A monocentric randomized controlled clinical trial to compare single- and double-lumen needles in oocytes retrieval procedure in Assisted Reproductive Technologies

The present randomized controlled trial included oocytes retrieval procedures in IVF and ICSI cycles performed in 18/42-year-old women between March 2019 and January 2021 at a tertiary-care Fertility Centre, using two different needles: the single-lumen needle (SLN) with aspiration versus the double-lumen needle (DLN) with follicle flushing after aspiration. The purpose was to determine any difference in outcomes between the two different needles, primarily in terms of number of retrieved oocytes per procedure. A total of 200 ORs were randomized, 100 in each group. No significant difference in the number of retrieved oocytes between the groups (10.2 ± 6.5 for DLNs vs 10.7 ± 7.0 for SLNs, p = 0.810) was recorded. No significant differences were observed also in terms of number of retrieved oocytes/punctured follicles (83.0%±27.0% vs 81.0%±22.0%, p = 0.916), number of retrieved oocytes/follicles at trigger (78.0% ± 29.0% vs 78.0% ± 27.0%, p = 0.881), number of mature oocytes (7.6 ± 5.3 vs 8.0 ± 5.1, p = 0.519) and pregnancy rate (27% vs 23%, p = 0.514). However, the time required to retrieve each oocyte was longer using the DLN (1.5 ± 1.3 vs 1.1 ± 0.9 minutes, p = 0.002). To conclude, the present study confirmed the new perspectives on the sole use of SLNs in terms of saving time, without affecting the number of retrieved oocytes.