Follicle curetting at the time of oocyte retrieval increases the oocyte yield

Purpose: To determine whether follicle curetting at the time of oocyte retrieval increases oocyte yield. Methods: Retrospective review of all patients who underwent oocyte retrieval from July 1, 2003 to June 30, 2005. Main outcome measure: Number of oocytes retrieved. Secondary outcome measures: retrieval time, number of cryopreserved embryos, pregnancy rates, and incidence of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Results: There were no differences in patient demographics, antral follicle count, cycle stimulation characteristics, fertilization rates, embryo quantity or quality, embryo cryopreservation rates, clinical pregnancy rates, live birth rates, or ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome between the groups. Retrievals that utilized curetting took three minutes longer. Follicle curetting significantly increased the number of oocytes retrieved, 13.9±0.6 compared to 11.4±0.6 oocytes without curetting (P=0.003). The quantity of mature oocytes was also increased with curetting (10.3±0.5 versus 8.4±0.5, P=0.006). Conclusions: This study demonstrated that follicle curetting significantly increased oocyte yield. While it did not increase live birth rates, this increase in oocyte yield should lead to increased numbers of embryos for selection at transfer and increased embryos for cryopreservation.