Laparoscopic or ultrasonically guided follicle aspiration for in vitro fertilization?

Ultrasonically guided follicular aspiration is presented as an alternative method to laparoscopy for oocyte harvesting. The method is described in detail and compared to laparoscopic oocyte pickup. The success rate of this technique reached in 1984 compared to that of laparoscopic oocyte pickup was the same: the oocyte recovery rate was 93%, the fertilization rate was 58%, and the pregnancy rate was 13% (normal ongoing pregnancies per treatment cycle). Ultrasonically guided follicular aspiration is shown to be superior to laparoscopic oocyte recovery as far as ovarian accessibility and complication rate are concerned.