Serum oxytocin concentration during embryo transfer procedure

Serum oxytocin concentration during embryo transfer procedure. Objective: T o determine the effect of the embryo transfer (ET) procedure on serum conce ntration of oxytocin. Study Design: Prospective clinical study of 10 women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment with ET in the Section of Reproductive Medicine and Endocrinology at the Department of Obstetrics an d Gynecology, University of Bonn, Germany. Serial blood samples were collec ted in time intervals of 20 s during embryo transfer procedure and serum ox ytocin concentration was measured. Results: In the absence of tenaculum pla cement, none of the procedures associated with ET led to an increase in ser um oxytocin concentration. When tenaculum placement was used, it was tempor ally (four out of five patients) associated with an elevation in oxytocin l evel, which remained elevated until of the end of ET procedure. Conclusion: Application of a cervical tenaculum during ET or possibly also during intr a uterine insemination (TUI) procedure can stimulate the release of oxytoci n in some patients. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reser ved.