Endometrial lesions caused by catheters used for embryo transfers: a preliminary report.

OBJECTIVE

To visualize by microhysteroscopy any possible lesions on the endocervix and endometrium made by the catheters commonly used for embryo transfer (ET).

DESIGN

Prospective descriptive study. Tertiary fertility center (IFER).

PATIENT(S): Twenty-three infertile patients underwent a mock transfer before a microhysteroscopy during the postovulatory phase (days 2-5 after ovulation) of the cycle with a Tomcat catheter (n = 5), Frydman's catheter (n = 5), Frydman's set (n = 3), or Wallace's catheter (n = 10).

INTERVENTION(S): Mock ETs and subsequent mycrohysteroscopies.Visualization, description, and documentation of endocervical and endometrial lesions.

RESULT(S): The lesions in all 23 patients were described and documented (tunnel-like, groove-like, punch-out, crater-like). The Wallace catheter appears to be less traumatic to the endometrium (but it seems that it is important to take care to not pass the internal os with the outer sheath). The Tomcat catheter and the Frydman's set caused the more significant lesions that were observed.

CONCLUSION(S): In this preliminary study, for the first time endometrial lesions caused by the ET catheters were directly visualized and documented. Some of these observed lesions appear to be capable of compromising the success of ET.