The efficacy of the embryo transfer catheter in IVF and ICSI is operator-dependent: a randomized clinical trial

In conclusion we have found that variation in pregnancy rates between embryo transfer catheters depends on the variation between operators. Although the present randomized prospective study did not detect a significant difference in overall success rate between the Cook and Frydman catheter, when correcting for the effect of operator by employing interaction terms between catheter and operator, a subgroup analysis revealed that our study involved three different types of operators: the first worked equally well with Cook and Frydman, the second worked better with Cook, and the third with Frydman. This effect was regardless of the absence of significant differences in total success rate among the three operators collapsing over the two types of catheter.

There are no differences in pregnancy rates in IVF between two different types of transfercatheter

Trial closed january 2006

A prospective randomized trial comparing Cook K-SOFT-5100 and Frydman classical catheter 4.5 was performed. Three experienced operators participated in the trial, using a fixed distance transfer protocol. Primary endpoint was clinical pregnancy rate, secondary endpoints were rates of difficult transfer and of catheter failure. Patients were randomized by a computer program immediately prior to embryo transfer.