Nurses performing embryo transfer: successful outcome of in-vitro fertilization

Abstract

This prospective study demonstrates the feasibility and outcome of embryo transfer performed by nursing staff with medical cover available. Of 771 patients who had embryo transfer, 679 (88%) had their embryo transfer performed by a nurse. In 92 cases (12%) a doctor performed the embryo transfer, either as the first operator, or having been brought in to assist the nurse who experienced difficulty. The pregnancies per transfer for nurse transfer was 246/679 (36%) and where a doctor performed the transfer 20/68 (29%). These data show a high comparable success rate when a nurse performed the embryo transfer, and a low incidence of direct medical involvement.