Tubal embryo transfer as a treatment for infertility due to male factor

Abstract

Transvaginal follicular aspiration (TVA) with ultrasonically guided needles allows the transfer of in vitro generated embryos to the fallopian tubes (TET), performing only one surgical procedure in the process. Up to now, this approach has been used to treat 16 couples with infertility due to severe male factor. Follicular development was induced with a combination of clomiphene citrate and human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) or follicle-stimulating hormone and hMG. Follicles were aspirated by TVA 36 hours after an injection of human chorionic gonadotropin 10,000 IU intramuscularly. A total of 169 oocytes were recovered (10.5 +/- 6.9 X +/- SD) from the 16 patients. There was failure of fertilization in 6 cases. In the remaining 10, a TET was performed 44 to 50 hours after TVA, utilizing embryos at the pronuclear stage. Six pregnancies resulted from the 10 transfers. This technique combines the advantages of proof of fertilization with a more adequate tubal embryo development and entrance to the uterine cavity that may determine and increase chance of implantation.