Embryo Transfer

The success of assisted reproductive technology depends on maximizing the efficiency of each step. Embryo transfer (ET) is considered the final and critical step in the laborious process of in vitro fertilization treatment. The embryo transfer aims to place embryos accurately in the uterine cavity without trauma to the endometrium to allow for healthy embryonic development. Any problems in this step will ruin the accumulated efforts of the laboratory and significantly reduce pregnancy rates. A smooth embryo transfer depends on many factors, such as the embryologist’s experience, reagents, types and pieces of equipment, and the degree of difficulty encountered during uterine cavity entry. Nowadays, the most accepted and extended ET method for cleavage-stage embryos and blastocysts is to transfer the embryos to the uterine cavity through the cervical canal, i.e., transcervical ET. This chapter focuses on laboratory practices; only after standardizing an ET protocol will it be possible to maximize IVF success. While each laboratory has its ET regimen, herein, we provide a set of standard operating procedures and quality management schemes based on international consensus and evidence-based medicine.