Human Reproduction vol.14 no.3 pp.590–592, 1999 OPINION

The success rate after treatment by in-vitro fertilization (IVF) depends on the characteristics of the couples being treated, and the performance of the clinic. The former cannot be changed, and embryology laboratories have worked hard to optimize procedures. Numerous studies have been reported on how to improve insemination and culture procedures. The clinicians ’ role is confined to stimulation, oocyte collection and embryo transfer. Although each edition of journals on reproductive medicine contains some reports on various stimu-lation regimens, the physical aspects of oocyte collection and embryo transfer have received limited interest. We confirmed the efficacy of transvaginal oocyte collection (Kovacs et al., 1990) and reported on the physical effects on the oocyte (Horne et al., 1996). There has been no change in the technique of oocyte collection for the last decade, and mos