Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 11, 2026
Human Egg Maturity Assessment and Its Clinical Application
Published on: August 19, 2019
Predictive value of the time interval between embryo loading and transfer for IVF/ICSI success: a prospective cohort
Kazem Nouri1, Clemens B Tempfer2,3, Katharina Walch4
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clinical Department of Gynecologic Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria. kazem.nouri@meduniwien.ac.at.
Background:
The influence of embryo loading time (ELT) and the time interval between embryo loading and embryo transfer (TIEL-ET) on the success of IVF/ICSI is unknown.
Methods:
In a prospective cohort study, we aimed to ascertain the influence of ELT and TIEL-ET on ongoing pregnancy rate (OPR) and life birth rate (LBR). Data from 603 consecutive embryo transfers between January 2008 and December 2013 were collected. A complete data set including the outcomes of interest OPR and LBR was available for 410 women. The primary outcome was IVF/ICSI success, defined as OPR and LBR.
Results:
We used univariate and multivariate logistic regression for analysis. In a multivariate analysis, age (odds ratio [OR] 0.94; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.89-0.99), catheter type (OR 0.45; 95% CI 0.24-0.84), and uterine length (OR 1.03; 95% CI 1.01-1.06), but not ELT and TIELT-ET were independently associated with OPR. Regarding LBR, age (OR 0.93; 95% CI 0.88-0.98), catheter type (OR 0.41; 95% CI 0.22-0.79), and uterine length (OR 1.03; 95% CI 1.01-1.06), but not ELT and TIELT-ET were independent predictors.
Conclusion:
We conclude that speed of embryo transfer is not critical for the success of IVF/ICSI. However, care should be taken to choose catheter types proven to be associated with a high success rate.
