Effect of catheter rotation during its withdrawal on frozen thawed embryo transfer cycles outcomes; case-control study

Background: Embryo transfer is the final and most clinical process in assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycle. Cervical mucus has been suggested to interfere with adequate embryo transfer in different ways. A few studies implied that catheter rotation could discharge mucus entrapped in the embryo so as to thwart embryo displacement.Objective: In this retrospective study we compared the outcome of frozen embryo transfer (FET) base on catheter rotation during withdrawal. Materials and Methods: In the present case-control retrospective study, the clinical documents of 240 subjects (women) who experienced FET cycles. The subjects were divided into two groups, including (A) the rotation treatment group (n=120, 360 degrees) that underwent ET using catheter rotation, and (B), the control (n=120), including the subjects who experienced ET with no catheter rotation. In the end, clinical and chemical pregnancies and implantation rates were compared between the two groups. Results: The basic clinical and demographic features of both groups had no differences of significance. A significant difference was observed between both groups in terms of the rate of chemical pregnancy (21.7% vs. 43.3%, p=0.001) and implantation rate (18.47% vs. 8.19%, p=0.002). In addition, in the study group, the rate of clinical pregnancy was significantly higher (33.3% vs. 14.2%, p=0.002).Conclusion: The results of data analysis in this study demonstrated that the rotation of the catheter when withdrawn increased the rates of implantation and clinical pregnancy.

Keywords:

Embryo transfer , Assisted reproductive technic , Implantation , Pregnancy