Ultrasound guidance is not necessary during easy embryo transfers.

PURPOSE: To determine whether the use of ultrasound (US) to guide embryo transfer (ET) in a population previously defined as likely to have easy transfer would change the implantation and pregnancy rates in an ICSI program.

METHODS

A total of 100 patients identified as likely to have easy transfer after mock transfer were divided into two groups: Group I, US-guided ET (N = 50) and Group II, ET without the aid of US (N = 50).

RESULTS

Implantation and pregnancy rates were similar (p = 0.51, p = 0.29) for Group I (19.6%, 42%) and Group II (16.3%, 30%), as also was the abortion rate (p = 0.55) (Group I: 1/21; Group II: 2/15).

CONCLUSION

As long as previous mock transfers are routinely performed during a cycle preceding assisted reproduction and the clinician considers transfer to be easy, ultrasound does not benefit the process of embryo transfer.