in in vitro fertilization. Hum Reprod. 2000;15:107–102. doi: 10.1093/humrep/15.1.107. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Al-Shawaf T, Dave R, Harper J, Linehan D, Riley P, Craft I. Transfer of embryos into the uterus: how much do technical factors affect pregnancy rates? J Assist Reprod Genet. 1993;10:31–36. doi: 10.1007/BF01204437. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Woolcott R, Stanger J. Ultrasound tracking of the movement of embryo-associated air bubbles on standing after transfer. Hum Reprod. 1998;13:2107–2109. doi: 10.1093/humrep/13.8.2107. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Hurley V, Osborn J, Leoni M, Leeton J. Ultrasound guided embryo transfer: a controlled trial. Fertil Steril. 1991;55:559–562. doi: 10.1016/s0015-0282(16)54185-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Coroleu B, Carreras O, Veiga A, Martell A, Martinez F, Belil I, Barri P. Embryo transfer under ultrasound guidance improves pregnancy rates after in–vitro fertilization. Hum Reprod. 2000;15:616–620. doi: 10.1093/humrep/15.3.616. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Fanchin R, Righini C, Olivennes F, Taylor S, de Ziegler D, Frydman R. Uterine contractions at the time of embryo transfer alter pregnancy rates after in vitro fertilization. Hum Reprod. 1998;13:1968–1974. doi: 10.1093/humrep/13.7.1968. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics are provided here courtesy of Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

RESOURCES