Dummy embryo transfer using methylene blue dye

Abstract

The aim of this prospective work was to evaluate different catheters and techniques used for embryo transfer. Studies were performed on 105 IVF patients before the start of treatment cycles. Each patient was used as her own control to study the expulsion of methylene blue (MB) dye after dummy embryo transfer. Group A (n = 35) underwent the test twice, before and after aspiration of the cervical mucus. Group B (n = 30) underwent the test twice with and without the presence of two air bubbles in the embryo transfer catheter. Group C (n = 40) underwent the test twice using two different catheters, the Wallace and the Craft catheters. The results showed that the dye was extruded at the external os in 57% of the cases when the cervical mucus was not aspirated compared to 23% when the mucus was aspirated (P = 0.01). The dye was extruded in 33% of the cases with air bubbles in the catheter as compared to 27% when no air was present (P > 0.05). When the Wallace catheter was used expulsion occurred in 25.5% compared to 77.5% when the Craft catheter was used. We concluded that using soft catheters and complete aspiration of cervical mucus significantly reduced the expulsion of the dye. The presence of air bubbles did not affect rate of expulsion of the dye.