A Meta-analysis of Ultrasound-guided Versus Clinical Touch Embryo Transfer

Objective: To determine the relative efficacy of ultrasound-guided embryo transfer and embryo transfer by clinical touch alone.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials comparing ultrasound-guided embryo transfer with embryo transfer by clinical touch alone.

Setting: Infertility centers providing treatment with in vitro fertilization/embryo transfer.

Patient(s): Women undergoing embryo transfer.

Intervention(s): Embryo transfer with or without transabdominal ultrasound guidance.

Main Outcome Measure(s): Clinical pregnancy rate and embryo implantation rate.

Result(s): A total of eight prospective controlled trials were identified. Of these studies, four were nonrandomized or quasi-randomized and four were genuinely randomized. Meta-analysis demonstrated a significantly increased chance of clinical pregnancy following ultrasound-guided embryo transfer in all studies and in the genuinely randomized subgroup. The embryo implantation rate was also significantly increased following ultrasound-guided embryo transfer.

Conclusion(s): Ultrasound-guided embryo transfer significantly increases the chance of clinical pregnancy and significantly increases the embryo implantation rate.