Fertility and Sterility
Volume 91, Issue 4, Supplement , Pages 1381-1384 , April 2009

Ovarian follicular flushing among low-responding patients undergoing assisted reproductive technology

  • Eric D. Levens, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • Walter Reed Army Medical Center ART Program, Washington, D.C.
    • Combined Federal Fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the National Institutes of Health, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, National Naval Medical Center, and Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
    • Reproductive Biology and Medicine Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests: Eric D. Levens, M.D., Reproductive Biology and Medicine Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Building 10, CRC, Room E1-3140, 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892 (FAX: 301-402-0884).
    • ,
  • Brian W. Whitcomb, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
    • ,
  • Mark D. Payson, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • Walter Reed Army Medical Center ART Program, Washington, D.C.
    • Combined Federal Fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the National Institutes of Health, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, National Naval Medical Center, and Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
    • ,
  • Frederick W. Larsen, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • Walter Reed Army Medical Center ART Program, Washington, D.C.
    • Combined Federal Fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the National Institutes of Health, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, National Naval Medical Center, and Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland

Received 6 February 2008 ,Revised 15 April 2008 ,Accepted 16 April 2008.

References 

  1. Gembruch U, Diedrich K, Welker B, Wahode J, van der Ven H, Al-Hasani S, et al. Transvaginal sonographically guided oocyte retrieval for in-vitro fertilization. Hum Reprod. 1988;(3 Suppl 2):59–63
  2. Wikland M, Enk L, Hamberger L. Transvesical and transvaginal approaches for the aspiration of follicles by use of ultrasound. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1985;442:182–194
  3. Ludwig AK, Glawatz M, Griesinger G, Diedrich K, Ludwig M. Perioperative and post-operative complications of transvaginal ultrasound–guided oocyte retrieval: prospective study of >1000 oocyte retrievals. Hum Reprod. 2006;21:3235–3240
  4. Knight DC, Tyler JP, Driscoll GL. Follicular flushing at oocyte retrieval: a reappraisal. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol. 2001;41:210–213
  5. Levens ED, Whitcomb BW, Kort JD, Materia-Hoover D, Larsen FW. Microdose follicular flare: a viable alternative for normal-responding patients undergoing in vitro fertilization? Fertil Steril. Published online 2 February 2008 [Epub ahead of print].
  6. el Hussein E, Balen AH, Tan SL. A prospective study comparing the outcome of oocytes retrieved in the aspirate with those retrieved in the flush during transvaginal ultrasound directed oocyte recovery for in-vitro fertilization. Br J Obstet Gynaecol. 1992;99:841–844
  7. Scott RT, Hofmann GE, Muasher SJ, Acosta AA, Kreiner DK, Rosenwaks Z. A prospective randomized comparison of single- and double-lumen needles for transvaginal follicular aspiration. J In Vitro Fert Embryo Transf. 1989;6:98–100
  8. Kingsland CR, Taylor CT, Aziz N, Bickerton N. Is follicular flushing necessary for oocyte retrieval? A randomized trial. Hum Reprod. 1991;6:382–383
  9. Tan SL, Waterstone J, Wren M, Parsons J. A prospective randomized study comparing aspiration only with aspiration and flushing for transvaginal ultrasound–directed oocyte recovery. Fertil Steril. 1992;58:356–360
  10. Bagtharia S, Haloob AR. Is there a benefit from routine follicular flushing for oocyte retrieval?. J Obstet Gynaecol. 2005;25:374–376
  11. Confino E, Gleicher N, Keskey TS, Friberg J, Dudkiewicz A. Comparison between 14“ and 16” gauge needles for aspiration of human oocytes. Mt Sinai J Med. 1986;53:250–253
  12. Reeves G. Single- and double-lumen needles for oocyte harvesting. J In Vitro Fert Embryo Transf. 1989;6:353–355
  13. Haines CJ, Emes AL, O'Shea RT, Weiss TJ. Choice of needle for ovum pickup. J In Vitro Fert Embryo Transf. 1989;6:111–112
  14. Waterstone JJ, Parsons JH. A prospective study to investigate the value of flushing follicles during transvaginal ultrasound–directed follicle aspiration. Fertil Steril. 1992;57:221–223

 E.D.L. has nothing to disclose. B.W.W. has nothing to disclose. M.D.P. has nothing to disclose. F.W.L. has nothing to disclose.

 Supported in part by the Reproductive Biology and Medicine Branch and the Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.

 Presented in part at the 63rd Annual Meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Washington, D.C., October 13–17, 2007.

 The opinions or assertions contained herein are the private views of the authors and are not to be construed as official or as reflecting the views of the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of the Army, or the Department of Defense.

PII: S0015-0282(08)00949-7

doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.04.034

Fertility and Sterility
Volume 91, Issue 4, Supplement , Pages 1381-1384 , April 2009

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