Embryo transfer under ultrasound guidance improves pregnancy rates after in-vitro fertilization

TLDR

The study groups were comparable in age, cause of infertility, and IVF cycle characteristics. The study randomized 362 IVF patients to ultrasound‑guided versus clinical touch embryo transfer to assess pregnancy outcomes. Ultrasound‑guided embryo transfer increased pregnancy rates to 50 % versus 33.7 % and implantation rates to 25.3 % versus 18.1 %, significantly improving IVF outcomes.

Abstract

Between October 1998 and January 1999, we examined the influence of ultrasound guidance in embryo transfer on pregnancy rate in 362 patients from our in-vitro fertilization (IVF)–embryo transfer programme. These patients were prospectively randomized into two groups: 182 had ultrasound-guided embryo replacement, and 180 had clinical touch embryo transfer. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups with respect to age, cause of infertility and in the characteristics of the IVF cycle. The pregnancy rate was significantly higher among the ultrasound-guided embryo transfer group (50%) compared with the clinical touch group (33.7%) (P < 0.002). Furthermore, there was also a significant increase in the implantation rate: 25.3% in the ultrasound group compared with 18.1% in the clinical touch group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, ultrasound assistance in embryo transfer significantly improved pregnancy and implantation rates in IVF.