Correlation of estrogen levels with oocytes aspirated and with pregnancy in a program of clinical tubal transfer.

Transfer of human spermatozoa and mature oocytes to patent fallopian tubes (tubal transfer, TT) in cases of infertility provides a successful, simple alternative to in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer. The authors report their second TT series performed between October 1, 1985 and February 1, 1986. Of 59 transfers, 18 clinical pregnancies were obtained, of which 2 were ectopic and 1 spontaneously aborted. A triplet pregnancy, 3 sets of twins, and 11 singleton pregnancies delivered normally. Pregnancy was highly correlated with number of mature oocytes aspirated and with number of oocytes transferred. The study demonstrates that, in combination, serum estrogen levels and number of developing follicles observed by ultrasound are predictive of the number of mature oocytes obtained at laparoscopy. These predictive values provide excellent criteria for selecting stimulation cycles for TT and for informing individual patients of the probability for success before surgery.