Dados do Trabalho

Title

Analysis of embryo transfer catheter: the effect of mucus, blood and retained embryo in pregnancy rates

Objective

To evaluate if embryo retention and the presence of blood or mucus in the embryo transfer catheter affects embryo transfer outcome.

Methods

Frozen embryo transfers performed in a single center between January 2022 and May 2023 were analyzed retrospectively. Only patients with good quality embryos were included in the study. At the time of embryo transfer, information about the presence of blood, mucus and embryo retention in the catheter set were recorded. Pregnancy outcome was assessed through a β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hcg) blood test 12 days after embryo transfer.

Results

One hundred and twelve patients were eligible for the study. In 51 cases (45.5%), the catheter was clean after transfer, whereas blood was detected in 34 (30.3%), mucus in 47 (42%) and embryo retention in 9 (8%). Forty eight patients had a positive β-hcg test, corresponding to 42.8%. Embryo retention did not impact pregnancy outcome [33.3% vs 43.6% (p=0.547)], neither the presence of blood [38.2% vs 44.8% (p=0.514)] or mucus [34% vs 49.2% (p=0.109)] in the catheter (presence and absence groups, respectively). Multivariable analysis also confirmed our results that blood, mucus and retained embryo did not affect pregnancy rates (p>0.05).

Conclusion

Our data indicates that embryo retention, blood or mucus in the embryo transfer catheter has no impact on pregnancy rates.

Keywords

embryo transfer, pregnancy rates, blood in the catheter, mucus in the catheter, retained embryo