Four-dimensional ultrasound guided embryo transfers improve live birth rates when compared to the clinical touch technique: a randomised controlled trial.

Nancarrow, L, Tempest, Nicola ORCID: 0000-0002-5209-2985, Lane, S, Homburg, R, Russell, R and Hapangama, DK ORCID: 0000-0003-0270-0150 (2023) Four-dimensional ultrasound guided embryo transfers improve live birth rates when compared to the clinical touch technique: a randomised controlled trial. Scientific reports, 13 (1). p. 14875.

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-41313-z

Abstract

Most aspects of in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) have changed dramatically since introduction, but embryo transfer (ET) technique remains largely unaltered. We aimed to determine whether four-dimensional ultrasound guided embryo transfers (4D UGET) could improve pregnancy rates when compared with clinical touch technique (CTT). This was a single centre open labelled randomised controlled trial in a tertiary fertility centre in the UK. 320 women were randomised on the day of single ET. The primary outcome was clinical pregnancy rate (CPR), secondary outcomes included live birth rate (LBR), biochemical pregnancy rate (BPR), miscarriage, pregnancy of unknown location (PUL) and ectopic pregnancy. 4D-UGET resulted in significantly higher CPR [50% vs 36% p = 0.02, OR 1.78 (1.12-2.84)] and LBR [41% vs 28%, p = 0.02, OR 1.77 (1.09-2.87)] when compared to CTT technique. Miscarriage (p = 0.49), PUL (p = 0.14) and ectopic pregnancy (p = 0.96) were similar between the two groups. LBR, from this trial, are significantly higher than the current UK average (41% vs 24%). 4D UGET allows for superior imaging of the uterine cavity, whilst tailoring the embryo deposition point specifically to the patient. Further RCTs are required to determine if these results can be replicated in other units and whether 4D UGET is superior to 2D UGET.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Humans, Abortion, Spontaneous, Pregnancy, Ectopic, Ultrasonography, Interventional, Embryo Transfer, Birth Rate, Touch, Pregnancy, Female
Divisions:	Faculty of Health and Life Sciences Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Life Courses and Medical Sciences
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	18 Sep 2023 08:07
Last Modified:	18 Sep 2023 08:07
DOI:	10.1038/s41598-023-41313-z
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3172809