Introduction of the method of intravaginal culture (IVC), through the device INVOCell routine laboratory RHA in...

The conventional in vitro fertilization and the intracytoplasmic sperm microinjection are currently the established techniques for the treatment of infertility. In the last decade, however, the process of in vitro fertilization has suffered several changes in ovulation induction and oocyte retrieval (Ranoux 1990, ; ).The INVO procedure has been used to treat patients with different causes of infertility in many countries. This is a procedure which was developed over 20 years ago and is simpler and less costly to the infertility treatment when compared to conventional techniques. Interesting finding of this intravaginal culture technique are the physiological benefits and the reduction of the number of handling steps, reducing the risk of contamination.

This study aimed to evaluate the possibility of including the method INVO through the use of the deviceINVOCell™ in routine laboratory treatments of couple infertility. That, in turn, tends to provide the simplification of laboratory work and thereby reduce the costs of infertility treatment.

40 women were included in this study, who were treated at the Service of Human Reproduction School Hospital Álvaro Alvim, in the period from August 2011 to January 2012. On all of them it was used the protocol of modified mild ovarian stimulation. The number of pre-embryos transferred into the uterine cavity followed the CFM Resolution nº. 1.957/10.

There was no significant difference in the results presented by the device INVOCell™. Therefore showing that it can be included in routine laboratory assisted human reproduction.