Double versus single intrauterine insemination (IUI) in stimulated cycles for subfertile couples.

BACKGROUND: In subfertile couples, couples who have tried to conceive for at least one year, intrauterine insemination (IUI) with ovarian hyperstimulation (OH) is one of the treatment modalities that can be offered. When IUI is performed a second IUI in the same cycle might add to the chances of conceiving. In a previous update of this review in 2010 it was shown that double IUI increases pregnancy rates when compared to single IUI. Since 2010, different clinical trials have been published with differing conclusions about whether double IUI increases pregnancy rates compared to single IUI. OBJECTIVES: To determine the effectiveness and safety of double intrauterine insemination (IUI) compared to single IUI in stimulated cycles for subfertile couples. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Gynaecology and Fertility (CGF) Group trials register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase and CINAHL in July 2020 and LILACS, Google scholar and Epistemonikos in February 2021, together with reference checking and contact with study authors and experts in the field to identify additional studies. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomised controlled, parallel trials of double versus single IUIs in stimulated cycles in subfertile couples. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two authors independently assessed trial quality and extracted data. We contacted study authors for additional information. MAIN RESULTS: We identified in nine studies involving subfertile women. The evidence was of low quality; the main limitations were unclear risk of bias, inconsistent results for some outcomes and imprecision, due to small trials with imprecise results. We are uncertain whether double IUI improves live birth rate compared to single IUI (odds ratio (OR) 1.15, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.71 to 1.88; I2 = 29%; studies = 3, participants = 468; low quality evidence). The evidence suggests that if the chance of live birth following single IUI is 16%, the chance of live birth following double IUI would be between 12% and 27%. Performing a sensitivity analysis restricted to only randomised controlled trials (RCTs) with low risk of selection bias showed similar results. We are uncertain whether double IUI reduces miscarriage rate compared to single IUI (OR 1.78, 95% CI 0.98 to 3.24; I2 = 0%; studies = 6, participants = 2363; low quality evidence). The evidence suggests that chance of miscarriage following single IUI is 1.5% and the chance following double IUI would be between 1.5% and 5%. The reported clinical pregnancy rate per woman randomised may increase with double IUI group (OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.23 to 1.86; I2 = 34%; studies = 9, participants = 2716; low quality evidence). This result should be interpreted with caution due to the low quality of the evidence and the moderate inconsistency. The evidence suggests that the chance of a pregnancy following single IUI is 14% and the chance following double IUI would be between 16% and 23%. We are uncertain whether double IUI affects multiple pregnancy rate compared to single IUI (OR 2.04, 95% CI 0.91 to 4.56; I2 = 8%; studies = 5; participants = 2203; low quality evidence). The evidence suggests that chance of multiple pregnancy following single IUI is 0.7% and the chance following double IUI would be between 0.85% and 3.7%. We are uncertain whether double IUI has an effect on ectopic pregnancy rate compared to single IUI (OR 1.22, 95% CI 0.35 to 4.28; I2 = 0%; studies = 4, participants = 1048; low quality evidence). The evidence suggests that the chance of an ectopic pregnancy following single IUI is 0.8% and the chance following double IUI would be between 0.3% and 3.2%. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Our main analysis, of which the evidence is low quality, shows that we are uncertain if double IUI improves live birth and reduces miscarriage compared to single IUI. Our sensitivity analysis restricted to studies of low risk of selection bias for both outcomes is consistent with the main analysis. Clinical pregnancy rate may increase in the double IUI group, but this should be interpreted with caution due to the low quality evidence. We are uncertain whether double IUI has an effect on multiple pregnancy rate and ectopic pregnancy rate compared to single IUI.

Donor IUI is equally effective for heterosexual couples, single women and lesbians, but autologous IUI does worse.

STUDY QUESTION: Are there differences in the clinical outcomes of IUI among different populational groups (heterosexual couples, single women and lesbian couples)? SUMMARY ANSWER: The outcome of donor IUI (D-IUI) is similar in all populational groups and better than that seen with autologous insemination. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: A vast body of literature on clinical outcome is available for counselling heterosexual couples regarding decisions related to ART. The reproductive potential of single women, lesbian couples and heterosexual couples who need donor semen is assumed to be better, but there is a scarcity of data on their ART performance to actually confirm it. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: In this retrospective multicentric cohort study, a total of 7228 IUI treatment cycles performed in 3807 patients between January 2013 and December 2016 in 13 private clinics belonging to the same reproductive medicine group in Spain were included. Patients with previous IUI attempts were excluded from the study. Only 1.9% of cycles were lost to follow-up. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: A total of 5318 D-IUI cycles were performed in three different populational groups: heterosexual couples (D-HC, 1167 cycles), single women (SW, 2839 cycles) and lesbian couples (LC, 1312), while a total of 1910 autologous IUI cycles were performed in heterosexual couples (A-HC). This last one was considered the control group and was composed of cycles performed in couples with a male partner with sperm parameters equivalent to those requested from donors. In order to identify factors with an impact on clinical outcome, a multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed. Regarding live birth rate (LBR), mixed effect models were employed to control for the fact that different patients were submitted to different numbers of treatments. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: Parameters that were significant to the primary outcome (LBR) according to the multivariate analysis were the populational group (D-HC, SW, LC and A-HC) to which the patient belonged, female age and a diagnosis of low ovarian reserve. At the age range of good prognosis (≤37 years), LBR was similar in all groups that underwent D-IUI (18.8% for D-HC, 16.5% for SW and 17.6% for LC) but was significantly lower in the autologous IUI (A-HC) group (11%). For all these significant findings, the strength of the association was confirmed by P values <0.001. From 38 years of age on, no significant differences were observed among the populational groups studied, and for all of them, LBR was below 7% from 40 years of age on. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: To the best of our knowledge, a smoking habit was the only known factor with a potential effect on ART outcome that could not be controlled for, due to the unavailability of this information in a significant percentage of the clinical files studied. Our study was not capable of precisely quantifying the impact of a diagnosis of low ovarian reserve on the LBR of both IUI and D-IUI, due to the number of cycles performed in patients with such diagnosis (n = 231, 3.2% of the total). WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: For the first time, a comparison among D-HC, SW, LC and A-HC was performed in a study with a robust sample size and controlling for potential sources of bias. There is now sound evidence that equivalent clinical outcome is seen in the three groups treated with donor semen (D-HC, SW and LC). Specifically, regarding the comparison between SW and LC, our findings rule out differences in LBR proposed by previous publications, with very similar clinical outcomes within the same age ranges. At age ranges of good prognosis (≤37 years), reproductive performance of D-IUI is significantly better than that seen in heterosexual couples undergoing autologous IUI, even when only cases of optimal sperm quality are considered in this last group. This finding is in agreement with the concept that, as a group, A-HC are more prone to have female factor infertility, even when their infertility assessment finds no contraindication to IUI. Age affects all these groups equally, with none of them reaching a 7% LBR after the age of 40 years. Our findings will be useful for the counselling of patients from the different populations studied here about ART strategies. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): None.

Clinical and neonatal outcomes of intrauterine insemination with frozen donor sperm.

This retrospective study evaluated the association between frozen donor sperm used for intrauterine insemination and clinical and neonatal outcomes, including 304 singleton pregnancies resulting from artificial insemination by the husband (AIH) and 173 singleton pregnancies resulting from artificial insemination by a donor (AID). The clinical outcomes for AID showed no increased risk of abortion, ectopic pregnancy or pregnancy complications compared to those for AIH. There were no differences in gender, gestational age or prematurity of live births between the two groups. However, the birthweight of live births from AID was significantly higher than that from AIH. Moreover, the AID group exhibited no increased risk of stillbirths or fetal defects compared to the AIH group. These results indicate that frozen donor sperm did not increase the occurrence of adverse clinical and neonatal outcomes when compared to sperm from the husband. ABBREVIATIONS: AID: artificial insemination by a donor; AIH: artificial insemination by the husband; ART: assisted reproduction technology; FET: frozen embryo transfer; IVF: in vitro fertilization; ICSI: intracytoplasmic sperm injection; IUI: intrauterine insemination; LBW: low birth weight.

[Time interval from the end of sperm processing to artificial intrauterine in semination with husband's sperm correlates to the rate of clinical pregnancy].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of the time interval from the end of semen processing to artificial intrauterine in semination with husband's sperm (AIH-IUI) on the rate of clinical pregnancy. METHODS: This study involved 191 AIH-IUI cycles with the same ovulation induction protocol. After Percoll density gradient centrifugation, we divided the sperm into four groups based on the incubation time: 0-19, 20-39, 40-59, and 60-80 min, and again into another four groups according to the total progressively motile sperm count (TPMC): (0-9), (10-20), (21-30), and > 30 x 10(6). We analyzed the correlation of the clinical pregnancy rate with the time interval from the end of sperm processing to AIH-IUI and with other influencing factors, such as maternal age, infertility duration, and semen quality. RESULTS: The rate of clinical pregnancy was significantly higher in the 20-39 min group (18.3%) than in the 0-19, 40-59, and 60-80 min groups (12.7, 11.4 and 9.1%) (all P < 0.05). The (10-20) x 10(6) group achieved a remarkably higher pregnancy rate (16.7%) than the (0-9), (21-30), and > 30 x 10(6) groups (0, 11.4, and 8.3%) (all P < 0.05). Logistic multivariate analysis showed that the rate of clinical pregnancy was decreased with the increased age of the women (OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.83-0.94) but significantly elevated in the 20-39 min group (OR 2.11, 95% CI 1.34-3.13) and of (10-20) x 10(6) group (OR 2.06, 95% CI 1.32-3.46). CONCLUSION: The time interval from the end of sperm processing to AIH-IUI is a most significant factor influencing the rate of clinical pregnancy of AIH-IUI.

Prognosis factors of pregnancy after intrauterine insemination with the husband's sperm: conclusions of an analysis of 2,019 cycles.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the prognostic factors for pregnancy after intrauterine insemination with the husband's sperm (IUI-H). DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: A single university medical center. PATIENT(S): 851 couples, for 2,019 IUI-H cycles. INTERVENTION(S): After controlled ovarian stimulation, IUI-H performed 36 hours after ovulation triggering or 24 hours after a spontaneous luteinizing hormone (LH) surge. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Clinical pregnancy rate per cycle (PR) and delivery rate per cycle (DR). RESULT(S): The overall PR was 14.8% and DR 10.8%. Higher PR and DR were observed for patients presenting with ovulation disorders (particularly polycystic ovary syndrome) or with male infertility. Secondary infertility in the woman appeared to be a positive prognostic factor as did a basal follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) level ≤ 7 IU/L and ovulation triggering over spontaneous LH rise. The other parameters influencing the results were the women's age, the number of mature follicles obtained (≥ 2), the endometrial thickness (10-11 mm), and the number of progressive motile spermatozoa inseminated (>1 million). CONCLUSION(S): In women aged ≤ 38 years, IUI-H should be considered as an option, particularly in cases of female infertility from ovulation disorders, in cases of a normal ovarian reserve, in cases of secondary infertility, or when ≥ 1 million progressive sperm are inseminated. Bifollicular stimulation is required. In other cases, in vitro fertilization should be discussed as the first-line treatment.

Factors influencing the outcome of intrauterine insemination (IUI): age, clinical variables and significant thresholds.

The aim was to investigate the influence of various biological factors upon the outcome of intrauterine insemination (IUI). The total IUI history (856 cycles) of 352 couples was studied. Live-birth showed a strong negative correlation with female age but no correlation with male age. Antimüllerian hormone (AMH) and antral follicle count (AFC) correlated negatively with female age, and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) correlated positively. Significant thresholds were found for all three variables, and also for total motile count (TMC) in the prepared sperm. Calculating pregnancy losses per positive pregnancy showed a strong correlation with increasing female age. This was highly significant for biochemical losses but not for fetal heart miscarriages. Male age had no effect on rate of pregnancy loss. In conclusion, female age, FSH, AMH and TMC are good predictive factors for live-birth and therefore relate to essential in vivo steps in the reproductive process.

Long term outcome in subfertile couples with isolated cervical factor.

OBJECTIVE: A previous randomized clinical trial (RCT) compared immediate treatment with intrauterine insemination (IUI) to expectant management for six months in subfertile couples with an isolated cervical factor. That study showed higher ongoing pregnancy rates in couples receiving intrauterine insemination. The current study compared the long-term effectiveness and costs of this intervention. STUDY DESIGN: We followed all couples (N=99) who were previously included in the RCT for three years after randomization and registered pregnancies and treatments. After the initial trial period, couples in both groups were offered further treatment according to local protocol. The primary outcome was an ongoing pregnancy after three years. RESULTS: After three years, there were 36 ongoing pregnancies in the immediate IUI group (N=51 couples) and 38 ongoing pregnancies in the expectant management group (N=48 couples). The ongoing pregnancy rates were 71% and 79% respectively (RR 0.89 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.7-1.1)). CONCLUSIONS: In couples with an isolated cervical factor, a treatment strategy including immediate treatment with IUI does not result in higher ongoing pregnancy rates on the long term. Initial expectant management is therefore justified in these couples and identifying a cervical factor by a post-coital test is unnecessary.

Assisted reproductive technology in Europe, 2009: results generated from European registers by ESHRE.

STUDY QUESTION: The 13th European in vitro fertilization (IVF)-monitoring (EIM) report presents the results of treatments involving assisted reproductive technology (ART) initiated in Europe during 2009: are there any changes in the trends compared with previous years? SUMMARY ANSWER: Despite some fluctuations in the number of countries reporting data, the overall number of ART cycles has continued to increase year by year and, while pregnancy rates in 2009 remained similar to those reported in 2008, the number of transfers with multiple embryos (3+) and the multiple delivery rates declined. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Since 1997, ART data in Europe have been collected and reported in 12 manuscripts, published in Human Reproduction. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: Retrospective data collection of European ART data by the EIM Consortium for the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE); cycles started between 1st January and 31st December are collected on a yearly basis; the data are collected by the National Registers, when existing, or on a voluntary basis. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS SETTING, METHODS: From 34 countries (-2 compared with 2008), 1005 clinics reported 537 463 treatment cycles including: IVF (135 621), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI, 266 084), frozen embryo replacement (FER, 104 153), egg donation (ED, 21 604), in vitro maturation (IVM, 1334), preimplantation genetic diagnosis/screening (PGD/PGS, 4389) and frozen oocyte replacements (FOR, 4278). European data on intrauterine insemination using husband/partner's semen (IUI-H) and donor (IUI-D) semen were reported from 21 and 18 countries, respectively. A total of 162 843 IUI-H (+12.7%) and 29 235 IUI-D (+17.3%) cycles were included. Data available from each country are presented in the tables; total values (as numbers and percentages) refer to those countries where all data have been reported. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: In 21 countries where all clinics reported to the ART register, a total of 399 020 ART cycles were performed in a population of 373.8 million, corresponding to 1067 cycles per million inhabitants. For IVF, the clinical pregnancy rates per aspiration and per transfer were 28.9 and 32.9%, respectively and for ICSI, the corresponding rates were 28.7 and 32.0%. In FER cycles, the pregnancy rate per thawing was 20.9%; in ED cycles, the pregnancy rate per transfer was 42.3%. The delivery rate after IUI-H was 8.3 and 13.4% after IUI-D. In IVF and ICSI cycles, 1, 2, 3 and 4+ embryos were transferred in 24.2, 57.7, 16.9 and 1.2%, respectively. The proportions of singleton, twin and triplet deliveries after IVF and ICSI (combined) were 79.8, 19.4 and 0.8%, respectively, resulting in a total multiple delivery rate of 20.2%, compared with 21.7% in 2008, 22.3% in 2007, 20.8% in 2006 and 21.8% in 2005. In FER cycles, the multiple delivery rate was 13.0% (12.7% twins and 0.3% triplets). Twin and triplet delivery rates associated with IUI cycles were 10.4/0.7% and 10.3/0.5%, following treatment with husband and donor semen, respectively. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: The method of reporting varies among countries, and registers from a number of countries have been unable to provide some of the relevant data such as initiated cycles and deliveries. As long as data are incomplete and generated through different methods of collection, results should be interpreted with caution. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: The 13th ESHRE report on ART shows a continuing expansion of the number of treatment cycles in Europe, with more than half a million of cycles reported in 2009. The use of ICSI has reached a plateau. Pregnancy and delivery rates after IVF and ICSI remained relatively stable compared with 2008 and 2007. The number of multiple embryo transfers (3+ embryos) and the multiple delivery rate have shown a clear decline.

Efficacy of intrauterine inseminations as a training modality for performing embryo transfer in reproductive endocrinology and infertility fellowship programs.

OBJECTIVE: To assess pregnancy rates before and after a training intervention in which reproductive endocrinology and infertility fellows were required to perform 100 IUIs before performing ETs. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Large, academic training program. PATIENT(S): Not applicable. INTERVENTION(S): Comparing pregnancy rates between two time periods: July 1998-June 2001 (before IUI intervention) and July 2001-June 2010 (after IUI intervention). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Clinical pregnancy rate (PR) for the first 100 ETs performed by fellows before and after the IUI training; median attending physician PR during each time period served as the referent. Multivariate generalized estimating equations were used to calculate odds of pregnancy per ET for fellows as compared with attending physicians. RESULT(S): Multivariate analyses revealed no significant difference in PR for the first 100 ETs performed by fellows as compared with attending physicians, before or after the IUI training requirement (odds ratio 0.99, 95% confidence interval 0.82-1.20 and odds ratio 0.91, 95% confidence interval 0.81-1.30, respectively). The median attending physician PR in the preintervention group was exceeded by fellows after the first 70 ETs; fellows in the postintervention group exceeded the median attending physician PR after 100 ETs. The PR in both groups improved as fellows progressed from the first 20 to 100 ETs. CONCLUSION(S): The PR for the first 100 ETs performed by fellows was unchanged after implementing an IUI training requirement. The substantial variation noted among individual fellows decreased as more ETs were completed.

Couples dropping out of a reimbursed intrauterine insemination program: what is their prognostic profile and why do they drop out?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether baseline characteristics and prognostic profiles differed between couples who drop out from intrauterine insemination (IUI) and couples that continue IUI, and the reasons for couples dropping out from IUI programs. DESIGN: Retrospective observational cohort study. SETTING: Fertility centers. PATIENT(S): Consecutive subfertile couples undergoing IUI. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Characteristics and prognosis of ongoing pregnancy after IUI at the start of treatment of couples that dropped out compared with couples that continued treatment or achieved an ongoing pregnancy. RESULT(S): We studied 803 couples who underwent 3,579 IUI cycles of whom 221 couples dropped out (28%). Couples dropping out completed 2.8 (SD ±1.4) cycles per couple compared with 4.5 (SD ±2.3) cycles per couple for those continuing treatment. Couples dropping out had a higher female age, longer subfertility duration, and higher basal FSH. Mean prognosis to achieve an ongoing pregnancy after IUI at start of treatment was 7.9% (SD ±2.4) per cycle for couples who dropped out and 8.5% (SD ±2.5) per cycle for couples continuing treatment. Of the dropouts, 100 couples (45%) were actively censored from the IUI program, 87 couples (39%) because of poor prognosis; 121 couples (55%) were passively censored from the program, of whom 62 (28%) dropped out owing to personal reasons; 59 couples (27%) were lost to follow-up. CONCLUSION(S): We found significant differences in prognostic profile between couples continuing treatment and couples dropping out, although these differences seem limited from a clinical perspective. We conclude that overestimation of ongoing pregnancy rates after IUI due to couples dropping out is limited.

[Intrauterine insemination results in the Specialized Center for Women's Care]. / Resultados de inseminación intrauterina en el centro especializado para la atención de la mujer.

BACKGROUND: intrauterine insemination should be offered to couples with unexplained infertility, given its effectiveness and compared to in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer, is less invasive and requires less resources. It also should be offered to couples with male factor infertility in selected patients with induction of ovulation to increase the chances of pregnancy. OBJECTIVE: to determine the rate of pregnancy with intrauterine insemination in couples with infertility. MATERIAL AND METHODS: descriptive and retrospective study of 500 couples with female, male and combined infertility, primary or secondary, managed with homologous insemination, with controlled ovarian stimulation and programmed ovulation, in patients with at least one permeable salpinx, FSH <12 IU/L and > 5 x 10(6) mobile and normal sperm. Ultrasonografic follicular follow-up and ovulation triggering according to findings, performing insemination 36 hours after the shooting, with luteal phase support with progesterone. RESULTS: 1.6 cycles on average, female infertility 65.8%, 21% male and combined 13.2%, age average 32 years of women and 36 years of man, average ovarian stimulation 8 days. Pregnancy in 19.5% of the patients, of these, 65.1% under the age of 35 years, 33.3% from 35 to 40 years and 1.5% older than 40 years. Pregnancy at term 77.08%, miscarriage 11.45% and unknown resolution at 11.45%. Twin pregnancy 14.61% and high fetal order 5.7%. Pregnancy with female infertility 64%, male 22.3% and combined 13.5%. Pregnancy with endometrial <8 mm 9.8%, 8-15 mm 86.4% >15 mm 3.6%. With trilaminar endometrium 72.3%, dense 12.5%, linear 0.5%. CONCLUSION: The rate of pregnancy in intrauterine insemination hardly exceeds 20%. The determinants for this are the women age, type of infertility and endometrial characteristics. It was also noted high twin pregnancy and high fetal order.

Factors affecting pregnancy outcome of intrauterine insemination cycles in couples with favourable female characteristics.

The aim of the presented study is to determine the effect of different sperm parameters on the pregnancy rate of intrauterine insemination (IUI) cycles in women with favourable fertility characteristics treated for infertility. Medical records of 212 infertile couples who had undergone a total of 253 cycles were reviewed retrospectively. Inclusion criteria for women were age <35 years, antral follicle count >5, FSH <15 IU/ml, and at least one patent tube documented by HSG or laparoscopy. Clinical pregnancy rates were achieved as 15.8% per cycle, and 18.8% per couple. Woman's age, partner's age, total number of motile sperm (TMS) and motility, significantly influenced pregnancy rate. Pregnancy rate was the highest when women were aged <25 and TMS >10 × 10(6). Partner's age significantly affected the pregnancy rate per cycle in women aged <30 years and TMS >10 × 10(6). Woman's age (OR: 5.4 95% CI: 1.2-24.3) and TMS (OR: 0.06 95% CI: 0.003-0.89) were predictor variables as regards to pregnancy. Pregnancy rate was the highest in IUI cycles when woman was <25 years old, TMS was >10 × 10(6), and morphology was >4%. Male age was found to be another determining factor for IUI success, even if they had a normal spermiogram.

Birth defects after assisted reproductive technologies in China: analysis of 15,405 offspring in seven centers (2004 to 2008).

This first large-scale report of birth defects in 15,405 offspring conceived by assisted reproductive technologies in China found infants born after IVF alone to have a birth defect frequency comparable to that in the general Chinese population; rates were nonsignificantly higher in infants conceived with use of intracytoplasmic sperm injection compared with those conceived after IVF alone.

Intrauterine insemination with husband semen: an evaluation of pregnancy rate and factors affecting outcome.

PURPOSE: The aim was to determine pregnancy rate following intrauterine insemination (IUI) and its associated factors in a university assisted reproductive technique center in Tehran, Iran. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 350 IUI cycles with ovarian stimulation by clomiphene citrate and/or gonadotropins was performed. RESULTS: The overall pregnancy rate was 22% (77/350). Of the 77 pregnancies, 88.3% resulted in live birth, 7.8% in spontaneous abortion, 2.6% in blighted ovum and 1.3% were ectopic. Logistic regression analysis revealed three predictive variables as regards pregnancy: number of the treatment cycle (OR:3.5 CI:1.9 - 6.4 p:0.006), duration of infertility (OR:2.1 CI:1.2 - 3.7 p = 0.001) and age (OR:2.15 CI:1.1 - 4.4 p = 0.04). Pregnancy rate did not have any independent relation to sperm count, type of infertility, number and size of follicle and side of ovulatory ovary. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that clomiphene citrate and/or gonadotropins IUI is a convenient and useful treatment option in women with younger age ( <30 years) and fewer treatment cycles and fewer infertility duration (4 years).

Effect of desire to have a baby on risk acceptance in Turkish infertile women.

The aim of this study was to assess whether the desire to escape the psychological condition created by infertility (to have a baby) affected risk-taking behavior, with the possible relationship between ovarian cancer and infertility as the "accepted risk" to overcome infertility. 229 infertile and 204 fertile women who were patients at the Gulhane Military Medical Academy were administered a semistructured questionnaire. Increased ovarian cancer risk was accepted by 67.2% of the infertile women in order to have baby. There was no significant relation between the woman's age, duration of infertility, knowledge of the preventability and curability of ovarian cancer, or acceptable risk. These results indicate the importance to Turkish women of overcoming infertility.

Use of letrozole versus clomiphene citrate combined with gonadotropins in intrauterine insemination cycles: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical outcomes between letrozole and clomiphene citrate (CC) in gonadotropin-combined intrauterine insemination (IUI) cycles. DESIGN: Prospective pilot study. SETTING: One university hospital and two private infertility clinics. PATIENT(S): Ninety-three infertile couples eligible for superovulation and IUI. INTERVENTION(S): A letrozole dose of 2.5 mg/day (n = 66) or a CC dose of 100 mg/day (n = 27) was given on day 3-7 of the menstrual cycle, combined with human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) at a dose 150 IU every other day starting on day 5. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The number of mature follicles, serum estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) levels, endometrial thicknesses on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), and clinical pregnancy rates. RESULT(S): The patients' clinical characteristics were comparable between the two groups. The number of mature follicles (3.2 +/- 1.7 vs. 5.6 +/- 2.4) and serum E2 levels on the day of hCG (231.0 +/- 179.8 vs. 1,371.7 +/- 750.5 pg/mL) were significantly lower in the letrozole group. No significant differences were found in endometrial thickness measured on the day of hCG or clinical pregnancy rates (18.2% vs. 25.9%). The rate of patients with serum P levels > 1.0 ng/mL on the day of hCG was significantly lower in the letrozole group (4.5% vs. 25.9%). CONCLUSION(S): Letrozole produced a comparable pregnancy rate vs. CC in gonadotropin-combined IUI cycles. Our results should be confirmed in larger populations with proper randomization.

Effect of ejaculatory abstinence period on the pregnancy rate after intrauterine insemination.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the optimal interval of ejaculatory abstinence for couples undergoing IUI. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis. SETTING: Reproductive endocrinology and infertility center. PATIENT(S): Infertile couples undergoing ovulation induction and IUI with partner's semen. INTERVENTION(S): Ovulation induction with clomiphene citrate and a single IUI procedure per cycle. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES(S): Clinical pregnancy rates as a function of abstinence intervals. RESULT(S): Four hundred seventeen women underwent 929 cycles from June 1999 to October 2002 for a median of 4 IUI attempts per couple. The median ejaculatory abstinence interval was 4 days (range 0-30) with an overall pregnancy rate of 12% per cycle. Abstinence correlated positively with inseminate sperm count but negatively with motility. Variations in inseminate parameters did not correlate with pregnancy rates. However, abstinence intervals significantly affected pregnancy rates. The highest pregnancy rate was observed with an abstinence interval of 3 days or less (14%) and the lowest pregnancy rate seen with an abstinence interval of 10 days or more (3%). CONCLUSION(S): An abstinence interval of 3 days or less was associated with higher pregnancy rates following IUI. Prolonged abstinence decreases pregnancy rates, independent of other sperm parameters, perhaps as a result of sperm senescence and functional damage not readily identified by standard semen analysis. Abstinence intervals should be controlled for in studies examining pregnancy outcome in assisted reproduction.

The case for initial treatment with intrauterine insemination as opposed to in vitro fertilization for idiopathic infertility.

The recent questioning of the validity of evidence used by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in recommending ovarian stimulation with intrauterine insemination (IUI) as an effective treatment for couples with unexplained infertility, has re-ignited the debate on what the initial treatment for idiopathic infertility should be. The current best available evidence is used here with the conclusion that the initial treatment for idiopathic infertility should be IUI as opposed to IVF. This conclusion is reached using the results of randomized controlled trials wherever possible, live birth rates rather than pregnancy rates and taking into account efficacy; complications, especially multiple pregnancy rates; patient compliance and cost efficiency. None of these factors indicate that a change of policy to use IVF as first-line treatment in lieu of IUI for unexplained infertility is justified.

[1997 results of medical assisted procreation with third party donations and autopreservation. CECOS French Federation]. / Bilan 1997 de l'assistance médicale à la procréation avec tiers donneur et de l'autoconservation. Fédération Française des CECOS.

During the year 1997, the French Federation of CECOS recorded the results of the 23 CECOS centers and IFRAERES in Toulouse. 1620 first demands of procreation with sperm donors were registed (versus 1,690 in 1996) but only 3,235 patients received at least one donation in the year, 22% less than 1996. From 10,935 cycles (AID or IVFD), 1,333 pregnancies were obtained, scoring the identical amount in terms of pregnancies as in 1996 but with less 30% in terms of cycles. The analysis of the 1,298 deliveries of the 1996 pregnancies show a malformation rate of 1.9%. 419 male volunteers came forward as sperm donors (5% more than 1996). In gamete autocryopreservation, the number of semen preservation is globally increasing (11.2% more than 1996), mainly because the capacity of a better reutilization with ICSI.

Evaluation of pregnancy rates after intrauterine insemination according to indication, age, and sperm parameters.

PURPOSE: Our purpose was to evaluate intrauterine insemination results obtained in our clinic and identify prognostic factors for the chance of pregnancy. METHODS: A retrospective study of data from 1989 to 1996 was undertaken. Only first attempts were included in this study, except for the part on the cumulative pregnancy rates. Couples with either one-sided tubapathology, hormonal dysfunction, idiopathic infertility, or andrological indication were selected. All women were stimulated with clomiphene citrate. Five hundred sixty-six couples who underwent 1763 cycles were included in the study. RESULTS: The overall pregnancy rate for first pregnancies was 6.9% per cycle and 21.4% per patient. For first intrauterine insemination attempts this was 8.8% per cycle/patient, varying between 5.0% for andrological indication and 10.6% for tubapathology, 10.0% for idiopatic indication, and 10.3% for hormonal indication. These differences were not significant. Age did not have a significant effect either, although there were no pregnancies observed in women 40 years or older. The number of inseminated spermatozoa significantly affected the pregnancy rate: < 2 million, 4.6%; > or = 2 to < 10 million, 3.9%; and > or = 10 million, 11.3%. CONCLUSIONS: Unless semen characteristics are insufficient, intrauterine insemination is a useful treatment for infertile couples.