Comparison of easy and difficult embryo transfer outcomes in in vitro fertilization cycles

Firouzeh Ghaffari; Kiandokht Kiani; Akram Bahmanabadi; Mohammadreza Akhoond

Comparison of easy and difficult embryo transfer outcomes in in vitro fertilization cycles

Int J Fertil Steril. 2013 Jan;6(4):232-7. Epub 2013 Mar 3.

Authors

Firouzeh Ghaffari¹, Kiandokht Kiani¹, Akram Bahmanabadi¹, Mohammadreza Akhoond²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Endocrinology and Female Infertility at Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
² Department of Statistics, Mathematical Science and Computer Faculty, Shahid Chamran University, Ahwaz, Iran ; Department of Epidemiology and Reproductive Health at Reproductive Epidemiology Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.

PMID: 24520445
PMCID: PMC3850320

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of easy and difficult embryo transfers (ET) on implantation and pregnancy rates.

Materials and methods: In this prospective study, we analyzed the results of 706 ET procedures over a 12-month period. An easy ET was defined as a transfer that occurred without the use of force or other instrumentation. A difficult ET was defined as the use of force for catheter placement, and/or the use of additional instruments, and/or manipulation. Pregnancy rate was compared between patients with easy or difficult ETs.

Results: There was a significantly higher implantation rate in the easy group (21.7%) compared to the difficult group (12.1%, p<0.05).The easy group had a higher pregnancy rate (38.1%) compared to patients who had difficult ETs (21.4%; p<0.05).

Conclusion: Any uterine manipulation during ET adversely affects in vitro fertilization (IVF). Precaution should be taken to identify possibly difficult ET cases in advance.

Keywords: Embryo Transfer; Implantation; Pregnancy Outcomes.