Does Placement of the Catheter Guide Through the Cervical Canal Influence the Embryo Transfer Outcome?

Abstract

Aim: Our aim was to find out whether placement of the embryo transfer catheter guide through the cervical canal at the time of embryo expulsion influences pregnancy rates. Material and Method: We retrospectively compared in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes related to the placement of the embryo transfer catheter guide through the cervix. Subjects were divided into two groups: embryo transfers (ET) performed with the inner catheter alone through the cervical canal (n= 55, Group 1) and transfers performed with the double catheter set through the cervix (n= 58, Group 2). Results: A total of 113 ETs were carried out in women undergoing IVF treatment. Although the pregnancy ratio seemed to be higher among the transfers carried out with the inner catheter alone inserted through the cervix, no statistically significance for this was detected (odds ratio: 1.644, 95% confidence bound, p> 0.05). Discussion: Placement of the catheter guide through the cervical canal at the time of embryo expulsion may not have any effect on the IVF-ET outcome.