Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Low versus high volume of culture medium during embryo transfer: a randomized clinical trial

  • Assisted Reproduction Technologies
  • Published:
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this prospective randomized control trial was to evaluate if the use of two different volumes (20–25 vs 40–45 μl) of media used for embryo transfer affects the clinical outcomes in fresh in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles.

Methods

In total, 236 patients were randomized in two groups, i.e., “low volume” group (n = 118) transferring the embryos with 20–25 μl of medium and “high volume” group (n = 118) transferring the embryos with 40–45 μl of medium. The clinical pregnancy, implantation, and ongoing pregnancy rates were compared between the two groups.

Results

No statistically significant differences were observed in clinical pregnancy (46.8 vs 54.3%, p = 0.27), implantation (23.7 vs 27.8%, p = 0.30), and ongoing pregnancy (33.3 vs 40.0%, p = 0.31) rates between low and high volume group, respectively.

Conclusion

Higher volume of culture medium to load the embryo into the catheter during embryo transfer does not influence the clinical outcome in fresh IVF cycles.

Trial registration number: NCT03350646

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Schoolcraft WB, Surrey ES, Gardner DK. Embryo transfer: techniques and variables affecting success. Fertil Steril. 2001;76:863–70.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Bontekoe S, Heineman MJ, Johnson N, Blake D. Adherence compounds in embryo transfer media for assisted reproductive technologies. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014;2:CD007421.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Abou-Setta AM, Al-Inany HG, Mansour RT, Serour GI, Aboulghar MA. Soft versus firm embryo transfer catheters for assisted reproduction: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Hum Reprod. 2005;20:3114–21.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Mansour RT, Aboulghar MA. Optimizing the embryo transfer technique. Hum Reprod. 2002;17:1149–53.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Sigalos G, Triantafyllidou O, Vlahos N. How do laboratory embryo transfer techniques affect IVF outcomes? A review of current literature. Hum Fertil (Camb). 2017;20:3–13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Poindexter AN 3rd, Thompson DJ, Gibbons WE, Findley WE, Dodson MG, Young RL. Residual embryos in failed embryo transfer. Fertil Steril. 1986;46:262–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Leeton J, Trounson A, Jessup D, Wood C. The technique for human embryo transfer. Fertil Steril. 1982;38:156–61.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Ebner T, Yaman C, Moser M, Sommergruber M, Polz W, Tews G. The ineffective loading process of the embryo transfer catheter alters implantation and pregnancy rates. Fertil Steril. 2001;76:630–2.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Montag M, Kupka M, van der Ven K, van der Ven H. Embryo transfer on day 3 using low versus high fluid volume. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2002;102:57–60.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Lee HC, Seifer DB, Shelden RM. Impact of retained embryos on the outcome of assisted reproductive technologies. Fertil Steril. 2004;82:334–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Halvaei I, Khalili MA, Razi MH, Agha-Rahimi A, Nottola SA. Impact of different embryo loading techniques on pregnancy rates in in vitro fertlization/embryo transfer cycles. J Hum Reprod Sci. 2013;6:65–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  12. Christianson MS, Zhao Y, Shoham G, Granot I, Safran A, Khafagy A, et al. Embryo catheter loading and embryo culture techniques: results of a worldwide web-based survey. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2014;31:1029–36.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  13. World Health Organization. WHO Laboratory Manual for the Examination and Processing of Human Semen, 2010 5th edn Geneva World Health Organization.

  14. Alpha Scientists in Reproductive M, Embryology ESIGo. The Istanbul consensus workshop on embryo assessment: proceedings of an expert meeting. Hum Reprod. 2011;26:1270–83.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. De los Santos MJ, Apter S, Coticchio G, Debrock S, Lundin K, Plancha CE, et al. Revised guidelines for good practice in IVF laboratories (2015). Hum Reprod. 2016;31:685–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Friedman BE, Lathi RB, Henne MB, Fisher SL, Milki AA. The effect of air bubble position after blastocyst transfer on pregnancy rates in IVF cycles. Fertil Steril. 2011;95:944–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Schulman JD. Delayed expulsion of transfer fluid after IVF/ET. Lancet. 1986;1(8471):44.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Gambadauro P, Navaratnarajah R. Reporting of embryo transfer methods in IVF research: a cross-sectional study. Reprod BioMed Online. 2015;30:137–43.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Hearns-Stokes RM, Miller BT, Scott L, Creuss D, Chakraborty PK, Segars JH. Pregnancy rates after embryo transfer depend on the provider at embryo transfer. Fertil Steril. 2000;74:80–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Brown J, Buckingham K, Buckett W, Abou-Setta AM. Ultrasound versus ‘clinical touch’ for catheter guidance during embryo transfer in women. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;3:CD006107.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Kava-Braverman A, Martinez F, Rodriguez I, Alvarez M, Barri PN, Coroleu B. What is a difficult transfer? Analysis of 7,714 embryo transfers: the impact of maneuvers during embryo transfers on pregnancy rate and a proposal of objective assessment. Fertil Steril. 2017;107:657–63 e1.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Krampl E, Zegermacher G, Eichler C, Obruca A, Strohmer H, Feichtinger W. Air in the uterine cavity after embryo transfer. Fertil Steril. 1995;63:366–70.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Abou-Setta AM. Air fluid versus fluid-only models of embryo catheter loading: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Reprod BioMed Online. 2007;14:80–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Grygoruk C, Pietrewicz P, Modlinski JA, Gajda B, Greda P, Grad I, et al. Influence of embryo transfer on embryo preimplantation development. Fertil Steril. 2012;97:1417–21.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Schoolcraft WB. Importance of embryo transfer technique in maximizing assisted reproductive outcomes. Fertil Steril. 2016;105:855–60.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Bodri D, Colodron M, Garcia D, Obradors A, Vernaeve V, Coll O. Transvaginal versus transabdominal ultrasound guidance for embryo transfer in donor oocyte recipients: a randomized clinical trial. Fertil Steril. 2011;95:2263–8. 8 e1

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aretaieion Hospital, University of Athens, Athens, Greece

    George Α. Sigalos & Nikos F. Vlahos

  2. Reproductive Medicine Unit, “Leto” Maternity Hospital, Athens, Greece

    George Α. Sigalos, Yannis Michalopoulos, Athanasios G. Kastoras & Olga Triantafyllidou

Authors
  1. George Α. Sigalos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yannis Michalopoulos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Athanasios G. Kastoras
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Olga Triantafyllidou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Nikos F. Vlahos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to George Α. Sigalos.

Ethics declarations

The study was approved by the Aretaieion University Hospital ethics committee (School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, registration no. B-74/30-10-2014). Informed consent form was obtained from all patients.

Conflicts of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Sigalos, G.Α., Michalopoulos, Y., Kastoras, A.G. et al. Low versus high volume of culture medium during embryo transfer: a randomized clinical trial. J Assist Reprod Genet 35, 693–699 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-017-1099-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-017-1099-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation