The evaluation of ultrasonic oocyte collection techniques for IVF-ET--comparing the transabdominal and transvaginal methods

In order to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of ultrasonic oocyte collection for IVF-ET, a comparative study was performed on the results of IVF-ET by the transabdominal and transvaginal methods in 145 cycles of 51 patients. The oocyte collection rate for the transvaginal method was significantly higher than that for the transabdominal method (77.1% vs. 68.7% per follicle, p less than 0.01). The majority of the oocytes were collected in three follicular flushings. The fertilization rate for oocytes collected by the transabdominal method was significantly higher than that for those collected by the transvaginal method in cases of tubal damage and endometriosis (81.1% vs. 65.6% per oocyte, p less than 0.01). There was no significant difference between the signs of complications seen with the two methods. Six successful pregnancies were obtained by IVF-ET in our hospital (4 cases by the transabdominal method, and 2 cases by the transvaginal method). Two of these cases have already delivered full term healthy male infants. In conclusion, these results indicate that ultrasonic oocyte collection has been established as the most effective method for IVF-ET by means of either the transabdominal or the transvaginal methods.