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Association between oocyte retrieval technique and number of oocytes retrieved

  • Assisted Reproduction Technologies
  • Published:
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To assess if there is an optimal oocyte retrieval (OR) technique to retrieve a maximum number of oocytes and mature oocytes (MII).

Methods

Retrospective cohort study in which nine physicians completed a survey on OR techniques. Number of oocytes/follicle cohort, MIIs/follicle cohort, and MIIs/oocytes retrieved (%MII) were assessed for each technique for patients undergoing OR from 3/2013 to 7/2019. Data were stratified by number of follicles on ultrasound on day of trigger (< 6, 6–10, > 10).

Results

Patient demographics were equivalent between techniques. For < 6 follicles, three techniques resulted in significantly fewer oocyte/follicle (0.97 ± 0.48, 0.95 ± 0.66, and 0.90 ± 0.41) compared to the top-performing technique (TPT) (1.11 ± 0.55). For 6–10 follicles, two techniques resulted in significantly fewer oocyte/follicle (0.95 ± 0.39 and 0.93 ± 0.35) compared to the TPT (1.06 ± 0.42). A different technique had higher %MII (0.77 ± 0.19) compared to two techniques (0.74 ± 0.21 and 0.72 ± 0.22). For > 10 follicles, two techniques resulted in significantly fewer oocyte/follicle (1.01 ± 0.42 and 1.07 ± 0.40) compared to the TPT (1.15 ± 0.41). These two techniques also resulted in fewer MII/follicle (0.75 ± 0.33 and 0.81 ± 0.34 vs. 0.87 ± 0.34). There was no consistent TPT across follicle number groups or for all outcome variables.

Conclusions

There does not appear to be a clear TPT, even for patients with few follicles. Providers who perform OR in a similar fashion to physicians at our institution should feel confident that those techniques obtain equivalent oocyte yields.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, 75 Francis St, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    C. E. Gordon, A. Lanes, S. S. Srouji & E. S. Ginsburg

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  1. C. E. Gordon
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  2. A. Lanes
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  3. S. S. Srouji
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  4. E. S. Ginsburg
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection, and analysis were performed by Catherine E Gordon and Andrea Lanes. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Catherine E Gordon and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to C. E. Gordon.

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Gordon, C.E., Lanes, A., Srouji, S.S. et al. Association between oocyte retrieval technique and number of oocytes retrieved. J Assist Reprod Genet 39, 2747–2754 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-022-02650-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-022-02650-6

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