The effect of retained embryos on pregnancy outcome in an in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer program

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of retained embryos and its impact on pregnancy outcome in the absence of known risk factors like blood and mucus in the transfer catheter. The factors that could be associated with embryo retention were also investigated.Study designThe results of all embryo transfer procedures performed at Ankara IVF Center between January 2003 and December 2005 were analyzed retrospectively. Three hundred and five embryo transfers, in which the transfer catheter was contaminated with blood or mucus, were excluded and the remaining 1454 embryo transfers, with clean catheter, were enrolled into the study. Both fresh (n = 1422) and frozen (n = 32) embryo transfers were included.ResultsThe overall incidence of retained embryos during study period was 2.8% (41/1454) following a clean initial embryo transfer. The mean age of the female partner, mean number of retrieved oocytes, MII oocytes, fertilized oocytes and the embryos transferred were similar in patients with and without retained embryos. The 1454 embryo transfers performed during the study period resulted in 712 pregnancies (49%), of which 639 proved to be clinical pregnancies with a rate of 44%. The implantation rate was 22.8%. Pregnancy outcomes including positive β-hCG (58.5% versus 48.7%), biochemical (4.7% versus 5.1%) and clinical pregnancy rates (53.6% versus 43.6%), implantation rate (24% versus 22.7%) and multiple pregnancy rate (36.3% versus 44.7%) were not significantly different between patients with and without retained embryos. An influence of individual physicians and embryologists on the frequency of retained embryos was not detected. The type of embryo transfer catheter used did not show any difference in terms of embryo retention. The cleavage stages of embryos were not different between groups. Although it was not statistically significant, the number of embryos transferred appeared to be a potentially confounding factor for retained embryos (p = 0.053) and it might be significant in a slightly larger sample. When transfer of one or two embryos was compared to three or more embryos, the likelihood of retained embryos increased from 1.2% (4/321) to 3.2% (37/1133).ConclusionRetained embryos in the transfer catheter and immediate retransfer of them have no adverse impact on clinical pregnancy and implantation rates unless other previously reported signs of difficult transfer are also observed.