Ultrasonically guided percutaneous and laparoscopic oocyte aspiration: a comparative study

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Medicine
• Gynecologic Surgery
• In Vitro Fertilization

Background:

• Oocyte collection is a critical step in assisted reproductive technologies.
• Minimally invasive techniques are preferred for oocyte retrieval to improve patient outcomes and reduce complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of ultrasonically guided percutaneous puncture versus laparoscopy for oocyte collection in in vitro fertilization (IVF).
• To evaluate the performance of open versus closed needle systems within the ultrasonically guided approach.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 105 IVF cycles involving 65 patients.
• Oocyte collection performed using either ultrasonically guided percutaneous puncture (n=63) or laparoscopy (n=42).
• Comparison of follicle puncture rates, oocyte yield, and embryo development between techniques and needle systems.

Main Results:

• The mean number of punctured follicles per cycle was comparable between ultrasonically guided and laparoscopic methods.
• Laparoscopy resulted in a significantly higher mean number of oocytes per cycle compared to ultrasound guidance.
• The mean number of embryos per cycle did not differ significantly between the two main techniques.
• No significant difference in outcomes was observed between open and closed needle systems for ultrasound-guided aspiration.

Conclusions:

• Both ultrasonically guided percutaneous puncture and laparoscopy are effective for oocyte collection in IVF.
• While laparoscopy may yield more oocytes, the number of resulting embryos is comparable to ultrasound-guided aspiration.
• The choice of needle system for ultrasound-guided oocyte retrieval does not appear to impact key IVF outcomes.