[Effect of oocyte transportation (IVF transport) on effectiveness of the IVF and ET program]

The programme of in vitro fertilization helps at present an ever increasing number of married couples to resolve successfully the problem of sterility. It is however a method pretentions technically, as regards time, material and in particular funds. This applies above all to embryological laboratories. The transport system of the IVF programme makes possible care of patients indicated for sterility treatment by the IVF method in departments without their own embryological laboratory and thus it is possible to include more patients in the programme and save money. In the author's department the first two stages of the IVF programme are implemented, i.e. stimulation of the ovaries and aspiration of follicular fluid. Then this material is taken in a transport box of the K-system Co., Denmark, type G-81E to a centre with full accreditation where the subsequent stages of the IVF programme take place (selection of the oocyte, fertilization, cultivation of embryos and embryo transfer). The transport system has operated now for three years (1995-1997) and at present the authors evaluate the system. The fertility rate and pregnancy rate in individual years was compared and the following conclusions were reached: The fertility rate is significantly (at the 1% level) lower in the transport centre in 1995 and 1996 (47%, 54%) as compared with the other centre the laboratory of which is used by the authors (57%, 61%). In 1997 the difference is no longer significant (63% x 64%). The difference in the pregnancy rate in centres for aspiration and embryo transfer in both centres is insignificant in the years of investigation. It may thus be stated that the oocyte transport does not have a negative influence on the effectiveness of the IVF + ET programme (same pregnancy rate) and thus makes it possible to include a greater and ever increasing number of patients in the IVF programme by making use of reserve capacities of embryological laboratories and thus reduce the total costs of this programme.