Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34198995›Full record

ArticleJournal of clinical medicine2021

National Survey Highlights the Urgent Need for Standardisation of Embryo Transfer Techniques in the UK.

Lewis Nancarrow, Nicola Tempest, Andrew J Drakeley, Roy Homburg, Richard Russell, Dharani K Hapangama

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of clinical medicine, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
1.3field-weighted citation impact, top 18% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 6 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Trial
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Lewis NancarrowCentre for Women's Health Research, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Member of Liverpool Health Partners, Liverpool L8 7SS, UK.
Nicola TempestCentre for Women's Health Research, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Member of Liverpool Health Partners, Liverpool L8 7SS, UK.ORCID 0000-0003-3633-1592
Andrew J DrakeleyHewitt Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool L8 7SS, UK.
Roy HomburgHomerton Fertility Unit, Homerton University Hospital, Homerton Row, London E9 6SR, UK.
Richard RussellHewitt Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool L8 7SS, UK.
Dharani K HapangamaCentre for Women's Health Research, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Member of Liverpool Health Partners, Liverpool L8 7SS, UK.ORCID 0000-0003-0270-0150
University of Liverpool · GBHomerton University Hospital · GB

Funding

Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust Clinical research fellowshipNIHR NIHR clinical lectureship to Nicola TempestWellbeing of Women RTF510, RG1073 and RG2137
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Embryo transfer (ET) is one of the vital steps in the in vitro fertilisation (IVF) process, yet there is wide variation in ET technique throughout the UK, without a nationally approved standardised approach. The aim of this study was to gain contemporaneous information regarding the current clinical ET practice in the UK.

methodA 38-question electronic survey was distributed to the 79 UK Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) registered clinics performing ETs.

resultsIn total, 59% (47/79) of units responded, 83% (39/47) performing ultrasound-guided transfers, with 42% (20/47) of units using a tenaculum; 22% (10/45) would proceed with transfer regardless of fluid in the endometrial cavity. In 91% (43/47) of units, embryos were deposited in the upper/middle portion of the uterine cavity, but interpretation of this area ranged from 0.5 to >2 cm from the fundus, with 68% (32/47) allowing patients to mobilise immediately after transfer. In 60% (27/45) of clinics, success rates were based on clinical pregnancy rates (CPR).

conclusionWithin the UK there is a wide range of variability in ET techniques, with >70% of discordance in survey-responses between clinics. Whilst there are areas of good practice, some disadvantageous techniques continue to persist. This survey emphasises the importance of developing a standardised, evidence-based approach to improve ET success rates.

Indexed as

embryo transferin vitro fertilisationIVFstandardisationsurvey

Identifiers

PMID34198995
PMCPMC8267796
OpenAlexW3173434647

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.