The choice of embryo transfer catheter affects embryo implantation after IVF

OBJECTIVE: Comparison of two transfer catheters in an IVF program. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized clinical study. SETTING: A private tertiary care center for ART. PATIENT(S): 66 patients < 38 years of age undergoing IVF and/or ICSI. INTERVENTION(S): Patients were randomly assigned to undergo ET using the Tomcat catheter (n = 32) or the TDT catheter (n = 34). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Primary outcome measures were implantation and pregnancy rates. Secondary outcome measures were contamination with blood and/or mucus on the tip of the catheter, cramping or patient discomfort, and time required to complete ET. RESULT(S): Use of the Tomcat catheter resulted in significantly higher implantation (25.2% vs. 8.4%) and clinical pregnancy rates (47% vs. 14.7%) compared with the TDT catheter. All secondary outcome measures were similar for both catheters. CONCLUSION(S): The choice of ET catheter may affect the success of IVF-ET cycles. Use of the Tomcat catheter compared with the TDT catheter seems to result in significantly better efficiency of the ET procedure and is more cost effective.