Preliminary results on transvaginal tubal embryo stage transfer (TV-TEST) without ultrasound guidance

Abstract

IVF procedures have been increasingly used in male subfertility for both therapeutic and diagnostic purposes. As we assume a positive influence of the tubal milieu on the early embryonal development, any therapy should aim at intratubal embryo transfer. In this respect, only invasive techniques such as laparoscopy or laparotomy have been available hitherto (Asch et al., 1986; Balmaceda et al., 1988; Diedrich et al., 1989). Transvaginal intra-tubal embryo stage transfer (TV-TEST) was performed in 15 patients. After stimulation with clomiphene/HMG, HMG or GnRHA/HMG, patients with a follicle size of 18 mm were given 10000 IU HCG. Thirty six hours later, the transvaginal oocyte retrieval was performed without anaesthesia. Altogether, 109 oocytes were recovered. A fertilization rate of 30.3% yielded 33 embryos. Forty-eight hours after oocyte retrieval, the TV-TEST was performed without anaesthesia, in the course of which a maximum of three embryos in the 2- to 8-cell stage were transferred into one tube. Six of these patients are now pregnant.