Ultrasonically guided percutaneous and laparoscopic oocyte aspiration: a comparative study.

Oocyte collection for in vitro fertilization was performed in 105 cycles (65 patients) by ultrasonically guided percutaneous puncture (63 cycles) or laparoscopy (42 cycles). During the ultrasonically guided approach an open or closed needle system was used. During both ultrasonically guided and laparoscopic follicle aspiration, all visible follicles were punctured. The mean number of punctured follicles per cycle was comparable for both techniques. Despite a significantly higher mean number of oocytes per cycle harvested during laparoscopy, the mean number of embryos per cycle was not essentially different with the two techniques. Also no difference could be established between the ultrasonically guided open and closed needle systems.